Your leaky chimney may appear like a leaky roof or a plumbing issue. When water comes into the home by way of the chimney system it can move through the house through walls, floors, and ceilings. The water flows to a low point where it pools before forming a leak. This may appear to a homeowner like a leaky pipe in an upper story bathroom, or like the roof has sprung a leak. This is not the case! If you have a leak in your home or any water damage for that matter, then it is most likely a chimney issue–NOT a roof issue.
The Chimney Professionals
A general contractor is a licensed professional who oversees construction. In order to do this, he works together with other trade professionals. For instance, a contractor might contact a chimney professional during construction in order to have a chimney built properly and up-to-code. He might hire a roofer to make sure the roof is built and materials installed properly. This is standard, and it ensures that all parts of construction are made to specifications and will work properly and last. Like roofers, certified chimney sweeps are the experts in their field. When it comes to chimney construction, diagnostics, and repairs, the chimney experts are who to call when there’s a sign of a leak.
Chimney leaks can cause extreme damage to the masonry and chimney system. In fact, water can cause:
Rusted parts
Deteriorated assemblies and central heating system
Water stains and water damage on furniture and home
Rotting wood and interior of a home
Masonry stains
Cracked, deteriorated masonry
Collapsed hearth support
Chimney settlement
This type of damage caused by water in the chimney can be expensive to repair, and chimney leaks are almost 100 percent preventable. Schedule annual maintenance, including routine chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections. In between these important appointments, there are things that you can do including getting to know your system, using it properly, and paying attention to how it works.
Signs of a Chimney Leak
Any staining on the brick indicates a leak. White staining on the masonry exterior means water is passing through the brick and leaving behind minerals on the surface. In the firebox or the interior portions of a chimney may appear darker in color due to prolonged dripping.
Odors of mildew, mold, or must means there is a leak that has been present long enough for bacteria to grow. Additionally, sounds of dripping, even if you cannot see it, means there is a problem. There shouldn’t be water in the chimney!
Any leak in the home where a chimney is present is most likely caused by a chimney leak. Water enters by way of the chimney and then runs through the house inside walls, ceilings, and floors. This leak may occur behind the scenes for days or weeks before it pools in a low area and eventually forms a leak.
Your chimney system may not seem affected during the off season, but a noticeable change in efficiency while the fire is burning is an indication of a problem, possibly a leak. The easiest way to find out is to call a professional and have it inspected. Hudson Chimney diagnoses leaky chimneys and doesn’t just repair the damage, but fixes the problem. This may include installing a new cap, flashing, crown, and waterproofing the masonry.
Professional Measures of Prevention
You can call a roofer when you have a chimney leak. The odds are that the leak is caused from flashing–the most common cause of a chimney leak. Although many roofers may claim to install flashing, it is not their specialty. It is our specialty!
Chimney Leak Diagnostics
When you have a chimney leak, call us. We check out the area, assess the damage, and repair it all. When we install flashing, our experts place the sheets of metal according to the slant and material of the roof, with no nails visible, and without the need to cover with sealant. If you have recently had your roof replaced, and your flashing has exposed nails, is missing, covered in tar, or has been dislodged it’s time to call a chimney expert.
Call Hudson Chimney
Hudson Chimney repairs flashing. We do not just fix the damage from your leaky chimney. We correct the problem at its source! Hudson will install and repair flashing, caps, crowns, and even waterproof the masonry itself for good measure.
Call the chimney professionals at 904-282-4159 or contact online.
Fixing a leaking chimney quickly can prevent thousands of dollars worth of damage. Leaky chimneys can lead to mold growth, water stains, drywall distortion, and insulation damage. Most importantly, small leaks that may seem insignificant will eventually become bigger leaks that create more damage to your home and that will cost more to repair.
Calling a professional to fix your leaky chimney is not only safer than making the attempt to fix it yourself, but it also ensures that the best – and the correct – repairs are made. The professionals at Hudson Chimney can locate the source or sources of the leaks and fix them accordingly. They will work to not only repair any damages, but to also prevent further damage.
Calling chimney professionals such as those at Hudson Chimney rather than roofing professionals is also important if you think your chimney is what is leaking. Professionals at Hudson Chimney have the expertise and tools necessary to find and fix a chimney leak, while roofing professionals have the expertise and tools to fix roofs. Signs that your chimney and not your roof is leaking include water-stains around your chimney, cracking in your flu lining, a collapsing chimney, and the staining of your chimney or the mortar.
There are several possible problems if your chimney is leaking, all of which Hudson Chimney is CSI-certified to repair:
If the leak is coming from your chimney crown, Hudson Chimney can repair it with a crown coating material. It is important to fix small cracks because water can seep into the cracks, freeze and expand, and thus make the cracks bigger. If the chimney crown has bigger cracks, Hudson Chimney can replace the crown.
If there is damage to the chimney flashing, or the metal sheeting that protects the gaps between your chimney and the roof, only a professional should attempt to fix it. Hudson Chimney offers this service to not only prevent further leaking, but to ensure the lifespan of your chimney.
There might be damage to shingles surrounding your chimney. Professionals at Hudson Chimney can replace the shingles for you to stop the leaking.
The erosion of mortar joints can easily lead to holes and thus leaks. Professionals at Hudson Chimney have been working for over thirty years to fix such problems and worse.
Once any cracks in bricks or mortar have been fixed, the professionals at Hudson Chimney can apply ChimneySaver’s Water Repellent to prevent water from seeping into the chimney. Bricks and mortar absorb water, which can cause leaking. Water repellent allows for the brick or mortar to keep water out while still letting the materials breathe. Therefore, it is important to use a water repellent and not a sealer, which will trap moisture created inside the chimney in the bricks or mortar and cause further damage. ChimneySaver’s Water Repellent does the job by blocking 99.9 percent of water from penetrating the bricks or mortar of your chimney while still being 100 percent vapor permeable, or letting your chimney breathe. Professionals at Hudson Chimney can also install chimney caps or chimney pans to prevent water from entering your chimney.
Repair your leaky chimney, and you will save yourself time and money as well as ensure your chimney’s longevity.
Fungi are common practically on any surface where moisture is present. So it is no surprise that molds can easily find their way into the chimney. Most of the time, we don’t even know that they’re multiplying in the dark. But if left without any intervention, the accumulation of molds could have serious damaging effects to your household.
How Chimneys Can Breed Molds
The chimney is subjected to the ever changing seasons that it is no surprise at all that it is exposed to a lot of water and moisture. It does not only happen during the rainy seasons, but moisture can still build up in the chimney during humid summer days. And wherever there is moisture, molds can easily survive and thrive. They can reproduce up to the millions and still go unnoticed within the confines of the flue and make their way down to the fireplace. In addition, water can cause major structural damage to the masonry, creating cracks where more molds can reside.
Removing dangerous molds and waterproofing your chimney are two services we’ll be happy to provide you. This extends the life of your chimney and reduces the negative impact of molds in the flue.
These molds look harmless, but don’t be fooled! They can come in all shapes and sizes. Some may be fuzzy, others are slimy or flat. They create a certain discoloration to the surface where they are attached and this cannot be removed easily by plain soap and water. It is best to leave these pesky molds to the professionals who have the right equipment to deal with them.
Dangers of Chimney Molds
Molds can pose a serious health risk to the inhabitants of the house because they produce spores. When these spores travel down the chimney and enter the home, they circulate and become inhaled. The milder symptoms of illness due to mold exposure could be irritation on the skin or any mucous membrane. More severe conditions may affect the lungs and cause permanent damage if inhaled in very large amounts. So if several of your family members are starting to cough or are experiencing headaches and frequent congestion, aside from going to the doctor, it would be sensible to take a trip or give a call to a professional chimney sweep to eliminate the cause of this sickness. And if you have a family member with any kind of respiratory problem…this becomes even more urgent.
Taking Out the Chimney Molds
If you have a leaky chimney, go ahead and make an appointment with the experts at Hudson Chimney. Serving the Jacksonville, Florida area for more than 30 years, we hope to gain your confidence and take care of your chimney.. They will be able to deal with your chimney mold problem in a jiffy, targeting the mold and then repairing any cracks in the chimney that causes water to enter. They might also recommend waterproofing your chimney for long-term maintenance of its structure and functionality.
In the end, prevention is definitely better than spending thousands on medications and chimney repairs. Call Hudson Chimney to inspect your chimney every year. The small investment on your chimney will be worth the huge savings.
