Prevent Chimney Water Damage With Our Complete Guide

Your chimney is an integral part of your home heating system. However, the fact is that it is susceptible to damage just like anywhere else in your home.

When this damage takes place you can be sure that the efficiency of your chimney will be compromised. You need to make sure that at all times you are protecting your chimney from water damage.

This is critical for its longevity. If you’re looking for a guide on how to make sure that your chimney is always up and running, take a look at the following.

Prevent Water Damage in Your Chimney

Inspect Regularly

Regular inspection of your chimney is a must. Both the interior and the exterior will have to be eyeballed to make sure that there are no damages that can severely impact its functionality.

With this inspection, you’re going to be looking for cracks, discoloration, and missing mortar. Since this can be a little treacherous and you don’t want to suffer any broken bones, it’s always best to hire a chimney professional to inspect for you.

A good inspection annually will ward off any problems ahead of the colder seasons.

Install a Chimney Cap

A chimney cap is a vital piece of equipment that you’re going to need to install and make sure is in good condition. You’re going to need to keep rainwater, debris, and animals out of your flu.

You don’t want them building a nest in there and making a comfy home to raise their family and entertain their friends. It may sound way off, but if you don’t fix things up, this is exactly what is going to be happening in your chimney.

It’s a good idea to choose a cap that has meshed sides and will keep birds and other critters out of the way. Cap needs to be able to prevent water from entering but they should also make air flow easily through the chimney.

Inspect Your Flashing

Another thing you need to do is to make sure that you’re inspecting your flashing. If you are a little confused about what the flashing is, it is a metal piece that seals the joint between the chimney and the roof. Needless to say, you want to make sure that this area is securely attached.

The last thing you want is for it to be sporting rust or becoming loose. Problems will start to pile up if this happens.

You have to make sure that it is fixed as soon as possible to prevent any water from seeping in and causing damage.

Water can be sneaky in this area and you have to make sure that it is not slowly seeping in without your knowledge. You don’t want any jaw-dropping surprises that can also be costly.

Masonry Repairs

If you’re having masonry issues you need to jump on these right away. They are not that difficult to spot. Those cracks and deteriorating water joints are like a dam waiting for water to fill up and totally damage the structure of your chimney.

So, this is not a DIY project. The repairs that you need to do should only be done by a professional mason. This is the only way to ensure that the repairs are lost for a long time. You don’t want to have to be digging into your piggy bank, to fix them all the time.

Waterproofing Sealant

Your first line of defense is to make sure that you are applying waterproofing sealant in the correct place. The exterior of the brick or masonry of the chimney is a perfect place to do this. The protective coating will give an effective barrier against water penetration.

Remember that the chimney needs to breathe and a good protective coating allows this. Make sure that the sealant you choose is specifically designed to use on the chimney and be sure to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a “T”.

If you don’t it could be disastrous. A sealant is for protection so choose wisely with the help of a professional. This will ensure the best results.

Prevent Chimney Water Damage With Professional Chimney Cleaning & Repair Services in Woodbridge, VA

Chimney water damage will never be a problem for you if you rely on our expert service. We have a team that knows how to make sure that water damage is prevented or dealt with swiftly.

This ensures that you don’t dig deep into your pockets to exact extensive repairs. We pride ourselves on affordability and expertise. Get in touch with us today, we are here to help!