Where the chimney leak starts, found and fixed in Highland Beach
Small leaks caught early usually mean small repairs, and we say when something can safely wait.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Water marks that suggest a chimney leak
- Damp patch on the wall near the fireplace
- Musty smell near the fireplace after rain
- Dripping sounds inside the chimney in rain
- Dark brick patches long after rain stops
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Stopping a chimney leak at the right part
Catching drips while you wait
While you wait for the leak to be found, protect the room. Move furniture and rugs away from the drip, set out a bucket or pan and keep the area dry. If water is collecting in a sagging ceiling, keep people clear of it.
If water is near a light fixture or outlet, switch off that circuit at the panel if you can do so safely. Hold off using the fireplace until the source is known. Then call us to arrange the inspection, and tell us how fast the water is coming in.
Cap and crown are different parts
People often use cap and crown to mean the same thing. They are not. The crown is the solid top of a masonry chimney around the flue. The cap is the cover, usually metal, that sits over the flue opening to keep rain and animals out.
Each can leak in its own way. A missing cap lets rain straight down the flue. A cracked crown lets water into the masonry. Our findings say which part is at fault, and the estimate names it correctly, so you know what is being repaired.
Water through a cracked flue
The flue liner is meant to contain smoke and gases, but it also keeps rain that enters the top inside the flue. If the liner is cracked, water running down it can escape into the surrounding masonry and appear on walls well below the top.
We look down the flue where it can be seen from the top and the firebox. If the liner is part of the leak, its repair is a separate item with its own reasons. The top of the chimney is dealt with first, because a capped flue lets far less water reach the liner.
Soft roof deck found during the repair
When water has been getting in at the roof junction for a long time, the roof deck next to the chimney may have softened. That is not visible until the roofing is lifted. A soft deck is unsafe to stand on and cannot hold new materials firmly.
We say in advance that the deck condition is unknown until the area is open. If we find damage, we stop and explain it before continuing. Replacing that part of the deck is its own item on the estimate. Some of that work suits a roofer better, and we tell you when it does.
The leak scope, part by part
- Damper and smoke shelf water marks
- Nearby roof openings ruled in or out
- Separate items for other defects found
- Earlier patches and coatings noted
Leak questions answered for Highland Beach
How soon should a chimney leak be looked at?
Sooner is better. Water keeps working on the masonry, the damper and the wood around the chimney, even when the stain grows slowly. A small leak caught early usually means a smaller repair and less interior damage.
What does the workmanship warranty apply to on a leak repair?
It applies to the repair we carried out on the part we fixed, as described in the written record. A new leak through a different path is a separate problem, and we explain how we would tell the two apart before you approve.
Do you handle leaks on metal chimneys inside a framed chase?
Yes. On those chimneys the cover over the chase, the storm collar around the flue pipe and the siding below are common paths. Replacement parts for a listed chimney must be the ones its maker specifies.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Smoke Chamber RepairRepair identified smoke-chamber surfaces with the access and material requirements clearly defined.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
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Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo