If you have noticed signs of leaking in or around your chimney, it’s time to give Owens Chimney Systems a call. Although this might just be a small issue that doesn’t require much repair work, it could also be a sign that there are bigger problems that need to be taken care of immediately. Even if it is only a minor repair job, it’s important to get to the bottom of it and have the work done so that it doesn’t turn into an expensive repair job.
Signs of Leakage
Have you looked at your ceiling lately? If you look at the ceiling around your fireplace and notice brown stains or saggy ceiling coverings, there might be a water problem. The same is true of the wallpaper, wallboard, or woodwork around the fireplace. If you notice these signs, there could be a major leak occurring in your chimney. Water that is pooling up inside your fireplace or around your fireplace is a sign that should be taken seriously; if you see this happening in your fireplace, get in contact with us as soon as possible at 704-554-9595.
Causes of Leakage
There are different reasons that your chimney may be leaking. Precipitation is a big factor in causing chimney leaks. When the freeze-thaw cycle occurs, water that has permeated the surface of the bricks or mortar freezes and expands, increasing the size of the pores. When the temperature warms up, more precipitation can enter the bigger pores, and the cycle repeats, causing structural damage to your chimney which can make it leak.
Flashing
Another cause of leaks could be your flashing. You can easily check this out on your own, but you’ll want to hire a professional to actually do the repair work if it turns out to be necessary. Just take a look at the part of your roof where it meets the chimney. Those metal strips that cover that junction are the flashing, which keeps precipitation from getting in through that joint. If these strips are torn or loose, this could be causing your leakage.
Chimney Cap
Have you taken a good look at your chimney cap lately? Your chimney cap is a major line of defense against precipitation leaking into your home, so if you notice that it is damaged, you’ll want to call for repairs right away. If you don’t have a chimney cap, you’ll want to consider having one installed.
Cracked Flue Lining
There may be a problem on the interior of your chimney that’s causing leaks into your home. If the chimney’s flue liner is cracked or damaged, water that is getting into your chimney may be seeping through the cracks and leaking into your home. Call Owens Chimney Systems to set up an appointment to have your chimney inspected, and if there are signs of damage, we’ll take care of repairing your flue liner.
No matter what is causing your chimney leaks, you can count on Owens Chimney Systems to seal up the leaks and keep your home dry!