Leaky Chimney Repair for Cook, Lake, and McHenry Counties
A leaking chimney can be a little or a big problem — it all depends on how long you wait to address it. Because water can be entering your chimney (and seeping into your walls, ceilings, and floors) from a number of places, it’s important to call a chimney professional to help locate the source of your leak. We commonly find that there are simple and cost-effective fixes for leaking chimneys; oftentimes a chimney just needs a new crown, cover, or chase top, or the flashing needs to be repaired. Besides repairing or replacing these chimney components to help keep water out, we often recommend a professional waterproofing of your chimney, whereby we apply a water repellent that prevents water from penetrating your brick and mortar or from staining your chimney with efflorescence and mildew. Sometimes tuckpointing work is also necessary.
Whatever you do, don’t put off calling about your leaking chimney. Water and chimneys simply do not mix, and when left untreated a leaking chimney can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in water damage. Not only are brick and mortar porous, but many of the chimney’s components are metal and prone to rust. Protecting your chimney from water is the best way to extend the service life of your entire chimney system.
Why Is My Chimney Leaking?
There are a number of reasons why your chimney may be leaking. Some of the ones we most commonly see are:
- Rusted, cracked or deteriorated cap, crown or chimney cover
- Flashing that’s rusted, gapped or loose
- Brick and mortar in need of repair
- Chimney needs a properly-sized liner to keep fumes from condensing
Only a chimney professional will be able to determine for sure why your chimney is leaking. Don’t be tempted to call a roofer to fix your chimney problem. Before you waste hundreds of dollars fixing the wrong problem, call Aelite Chimney and get your leaking chimney fixed for good.
How to Know If Your Chimney Is Leaking
A leaking chimney isn’t always obvious, but there are some tell-tale signs that often give us a pretty good idea whether or not a chimney is leaking. These include:
- A dripping sound
- Water stains on the ceiling or walls around your chimney
- Discolored, stained or missing mortar
- A mildew smell
- Rainwater around your fireplace or in your furnace thimble
We specialize in finding the source of the problem, so if you think you have a leaking chimney, call Aelite Chimney at (815) 363-1242, today or click here to schedule an appointment online!
Another part of our professional services at Aelite Chimney is complete dryer vent cleaning. Keeping your dryer vents clean reduces this possibility of a hazardous home fire.