Did you know that water leaks can cause so much damage to a masonry chimney that it can be in danger of collapsing? The Chimney How to Prevent Chimney Leaks - Charlotte NC- Owens Chimney System-w800-h600Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is not joking when they claim that water is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. At Owens Chimney Systems, we are frequently asked by our customers how to keep their chimneys from leaking. Our CSIA-certified chimney experts have been repairing and preventing chimney water leaks in the Charlotte, North Carolina area since 1988, so we have plenty of experience in knowing how to best prevent water leaks from deteriorating masonry chimneys. We would like to tell you more about how we can help you keep your chimney from leaking this summer.

CHIMNEY CAP INSTALLATION

The CSIA recommends chimney caps as the cheapest way to prevent water leaks in your chimney. Owens Chimney Systems offers a wide variety of chimney caps constructed from stainless steel or copper, and every cap we sell comes with a lifetime warranty against corrosion and workmanship defects. We also provide our professional installation services so you can rest easy knowing your new cap fits perfectly on top of your chimney. Not only will a chimney cap keep water out of your chimney, but it will also prevent birds and animals from nesting in your chimney, stop hot sparks and embers from jumping out of the top of the chimney, and even help to improve the chimney draft.

FLASHING REPAIR AND INSTALLATION

To protect one of the most common areas for chimney leaks, a flashing system seals off your chimney where it meets your roof. Consisting of metal sheets, our chimney technicians will wrap these sheets around your chimney in layers at the roof. We will be sure the flashing has no gaps where water could trickle inside the chimney. We can also repair flashing systems that have been damaged by time, weather, or rust corrosion.

WATERPROOFING

Did you know that masonry materials are porous? This means the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney naturally absorb water whenever it rains. A lot of damage can occur in the winter when this absorbed water freezes and expands inside the masonry materials whenever the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature warms back up, the water thaws, which causes the bricks and mortar joints to crack, break apart, and even become loose from your chimney. After repeated freeze/thaw cycles over the months of winter, your chimney can become severely damaged. If this damage is neglected, it can lead to structural issues, including the collapse of your chimney. Owens Chimney Systems can repair this type of damage, and after we have replaced all of the damaged and missing bricks and mortar, we can prevent this deterioration from occurring in future winters by applying a waterproofing formula to your entire chimney. This formula creates a barrier against water penetration of your chimney that is guaranteed for 10 years.

Keep your chimney from leaking this summer. Contact us at Owens Chimney Systems to schedule a chimney leak inspection today.