Signs and Causes of a Chimney Leak

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• Signs and Causes of a Chimney Leak
• What causes chimney leaks?
• Although chimneys look like simple brick or stone
  columns, they are actually complex structures
  with a number of different pieces and parts.
  Because the chimney is constantly exposed to the
  elements, its masonry is at greater risk for
  damage and breakdown.
• The following are some of the most common causes
  of chimney leaks.
• Chimney cap The chimney cap protects the top of
  your flue from water entry, as well as animals
  and debris. Without a properly fitted chimney
  cap, the flue and fireplace are left completely
  exposed to water entry from rain.
• Flashing Flashing is the water tight strips that
  seal the seam between your roof and the chimney
  structure. If flashing is incorrectly installed,
  damaged, or merely loses its seal due to wear and
  tear or age, water can easily seep through any
  gaps. This can cause water damage to not only the
  roof and chimney, but also the ceilings and
  walls around the chimney.
• Masonry damage If one side or part of your
  chimney is often directly exposed to rainfall or
  other sources of water, the masonry may
  deteriorate or become damaged faster than the
  rest of the chimney. Water can cause bricks to
  crack and spall in addition to making your
  chimney look aged or unkempt, it can also affect
  the structural stability of the chimney and lead
  to chimney leaks.
• Symptoms of a Leaky Chimney
• Many homeowners falsely assume that all leaky
  chimneys present themselves as visible water in
  the fireplace or flue. However, because of the
  size and complexity of most chimney systems,
  chimney
• leaks are often not recognized until theyve
  already caused significant damage.

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If a summer rainstorm has left you with a leaky
chimney, contact SootAway today. Our chimney
sweep expert staff can identify and resolve the
source of your leaky chimney! Source
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es-of-a-chimney-leak/