Allstar Chimney Sweeps

Posts Tagged ‘water leaks’

A primary factor in water leaks stemming from chimneys, deterioration, is caused by constant exposure to the elements. Minor leaks can cause major damage; as soon as you think water is finding its way into your chimney, call a professional chimney technician to solve the problem. Call the experienced technicians at Allstar Chimney Sweeps for affordable solutions today.

Main Sources of Chimney Water Leaks

There are several factors that can cause chimney water leaks. The chimney flashing should be at the top of your inspection list when you’re looking for sources of water leaks. Flashing systems can be weakened by constant exposure to the elements, including rain, wind, snow, hail and sleet, and allow cracks to form around the base of the chimney.

Inadequate flashing makes it easier for water to seep into the cracks that form at the base of the chimney. A hardy water-tight sealant will prevent water intrusion if applied properly. The top edge of the chimney flashing should be bent inward and properly seated in the mortar of the chimney. The areas of flashing where the chimney and roof meet can be tested by using a garden hose to mimic the effects of a heavy rain. Any sign of a water leak could spell much more damage in the future. Repairs should be undertaken as soon as possible.

Another key area to check when you think you have a water leak is the chimney cap; missing or damaged caps are often the source. Leaks in the chimney cap can cause cracks that can in turn result further problems. Pre-fab chimneys typically always have a cap, but masonry chimneys may be built without.

The next thing to look at when it comes to pinpointing the source of your chimney’s water leak should be your chimney’s crown.The brick foundation and beveled mortar surface of chimney crowns are designed to keep water away from the top of the chimney. The chase cover on prefabricated chimneys is made of metal to direct water onto the top of the roof, rather than into the chimney. If you have a masonry chimney and ordinary brick mortar was used to construct your chimney crown, it will eventually crack and could leak due to adverse weather conditions. Brick mortar is too porous and does not withstand temperature changes well enough to be exposed to water on the way that a chimney crown is. Here at Allstar Chimney Sweeps, we find regular brick mortar crowns to be one of the most frequent causes of chimney leaks.

It is easy for the bricks and mortar used in masonry chimneys to soak up water because of their porous characteristics. As the brickwork soaks up water, it will deteriorate. Spalling occurs as a result of deterioration. Spalling causes the facing of the brick to go soft, making it crumble and break easily from the water. The best way to fix this problem permanently is to replace the affected brick and mortar to seal any cracks.

Solutions to Water Leak Problems

We offer water leak solutions at affordable prices to make the most of your time and money. We will send one of our Allstar Chimney Academy certified technicians to locate the cause of the water leak in your home and come up with an affordable solution. Here is a list of some of our water leak solutions:

• Chimney Flashing

  We can replace your chimney’s flashing system entirely or seal the existing flashing with FlashSeal, a flexible, weather-resistant compound. We offer FlashSeal as protection against leaks in the chimney, stacks and vents. FlashSeal serves as a flexible, waterproof membrane that is permanently attached to your metal flashing, asphalt shingles, bricks and other chimney or roofing materials. We can fit any chimney with a galvanized metal, aluminum or copper flashing system. The cement we use to install flashing system is of the highest quality to make sure your new system provides the best protection possible against water leaks. We’ll make sure your flashing looks good while it protects your chimney by painting it to to match the roof and chimney on your home.

• Install Caps to Keep Animals, Debris and Water Out

  Chimney caps can improve the function of all chimneys, whether they are masonry or prefabricated. Chimney caps will keep water and debris from entering your chimney through the top. They also keep animals out of the chimney. During the summer months, caps can make all the difference in preventing chimney odors from developing. Allstar Chimney Sweeps offers a number of options for chimney caps. Our caps come in standard sizes, or we can match your chimney exactly with a custom-fit cap. Our galvanized metal, aluminum, stainless steel and copper chimney caps will put the perfect finishing touch on any roofline.

• Protection against the elements for chimney crown

  The technicians at Allstar Chimney Sweeps have experience replaced worn out chimney crowns and applying preventative agents like CrownSaver to prevent future damage. This blend of polymer modified hydraulic cements is a water repellant to prevent water from collecting on top of your chimney and seeping inside. CrownSaver has continued to improve since its introduction into the industry in the 1980s, and it is one of the best products to use when repairing or rebuilding your chimney crown.

• Solutions for Waterproofing Your Chimney

  ChimneySaver is one of the best ways to keep your chimney safe from water damage during rainstorms. It’s a 100% vapor permeable formula that is designed to block out any water, while allowing the vapors in your chimney to escape. ChimneySaver helps your chimney draft and “breathe” properly. ChimneySaver comes with a 10-year warranty. It has been proven to reduce the amount of water penetration in masonry chimneys by 99.9 percent.

Our company has provided the best chimney services for the past 16 years. For more information about chimney care or to schedule an appointment for an inspection or repair, call today to speak with a member of our office staff. Does your chimney need to be fixed? Call Allstar Chimney Sweeps today, at 866-345-4751 or email us.

At Allstar Chimney Sweeps, we offer many chimney and fireplace services.

Inspections

We preform a 21 Point Safety Inspection of your fireplace, chimney, wood burning stove, and dry vent exhaust to make sure everything looks good. During this process, our certified chimney technicians will give a report of how everything looks and any recommendations as to what needs to be repaired if any thing comes up. The inspections consist of both and exterior and interior of the chimney and fireplace.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing the fireplaces chimney can be done at anytime, during the construction of the chimney, while being built or after you have experienced some water problems. This is a preventative application that blocks water from entering the chimney so that your fireplace does not experience water damage that could make the fireplace unsafe to use.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

The connection pieces to the dryer should be inspected regularly to ensure it is properly attached at both ends. At the dryer end the connection will be checked to make sure lint and exhaust is not coming out into the utility area of the home. At the outside connection it will be checked to make sure the opening is free and clear so air is allowed to escape out properly. Remember, this is an opening where small critters like to build a nest, this too will restrict air flow. If this is a problem we can provide dryer vent covers to prevent nesting at this opening.

Animal Removal

At various times of the year, you may experience problems with animals such as raccoons, squirrels, and birds inhabiting your fireplace and chimney. Feel free to call Allstar Chimney Sweeps to assist with these problems whether the animals are dead or alive. We are careful to provide the appropriate size removal cage to ensure no animals are harmed. Once removed they are released back into their natural habitat. If the animal is not completely healthy at the time of removal it is taken to the animal hospital for proper care.

If we are called out to remove a deceased animal, it is properly removed and the fireplace/chimney is fumigated and cleaned. This is to ensure that mites and lice are not produced from the decay and allowed to come into your home.

It is important to make sure that you have the proper covering on your chimney all year round especially during the spring season, when the birds like to nest. The droppings and fecal matter associated with Chimney Swifts (with birds) has been related to the disease state called histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease of the lung caused by breathing in dust from bird fecal matter and droppings. It is common for these to collect on top of the fireplace damper. It is particularly important to protect the young, elderly, and people with immune deficiencies from this breathing problem and potential allergies.

Odor Problems

Also known as smoke odors or chimney odors. Fireplace & chimney odor problems may be attributed to a multitude of different things.

Fireplace odors come from creosote deposits in your chimney, a natural byproduct of burning wood. Chimney odors are usually worse in the summer when the humidity is high, on rainy days, and/or when the air conditioner is running. A good chimney sweep may help minimize your fireplace smell.

Smoke Problems

We often hear the complaint that someone has a “bad” stove or fireplace because it smokes. In our experience, however, draft problems are almost never caused by the fireplace or appliance. The chimney is the engine of every wood-burning system: in order for the fire to burn properly, the chimney must pull combustion air through the fireplace or stove. Here are some common causes of chimney draft problems, and possible solutions.

• Improper Flue Sizing
• Flue Blockage
• Resistance From Below
• Insufficient Chimney Height
• Cold Flue Temperatures
• Air Inversion
• Down Drafting or Cross Drafting
• Possible Problems
• Adding a Smoke-Guard
• Chimney Extension
• Chimney Termination Heights
• Unused Fireplace Smokes while Another is being Used

Leak Problems

We are often called to a home that is experiencing a leaking chimney. The causes for a leaking chimney are numerous. Leaks could be caused by anything from a rusted out chimney cap, to cracked mortar in the chimney itself.

All Repairs

Not only can we clean a dirty chimney, we are also qualified to fix a broken one. If in our inspection we find a leaking flashing, we can fix it! If there are cracks in the bricks or mortar we can take care of that for you. Missing caps? Cracked crown? Not a problem! These are all common chimney problems with simple solutions, and we are the chimney company for the job!

We can install chase covers, caps, lock-top dampers, flue, extensions and lycemance dampers. Whatever your chimney needs, we have it covered!

So give us a call and let us come inspect your chimney. Our technicians will be honest about what needs to be done and what does not. They will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.

If you’re looking for chimney services then give us a call today at 1-866-345-4751 or email us.