Some thoughts on Chimney Maintainance : Is Your Chimney Leaking? One thing that brick chimneys, stone chimneys and fireplaces have in common is that eventually most will require some type of maintenance to keep a water tight seal. Leaks into a chimney can cause unsafe heating equipment as well as costly damage to the chimney, the appliances connected to it, and to the building itself. Is your chimney leaking? Are you experiencing water marks on the ceiling or walls near your chimney? Is there water appearing in the firebox? Similarly, are you experiencing cracks on the exterior of the chimney which seem to keep getting bigger or are bricks actually flaking off from your chimney? Water is the common thread between all of these problems (for the most part) and following this checklist should help you to be able to arrest water infiltration or prevent further damage. Installing a stainless steel chimney cap is inexpensive and generally maintenance free. 1. Do you have a chimney cap? If water is able to fall freely down your chimney, installing a chimney cap will help you out. By preventing water from entering your firebox or dripping down the walls of the chimney’s flue, you will be able to lessen the amount of creosote that will build up and prevent damage inside the flue system from the water. Install a stainless steel chimney cap. These will not rust and resist deterioration over time. Rust stains from painted black chimney caps or other metals which are able to rust are a huge issue for homeowners. 3. Are there any cracks or missing mortar joints in the brick on the chimney? These missing mortar joints need to be tuck-pointes back in. If your brick is damaged, water may be able to enter your home. If there are missing mortar joints or cracks in the brick itself, these are all points of entry for water. These cracks need to be sealed using a sealant so that there is a physical barrier between water and the crack. There are various types of sealants for repairing cracks in brick, but I recommend a silicon sealant. If you have missing mortar joints, these will need to be put back in through a process called tuck-pointing. If you have very extensive damage to your chimney, you may want to have a chimney professional come out to evaluate your chimney. If the damage is bad enough, the chimney may need to be partially or completely rebuilt. 4. Is your flashing rusted or pulling apart from the home? This flashing is rusted and should be replaced to avoid water penetration. If your flashing is not in good condition, this is another point of entry for water that homeowners often overlook. Rusted flashing must be replaced, either by a professional or by yourself if you have the skills to do so. Some flashing can be repaired using a flashing repair system, but the most lasting repair is going to be replacing it. A flashing repair system is good for when the flashing seems to be intact and has no visible damage. These systems seal the flashing, barring water from entering.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:05:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015