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It’s not just snow or ice (or rain) that wreak havoc.  It’s temperature changes.  Freeze-thaw cycles put stress on chimneys, leading to deterioration and potential risks.  But moisture intrusion is the major culprit.  Naturally, snow or ice eventually melt — and become water or moisture. Moisture in your chimney can damage the brickwork itself or other components, such as the chimney crown, flashing or liner.  Brick materials readily absorb water.  Gaps, cracks or crumbling in mortar joints can add to the problem by allowing water to spread to other parts of your chimney.  Not to mention, water intrusion can cause steel or cast-iron chimney components to rust or corrode, too.

What is the first thing that should be done?

A professional chimney inspection is the first step.  Problems caused by snow and ice or freeze-thaw cycles may be hidden as observed by the layperson.

How can I protect my chimney from the onslaughts of snow and ice?

Many homeowners have a chimney cap installed.  It serves as a snow-rain-ice cover.  This preventive measure can be relatively inexpensive, depending on design options.  Other preventive maintenance measures might include repairing or replacing a damaged chimney crown, repairing deteriorated mortar joints, repairing or replacing flashing or waterproofing your chimney.

ANIMAL ENTRY

With the lower temperatures, many individuals have wanted to stay indoors to avoid embracing the chilling temperatures outside.  However, animals have the same mindset and do the same.  Animals such as raccoons and squirrels often look to chimneys as shelter during the winter and you may not even know they are there.  If you have found that there are animals entering your chimney, call a professional to have them safely removed.

After the animals are removed, it’s necessary to hire a professional to inspect your chimney.  These professionals can make the necessary masonry repairs in order to stop animals from returning in addition to removing any blockages left behind within the chimney to avoid any damage to the flue linking or gas and smoke to back up in your house.

MASONRY CHIMNEY DAMAGE

The weather throughout the season can be particularly damaging to your home’s chimney because of moisture build up and major temperature fluctuations.  Moisture damage may not be a noticeable issue right away but will result in homeowners finding damage to the masonry, chimney crown and/or chimney liner.

During the winter season, in order to prevent winter masonry damage, protect your chimney from water and moisture as a number one priority.  In order to do so, you can start by making sure your chimney cap is in place and in good shape.  A chimney cap helps prevent water from running down your chimney flue and causing damage.  Another thing to note is your chimney’s crown deflects water away from the chimney flue and should provide some protection to the exterior sides of your chimney.  During an annual inspection with a licensed professional, confirm that your chimney crown has been properly assembled and free from any harm or future damage.

WATER DAMAGE

The main reason for your chimney to deteriorate throughout the winter is due to water damage. Any bricks on your chimney that are cracked or broken will absorb water from precipitation then freeze if the temperature drastically drops.  Cold weather can result in damage to your chimney’s masonry and once water becomes trapped inside, the moisture will freeze and expand.  When the water starts to melt, that only exceeds the amount of water entering the brick.  This causes your chimney’s masonry to crack and crumble as a result.

Most masonry can absorb massive amounts of water.  Common brick is similar to  a sponge by absorbing water and wicking moisture  to your chimney’s interior.  Defective mortar joints or the utilizing improper mortar or brick can increase the tendency to soak up and convey water to the inside of the masonry chimney structure.