If there’s one thing that can cause real damage to your chimney, it’s water. However, it’s impossible to keep precipitation off your chimney. Whether it’s rain, sleet, or hail, it can cause damage to the mortar. If the temperature drops below freezing, the freeze-thaw cycle can cause further damage. Bricks and mortar are very porous materials, and when precipitation falls, tiny droplets of water settle in those pores.
When the temperature drops below freezing, those droplets freeze and expand, causing the pores to expand and allow more water to get in the next time. Over time, this can cause instability and leaks in the structure of your chimney. At Owens Chimney Systems, we offer ChimneySaver to protect your chimney fully, and we would like to tell you more about it.
Water Damage
There are many ways water damage can show up in your home. If you take a look at the exterior of your chimney and notice leaning or bricks out of place, this is a sign of water intrusion. If there are specks of white on the ground near the chimney, this is spalling. If the mortar seems to be sparkly or have salt-like granules on the surface, this is efflorescence. It means that precipitation in the bricks is causing salt to be brought to the surface. Both of these conditions mean you need tuckpointing. When you call the experts at Owens Chimney Systems, we can remove the damaged portions and replace it with fresh, strong mortar that matches the rest of your chimney.
Other signs of water damage can be seen on the interior of your home. If you notice that your ceiling or walls have stains or if you notice rusted damper or fireplace accessories, your chimney likely has a leak. A leaky chimney can cause problems such as a cracked flue liner or chimney settlement.
Permeability
There are some things you can do to protect your chimney from the dangers of precipitation. When you call Owens Chimney Systems to set up an appointment, we may recommend ChimneySaver. When you get a chimney waterproofing, it’s important to use a product that not only keeps water out but also allows water that is trapped in the pores of the brick and mortar to escape. That’s why we use ChimneySaver.
This product is proven to protect your chimney from the negative effects of precipitation. Our professionals are Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified and up-to-date on the latest products and procedures. Give us a call today to discuss waterproofing or any other chimney concerns you may have!