Leaky Chimney Repair In The Rochester NY Areas - We Fix Chimneys
Buffalo 716-907-4914 / Rochester 585-308-4914
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Leaky Chimney Repair

For homeowners the chimney is one of the most neglected features of the home. Many homes, especially in the Buffalo area, have a chimney that has been around for quite awhile and because of neglect, water is starting to enter the home through the chimney. But at Felgemacher we are on top of things. Here are the top reasons that water is able to penetrate the chimney and into the home.

Damaged Flue Tiles​

Many homes are lined with terra cotta flue tiles that are in place to act as the passage way for all products of combustion from wood burning fireplace, water heater, furnace and/or boiler heating system. After time, the terra cotta tiles breakdown from the resident moisture in the chimney going through freeze/thaw cycles and sulfuric acid given off from gas appliances. This breakdown allows for water to enter the chimney and into the home.

cracked chimney flue

chimney repair in buffalo ny

chimney leaking

chimney flue cracked and needs repair

Cracked Chimney Crown

The chimney crown is the cement structure on top of the chimney. The bricks go up around the tile flue liners, but at the top you need something to stop the rain and snow from just falling in around the tiles. You can see that the very purpose of the chimney crown is to keep rain out. Cracks in the chimney crown can occur from shifting of the structure or from shrinkage dating back to the first day the crown was put on. When your crown has cracks, the water goes right through those cracks.

damaged chimney in Williamsville NYHow to fix a cracked crown depends upon how bad the damage is. Most crowns have small cracks. Even small ones need to be fixed because all big cracks started out as small ones. Water freezes and thaws in the cracks all winter long, year after year, forcing small cracks to eventually become big cracks. There are excellent crown coating materials such as Chimney Saver Crown Coat which cover the masonry and prevent small cracks from becoming a real problem. Once chimney crown damage is significant, though, the only fix it is to remove and relay the masonry. You can’t put a band aid on a gushing wound and you can’t coat a structurally ruined chimney crown and expect it to work.

Damaged Brick and Mortar

Spalled bricks and damaged mortar joints leave gaps and openings for water to penetrate the chimney. Sometimes a chimney can be tuck pointed if the bricks haven't shifted and the integrity of the brick is still intact. The above chimney would be recommended to be rebuilt not tuckpointed.

Flue Caps

Chimneys without a flue cap allow water straight down the chimney. A flue cap eliminates a few issues: rain, animals, birds, and debris from entering the chimney. All of these issues can lead to not only water damage, but cause a blockage to a flue which leads to utilities (hot water tank and furnaces) becoming inoperable. Also, once a flue becomes blocked CO2 can enter in the house causing CO2 poisoning.

Chimney without flue caps

chimney in need of repair

Chimney with flue caps