Fixing leaky chimneys is one of the things Winston’s Chimney Service does best. Not only can our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney technicians repair the damage done to your chimney by water penetration, but we can also prevent water leaks from occurring to protect your bricks and mortar from deterioration. The CSIA has named water as the biggest enemy of a masonry chimney because of the damage and destruction it can do if it penetrates into its bricks and mortar. Water leaks can damage the interior and exterior of your chimney. Water can cause rusting of the components of your fireplace and chimney, rotting of the wood surrounding your fireplace and chimney, spalling of the bricks and mortar, staining of your walls and ceilings, and other deterioration. To give you a better idea of what we can do to protect your chimney from water leaks, we would like to tell you more about the water penetration prevention services we provide to our customers.
CHIMNEY CAPS
Without a chimney cap on the top of your chimney, your home has a hole in the roof that exposes your house to the elements. Water from rain and melted snow can easily enter your home through the chimney if no chimney cap is in place. The chimney technicians at Winston’s Chimney Service are trained and experienced in the installation of every type of chimney cap. We can recommend which type of cap is perfect for your chimney, and will guarantee the proper installation of that cap to protect your chimney from water penetration.
WATERPROOFING
To give your chimney the ultimate protection against water penetration, Winston’s Chimney Service can apply a waterproofing agent to seal the masonry materials from water. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps only use a waterproofing formula that is 100% vapor permeable and allows your chimney to “breathe.” This means that even though water is not allowed to enter from the outside after the waterproofing agent has been applied to your chimney, the water that has previously leaked into your bricks and mortar and the water vapors produced when you burn a fire in your fireplace can escape. We will never use anything like a paint or clear sealant to waterproof your chimney as they will trap water vapors and moisture inside the chimney to cause even more damage to the masonry materials.
Of course, the experienced masons at Winston’s Chimney Service can repair any water-damaged bricks and mortar and improve the integrity of the structure of your chimney. If you have noticed water leak damage to your chimney, contact us today. We can also prevent further deterioration to the masonry materials of your chimney from water penetration.