Finding the chimney leak and fixing it in Lauderdale Lakes

A leak that needs heavy rain

If your chimney leaks in every shower, there is likely a clear opening somewhere. If it leaks only after long, heavy rain, the masonry may be absorbing water until it cannot hold more. Those two leaks call for different repairs.

Light rain that causes a leak points toward the top of the flue, the roof junction or a failed cover. Heavy rain alone points toward absorption through brick, mortar or a cracked crown. We ask about this early, because it decides which tests and checks make sense.

Questions to ask about a leak proposal

A leak repair proposal should make sense to you before you approve it. These questions help test whether it does, whichever company wrote it.

Our estimate answers these in writing. If any answer is unclear, ask us to explain it again. A repair you understand is easier to judge when the next heavy rain comes.

• What evidence points to this part as the source
• Which other paths were checked and ruled out
• What happens if the leak continues afterward
• What the proposal leaves out, and why

Choosing among repair options

A leak can often be fixed in more than one way. A crown might be sealed or rebuilt. A roof junction might be resealed or replaced. The right choice depends on the condition of the part and how much life is left in it.

We lay out the options that fit the evidence and explain what each can be expected to do. The decision is yours. If you choose a smaller repair, we note the risks in writing, so you know what to watch for and when to call us back.

Grit and crumbs on the hearth

Sand, grit or small crumbs of mortar on the hearth can mean water is washing material out of the chimney. It may come from eroding joints, a crumbling crown or deteriorating mortar inside the flue.

Sweep some into a bag rather than throwing it away, and show it to us. What it is made of helps us tell where it came from. We check the top and the inside of the flue where we can reach. Water that washes out mortar needs to be stopped before the masonry weakens further.