Finding the chimney leak and fixing it in Richmond Heights
Cap, crown, masonry, roof junction or chase cover, we find out which one is letting the water in.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Leak symptoms we trace in Richmond Heights
- Rust flakes on the firebox floor
- Musty smell near the fireplace after rain
- Water marks returning after a patch
- Dark brick patches long after rain stops
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What goes into tracing a chimney leak
How we run a staged hose check
When the job calls for it, a hose water test can reproduce a leak under control. One section of the chimney gets wetted while a member of our team watches inside. Nothing else is wetted until that stage has had its chance to show.
Sequence is the whole point. We begin low, at the roof junction, and move up through the masonry, the crown and finally the top. Soaking the top first would send water over everything beneath it and blur the answer. A test is not routine, and we say why one would help before we start.
Leak clues on the attic framing
If your attic is reachable, it can show where water travels. Look at the framing and the roof deck around the chimney with a good light. Stains, damp wood, rusty nails or wet insulation mark the path. Note which side of the chimney they are on.
Step only on joists or boards, and keep away from wiring. Do not move insulation around with bare hands. Tell us what you saw when you book a visit in Richmond Heights. Stains high on the chimney side of the framing point to different causes than stains lower down on the roof deck.
A leak that began after roof work
If a chimney started leaking soon after a roof replacement or repair, the junction is a likely suspect. Metal may have been reused, disturbed or not tied into the new roofing correctly. Nails may have gone through places they should not.
Tell us when the roof work was done and by whom. We check the junction closely and explain what we find. If the problem is in the roofing work, the findings say so in terms your roofer can act on, whether or not we do the repair.
Watching the next heavy rain
After a leak repair, the best test is the next heavy rain. Check the stain you marked in pencil, the attic and the fireplace during and after it. If nothing new appears, that is a good sign.
One dry storm is encouraging, but a leak that appeared only with wind from one direction needs that wind to be tested. Keep an eye on it through a few different storms. If water appears again, tell us promptly, and keep the evidence in place for us to see.
Scope notes for a chimney leak
- Roof junction from the roof and attic
- Staged hose water test when the job calls for it
- Room protection during any testing
- Interior restoration left to its trade
Chimney leak answers for Richmond Heights homes
Can you find a chimney leak that only happens in some storms?
Often, with patience. Your log of when it leaks, the wind direction and where the water appears narrows the search. When the job calls for it, wetting one area at a time with a hose helps, though no hose fully copies wind-driven rain.
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.
Can someone come out while the leak is actually happening?
Tell us when you call that the leak is active, and we arrange the visit as soon as the schedule allows. An active leak shows its path more clearly. If it dries out first, your notes and pencil marks help fill the gap.
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Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo