How often do you take the time to look at your fireplace and chimney system? It’s easy to get so used to having something around that you don’t take the time to really look it over. The problem with doing this to your chimney is that you might be missing some pretty important clues that something isn’t quite right. Regular chimney inspections catch damage early and before it leads to costly repairs.

Things to Look For

Water in the hearth of your fireplace is a really big sign of a chimney leak. Other signs that there might be a leaking problem is that the wallpaper or the ceiling paper around your fireplace is looking water-stained or raggedy. There may even be soft, saggy spots on your walls or ceiling if the leak has been undetected for a longer period of time.

Another sign of water damage is rust on the damper or in the firebox of your fireplace. This is a clear sign that water is getting in where it shouldn’t be. You’ll want to have a professional in to determine where the leak is coming from.

Shaling and spalling are also indications that you might have a leak. Spalling is when the bricks or mortar become infiltrated with water. Both are porous, and when water gets in, it can cause deterioration to occur. If you see flakes or specks appearing on the exterior of your chimney, this is spalling. Shaling is caused if your chimney liner is cracked, and refers to thin slices of chimney tile that you may see collecting in your fireplace.

Reasons for Leaks

There are several good reasons that your chimney may be leaking, and at Black Velvet Chimney, we’re qualified to detect and fix all of them. For example, it may be that you don’t have a chimney cover. In addition, your chimney crown or cover is in poor condition and is allowing leaks in. It’s understandable that your chimney, if left uncovered, would allow precipitation in. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your chimney cover is in a good state of repair.

Another thing we’ll look for is a cracked chimney lining. Your chimney liner protects the interior of your chimney, and a cracked liner is a missing layer of protection. This can cause the bricks and mortar to become less sound. Structural damage could then occur, so it’s especially important to have a professional in to make sure that there are no cracks or holes in the chimney lining. The flashing, which is the sheet metal that protects the joints where chimney meets roof, can also become loose or have holes. We will inspect and replace your flashing if necessary to keep leaks out.

Give Black Velvet Chimney a call today and say goodbye to a leaky chimney!