While rain is a good thing, if you have too much it can instead harm your home. If your chimney is leaky it can cause mold, which can overtime spread to the rest of your home. It is important that you have your yearly sweep and inspection to make sure that everything is in proper working condition. To schedule an appointment with the professionals at Northeastern Masonry & Chimney, give us a call today.
If you’re having water problems with your chimney system or would like to take preventative measures to ensure that you don’t, give us a call. We would be more than happy to check your system for weak points and help you develop the appropriate plan of action.
What causes a leaky chimney?
The number one cause of chimney leaks is water entering from the top. This is why you should really consider adding a chimney cap. Not only will this keep out water, but also animals, leaves, and twigs. You should be sure that the cap is a proper fit, because if not it could hurt your chimney rather than help it.
Also, you will need to make sure that there are no cracks in the chimney crown. Most chimneys now will not have the problem of not having a liner, but this can also cause a leak from the inside by way of condensation. Chimney flashing is also a common cause for leaks. It can overtime become damaged or loose, so this is one spot that always needs to be checked during your inspection.
Lastly, the bricks and mortar that make up the chimney’s structure can become cracked, so as soon as you notice a problem you should have it fixed to prevent the problem area from getting worse.
Repairing Present Leaks
If you think that there is a leak within your chimney, a controlled water test may be helpful to see where the water is being absorbed into the chimney. For best results, this should be done on a dry day and in small intervals to make sure you can fully watch the water.
Preventing Leaks in the Future
You cannot prevent leaks fully, but you can make efforts to reduce the chances. First, check into a variety of waterproofing sealants that are on the market. This procedure can be done in a day and usually only requires one coat. However, if you do live in a wet environment you may need to have two. Each coat takes six hours to dry so it is important to pick a day with a dry forecast.
Call on Northeastern Masonry and Chimney today for all your chimney leaking and repair needs! We service the cities of Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Hunter, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, and the surrounding Capital District Region.