If you suspect your chimney may be leaking, you need to have this taken care of before winter, or you may end up with even more damage done to your chimney. Any water that has been absorbed into the bricks and mortar of your chimney will freeze when the temperature drops. When water freezes, it expands, and this causes the masonry materials to crack and break apart when the water thaws. Each time the temperature drops below freezing, this process happens again. If left unrepaired, you could have serious structural damage to your chimney. This type of damage is one of the reasons why the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) calls water the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. Owens Chimney Systems wants to protect your chimney from the damage caused by water leaks. We would like to tell you more about how we find and repair leaky chimneys.
How does Owens Chimney Systems detect chimney leaks?
To begin our chimney leak investigation, our CSIA-certified chimney technicians will perform a Level 1 or Level 2 chimney inspection. We will carefully check the inside and outside of your chimney to determine exactly where the chimney is leaking. After we locate the leak, we will give you an estimate of the repair work needed to fix the leak.
What are the common reasons for leaky chimneys?
In our years of fixing chimney leaks, we have found several different causes for the problem. Sometimes a chimney is not fitted with a chimney cap at its top, the chimney crown is cracked, the flashing system has been damaged, or bricks are missing from the chimney structure. All of these things lead to chimney leaks, but they all are also easily repaired.
How does Owens Chimney Systems fix chimney leaks?
How we repair a leaky chimney depends on what is causing the leak. If your chimney is missing a chimney cap, we can install a new cap that will keep out water as well as birds and animals. If your chimney crown is cracked, we can repair the crown and apply a sealant to protect the crown from water penetration. If the flashing system is damaged, we can create a custom flashing system that will keep water from entering your chimney where it meets the roof. If bricks are missing from your chimney, we can replace these bricks with durable masonry materials. We also provide waterproofing services that will prevent water from being absorbed into the bricks and mortar. We have a lot of experience in protecting chimneys from water damage and are happy to help you.
Think your chimney is leaking? Contact us at Owens Chimney Systems to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection as soon as possible.