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Signs of chimney masonry damage to look for

Winter is hard on your chimney’s masonry, as it endures the heat of your fires, the winter’s freezing temperatures and moisture from rain, snow, sleet and ice. As spring brings warmer temperatures, you should be on the lookout for some common signs of chimney masonry damage.

Chimney discoloration

Staining along the outside walls of your chimney can be one of the first signs that your chimney is absorbing and retaining moisture. Generally, the discoloration will show up as white resident, called efflorescence, along the outer walls of your chimney. You also should be on the lookout for rust streaks down the sides of your chimney, a sign that your chimney cap is corroding and wearing down.

Signs of chimney masonry damage to look for - Indianapolis IN - Your Chimney Sweep

Spalling bricks

One of the most obvious signs of masonry water damage comes in the form of spalling bricks. Spalling occurs when moisture makes its way into the porous surfaces of the bricks and freezes, causing the faces of the bricks to crumble away. That break down of chimney bricks can lead to an overall breakdown of your chimney’s structure.

Crumbling mortar

One of the most common masonry repairs comes when mortar joints break down. You’ll notice the mortar crumbling away, leaving gaps in between the bricks. This can be fixed relatively easily with a service called tuckpointing, but if left unchecked, crumbling mortar can cause your chimney to fail.

Shaling flue tiles

If you have a masonry chimney liner, constructed of clay tiles, they can crack and crumble over time, due to the high temperatures of your fireplace and exposure to moisture. A dead giveaway that your chimney flue tiles are shaling will be the presence of pieces of chimney tiles in the bottom of your firebox.

Cracked fireplace masonry

Just like your flue tiles, the bricks of your masonry fireplace can crack or crumble due to heat and moisture. While some small cracks won’t compromise your chimney, eventually cracks will need to be repaired as they expand or become more numerous.

Failing chimney crown

Your chimney crown is the masonry component that surrounds the top of your chimney. Too often, chimney crowns are improperly constructed from mortar, rather than concrete. That leaves them susceptible to cracks and crumbling, which can allow water to make its way into your chimney flue, or allow water to flow down the outer bricks of your chimney and put them at risk for water damage.

Damaged walls and ceilings

While it may not look like a masonry problem, stained walls, peeling wallpaper and sagging ceilings inside your home, along the wall your chimney’s on, can be a sign that water is seeping into your chimney’s masonry. Eventually, that water can make its way into your home’s structure and cause damage to your walls, ceilings and joists.

This spring, we encourage you to take a walk around your chimney and look for signs of potential masonry damage so you have time to have it repaired and addressed before you’re ready for your next fire in the fall. If you notice any signs of masonry damage, call Your Chimney Sweep today! We’ll help you strategize and carry out needed repairs.

By Joe Sauter on April 25th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment

Diagnosing chimney leaks

Spring brings a lot of things: Warmer weather, sunny skies, thunderstorms and flowers. It also can bring on some home maintenance problems, including chimney leaks.

If water is making its way into your chimney, there are some signs that could tip you off. Water pooling in your firebox is a certain sign that water is making its way into your chimney, as are rusting dampers, fire grates or fireplace doors. On the interior of your home, a leaking chimney could mean pealing or discolored wallpaper, stained ceilings or sagging ceilings or wallboard. On the exterior of your chimney, white staining on the masonry indicates that water is seeping in.

If you see signs of leaking chimney in your fireplace, in your home or on the exterior of your chimney, you’ll need to call a chimney professional. Unchecked water leaks can cause major and expensive problems with your chimney or your home’s structure. You’ll need a professional to identify the source of the leak and recommend a course of repairs.

When examining your chimney for the source of a water leak, there are several common culprits your chimney sweep will inspect.

Diagnosing chimney leaks - Indianapolis IN - Your Chimney SweepChimney cap

Your chimney cap is your chimney’s primary defense against leaks. The chimney cap covers the opening at the top of your chimney to prevent water from running down the interior walls of your flue. If that cap is missing, damaged or dislodged, water can run unchecked into your chimney and fireplace, causing water damage to the flue and firebox.

Chimney crown or chase cover

On a masonry chimney, the chimney crown is the concrete portion that surrounds the chimney opening. It slants away from the flue to direct water outward, and it should overhang the exterior edges of the chimney to help protect the chimney from rainwater. On a prefabricated chimney, a metal chase cover serves the same purpose. Both the chimney crown and the chase cover can develop cracks over time that can allow water to leak into the chimney.

Flashing

At the base of the chimney, where the chimney meets your roof, the chimney is surrounded by metal flashing. The flashing seals the gap between the chimney and the roof, preventing water from damaging your roof or the interior wooden supports of your roofline. Improperly installed flashing or corroded flashing can cause major water leaks around your chimney that can cause major damage to your home’s structure.

Bricks and mortar are incredibly porous, and they readily absorb moisture. That can cause cracks in the chimney and weaken the chimney structure over time, and weakness in the chimney’s masonry can cause more moisture to get into the interior of the chimney and cause more extensive damage.

If you’ve noticed signs of a water leak around your chimney, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule an appointment today! We’ll help diagnose your chimney leak and help you find the best way to repair it, before the leak causes more damage to your chimney or your home.

By Joe Sauter on April 10th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment