When the weather outside is frightful, it’s tempting to fire up the fireplace and enjoy a toasty evening by the hearth. But before you do, it’s a good idea to ensure your fireplace is safe to use this season. A leaking chimney is dangerous to your home and family if left unrepaired.
Our professional home improvement contractors at The Construction Group in Woodbury offer roofing repair services, including chimney maintenance and repair. Contact our team if you’re in need of chimney services today!
In this post, we share a few signs your chimney could be leaking and common causes.
Signs You Have a Chimney Leak
A chimney leak manifests itself in many ways. A chimney leak can result from a problem with the chimney or the roof surrounding it. One of the most common signs of a leak is water stains spotting the walls and wallpaper near the chimney.
If you have been wondering why the paper and paint keep mysteriously peeling in areas, we can identify the leak and repair it. Contact The Construction Group today for a professional inspection if you live near Woodbury, Minnesota. We specialize in chimney and roofing repairs.
These are some signs we look for!
Eroded Masonry
When water invades masonry and wears down seals, it can cause bricks and stones to erode and deteriorate. If you see crumbling bricks or stones around the fireplace or chimney could indicate a leak.
We refer to this as spalling, and it’s usually easy to identify.
Visible Rust
If you notice rust around the damper or flue pipe, that’s a pretty good indicator you have a leak. The moisture from the leak will rust out the metal components in your chimneys, such as the damper and the flue. If the damper quits working properly, your chimney could become a fire hazard.
Call our experts to visually inspect and get that leak under control!
Damaged Flue Lining
The damper seals your flue pipe, therefore, it may not provide a proper seal if it’s badly rusted. A damaged flue lining is no longer fireproof, making your chimney a fire hazard.
Dismantled flue liner tiling may collect at the chimney base rendering the fireplace inoperable. We can reinforce the chimney by installing a new liner.
Main Causes of Chimney Leaks
Here are some of the most common causes of chimney leaks. Have you noticed any?
Lack of a Chimney Cover
A chimney should let smoke escape from the home but block water from entering. This chimney feature is a chimney cover or chase cover, usually a piece of metal that fits over the chimney's opening with a hole in the middle for the chimney cap. Most covers have a slight slope on each side so that water rolls off rather than collecting on a flat surface and leaking inside.
A chimney without a cover is like a hole in the roof because there is nothing to block rain, snow, or debris from falling straight down!
Deteriorating Chimney Cap or Chase
The chimney cap sits on top of the chase cover. The sides are made of a screen that prevents sparks from escaping the chimney. The seal between the chimney cap and the chase cover can break down over time, leading to a leaking chimney cap.
One or both of these features might need replacing.
Damaged Flashing
Flashing is the material on the roof used to direct water away from critical areas of the roof, wherever the roof plane meets a vertical surface like a wall or a dormer. It’s also installed around the base of a chimney.
If this flashing is damaged or not installed correctly, it won’t create a shield against water or debris, resulting in the chimney leaking water.
Chimney Repair Services We Offer
Don’t become a victim of accidents caused by bad chimney installation or a worn-out chimney base! By repairing the chimney, your home is safer from moisture, mold, fire, and the harsh outside elements.
We can restore your chimney in the following areas:
Professional Chimney & Roof Repair in the Twin Cities
At The Construction Group in Minnesota, we offer chimney restoration and roofing repair to get your fireplace working safely so you can stay warm all winter long. We can restore your chimney and roof lining, flashing systems, brick and mortar, and waterproofing. We also offer complete chimney replacement and roofing replacement if needed.
Call our certified, licensed, and insured repair team to have your chimney’s condition evaluated before the start of the cold season. Connect with a team member at The Construction Group at 651-731-5857 or contact us to schedule your free quote.