As a homeowner, one of the things you have to deal with is a chimney leak. According to chimney inspection professionals, chimneys leak due to different reasons. Here are some of the reasons and how to fix them:

Missing chimney cap

The chimney cap keeps rain, animals, and birds out of the chimney. When the cap is missing, you can’t keep wind-driven rain out of the flue. Animals and birds also enter the fireplace at will.

To keep out rain, you need to install a chimney cap. Begin with measuring the flue tile at the top of the chimney then purchase and install the right size of chimney cap. While there are many types of caps you can go with, stainless steel caps are the best.

In addition to being durable, they also have a large bonnet that plays a vital role in keeping out the rain. If you have the skills, you can install the cap by yourself but if you have never done it before, ask a professional to help you out.

Cracked or broken chimney crown

The chimney crown is the cement part on top of the chimney. Just like the chimney cap, the crown keeps out the rain.

If you have had your chimney for years, you are bound to have a cracked or broken crown. Cracks in the chimney come about due to shifting of the structure. The crown can also shrink due to old age.

Of course, when the crown cracks, water gets into the chimney. For you to fix the problem, repair the chimney crown with rebar and quality cement mix.

Some people will tell you to fix the crown using elastomeric or silicone-based products. Don’t fall for this as they don’t provide a long-lasting solution.

Damaged brick and mortar

If you have small cracks and gaps in the mortar and bricks, water will get into the chimney. If you don’t address the issue early enough, the waterlogged bricks will crumble when the water inside freezes.

You can offer short term relief or fix the problem permanently. The short term solution is to use clear painters caulking. Since damaged brickwork crumbles after a short term, expect the caulking to fall off after a few months.

The permanent solution for the problem is to remove the cracked or spalling bricks and replace them with new ones. This project is complicated, so don’t try undertaking it if you have haven’t done it before. Let an expert chimney contractor handle it.

Damaged flashing

After being exposed for years to a wide range of weather elements, it’s normal for the flashing to rust, get loose, and eventually fail to prevent water from getting into the chimney. To restore the flashing, scrape away the defective caulking and reapply a flashing type sealant.

While this will fix the problem, the solution is short-lived.

For a permanent relief, remove the damaged flushing and replace it.

Sometimes your chimney will leak if you had a flashing that was installed improperly or in the wrong sequence with roofing. The sealant system will slow down the leaking but for a more durable solution, replace all the flashing. You also should replace tar paper and surrounding shingles.

Missing chimney cricket

A telltale sign your chimney is missing a chimney cricket is water entering the attic on the uphill side of the fireplace. When water pools in the uphill side, the flashing rusts.

For your chimney to last for a long time, install a chimney cricket. Chimney cricket installation is a significant chimney project and should only be done by an experienced chimney company. The company shouldn’t simply install the cricket. It also should perform water leak tests to confirm everything is functioning optimally.

Damaged mortar joints

Mortar joints deteriorate, allowing water into the chimney. In some fireplaces, large sections of mortar might be missing allowing water to enter the chimney easily. If you don’t fix the problem early enough, water weakens the chimney, and the entire unit crumbles.

For you to fix the problem, repair the damaged joints with new mortar. This isn’t a significant project so you can fix the joints by yourself without requiring the services of chimney contractors Bowie.