Chimney Waterproofing
Unfortunately chimneys are often made from very porous materials, you can think of it as a giant sponge holding water each time it rains, over time the water seeps down the chimney and can start to deteriorate your chimney causing leaks and leading toward larger problems. That deterioration is only made worse by the changing of seasons, when your chimney is holding water and the temperature can drop below freezing and then you have what is commonly referred to as the freeze thaw effect, where water expands as it freezes causing there to be larger and larger pathways for water to move into your chimney as it thaws.
Having your chimney waterproofed by a trained professional chimney sweep is a great way to fight off encroachment of water, before it gets too far down into your house and could start creating mold, mildew or other costly repairs. A simple waterproofing of your chimney can hold off those big costly deterioration repairs that would have otherwise come about.
This sort of maintenance hasn’t been around for all that long, in the past there wasn’t a whole heck of a lot that you could do about your chimney falling apart, but these days we can extend the life and overall look of your chimney by applying a high quality waterproofing product that will effectively block out water still allowing your chimney to breathe and function as it should. If you have a chimney 5 years old or older, we recommend waterproofing.
Waterproofing a Chimney Isn’t Simple
Waterproofing a chimney isn’t as easy as it sounds, you can’t just seal the outside of the brick or stone, since the chimney still needs to remain permeable allowing a chimney to breathe, this prevents mildew and mold. When you just paint the outside of a chimney it would keep the water away, but trap in any moisture that gets into the chimney from the air, allowing your chimney to rot from the inside out.
- Is your chimney cap missing or ineffective? A cap can be a simple but effective barrier that keeps rain from entering your chimney, so if its not working correctly, or its not there at all, consider having a ARC Chimney Sweeps technician repair or replace it.
- Is your chimney damper working properly? The damper is what closes off the flue when the chimney isn’t in use, and also keeps dust water and debris from entering the home. If its not working properly it needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Do you have any cracks or spalling (crumbling or even flaking masonry) on the crown of your chimney? Your chimney crown is there to help keep water from entering into your chimney cracks and spalling can lead to leaking. Have an ARC Chimney Sweeps technician inspect and repair any crown issues as soon as possible.
- Are there any corrosion, loose caulking, or holes in the flashing of your chimney? The flashing is what protects your chimney where it and the roof-line meet, and its one of the most important lines of defense against water. Call us to repair inspect or replace your flashing if you are having signs of water intrusion.
If you have any concerns on whether or not water is getting into your chimney, or you want to explore preventative measures to make sure it doesn’t happen, Call ARC Chimney Sweeps today at (888) 998-2258!