Chimney leaks can be a huge pain to deal with, especially if they have caused water damage in your home or in the chimney itself. But one of the biggest issues with a chimney leak is determining where the chimney leak is coming from—chimney leaks can come from just about anywhere. Here are just a few reasons that we think your chimney could be leaking and a few easy solutions from Atlanta Chimney Doctor.
Cracks
Chimneys are highly likely to be damaged, especially considering their location on the very top of the home. So, with any poor weather like hail, snow, sleet, or rain, your chimney is at risk for being damaged, especially if it is an older chimney and hasn’t been refurbished in a while. There can be cracks on the exterior of the chimney, in the interior of the chimney, and even on top of the chimney. One of the easiest ways to see if your chimney is leaking in Marietta, GA, is to call us for a chimney inspection. We can take care of any problems that you may have and determine whether or not you need any type of refurbishment to your chimney.
No Chimney Cover
One of the biggest problems we find with a leaky chimney is that there isn’t a chimney cover. Without a chimney cover, your home is extremely vulnerable to water, pests, and even birds. A cover is more than vital and can definitely be the cause of a leak in your chimney. With many different options for chimney covers, you can find the perfect one for your chimney and for your home.
Cracked Chimney Crown
Another problem that can be easily solved is by checking the top of the chimney, as this is the most vulnerable area to water damage and cracking. A chimney crown is the “cement surface at the top of the chimney, which functions to keep rain out” according to ctsweep.com. With the freezing and thawing of wintertime, cement can easily crack. Repeated freezing can make any crack worse, which would make it even more difficult to fix when it comes time to do so. Luckily, we can provide sealants for your chimney crown in order to keep cracks from forming and can protect the crown from damage in the future.
Faulty Flashing
Flashing is “the metal part of the chimney, which is meant to form a waterproof seal between roof and chimney,” and is the leading cause of chimney leaks. One of the reason this is such a leading cause of leaking is because it is very difficult to install and even more difficult to create a waterproof seal. The worst part about these types of leaks is that the leak will go into the house, rather than staying centered around the chimney.
There are many other ways for a chimney to leak, so be sure to call the Atlanta Chimney Doctor for an easy and quick inspection of your chimney to protect against current and future leaks.