Chimney Leaks – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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CHIMNEY LEAKS

Chimney leaks are hard to pinpoint. They can come from nearly anywhere on a chimney and can be quite tedious to find. Here are four common sources of leaks.

Chimneys are a small, but very important part of the home.  If you have a leak, you might notice water coming in through a wall or into a fireplace.  Both are places you would not expect water to be.  A damaged chimney can cause expensive repairs if not caught quickly enough.  Generally, there are three areas that could be the source of the chimney leak and they are:

  • Cracked or Loose Mortar

  • Crack in Chimney Flashing

  • Damaged Roof Shingles

1. Chimney Mud Cap

The mud cap, or the mortared area around the top of the chimney, is often a culprit.  Cracked or loose mortar can allow rainwater to get into the fireplace.  Symptoms are usually water in the hearth, but impediments may cause rainwater to change course and appear elsewhere in the home.

2. Chimney Mortar Joints

Mortar joints can deteriorate, leaving holes that admit water.  In some cases, large sections of mortar in the joints may actually be missing, allowing water to enter during blowing rains.  The water may enter a hole in the mortar joint, move to a hole in the bricks, then follow a zigzag course for a few inches or several feet. Water can enter through mortar joints, travel inside the brick holes to a point past the flashing, and then be directed onto a ceiling or continue all the way to the slab.

3. Chimney Flashing

Leaks around flashing can be particularly difficult to find since just one tiny hole in a corner during a hard rain can leak a sizable amount of water.

4. Roof Shingles

The roof shingles around a chimney can also have problems, although shingles are one of the least common causes for a chimney leak.  If the leak does show up in this area, have an expert check and repair the shingles.