Homeowners generally know that leaks within the home are bad. When there’s a leak, it needs to be repaired fast to prevent damage, right? You are probably aware that you can take certain measures to prevent leaks in your home’s plumbing system. But did you know you could take measures to prevent leaks in the chimney as well? Let’s take a look at the importance of waterproofing the chimney and how to do it.
Get it Inspected
First and foremost, you your chimney needs to be inspected at least once per year. The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) recommends that a regularly-used chimney be inspected at least twice per year to prevent the buildup of creosote and ensure that the chimney and flue are not damaged. If an inspection reveals that there is a leak in your chimney, on your roof, or near the flashing of your skylights, you can get repaired quickly. A fast response will keep future problems from emerging.
How Bad Could Water Be?
The worst thing that could happen isn’t always a flood. Yes, flooding is detrimental, of course. But what about light seepage or drips that keep the structural beams supporting your roof damp? What’s the big deal with this small amount of water? In a word – rot. When water is left to spill into the home, slowly, you’re going to end up with serious damage over time before you realize it.
Rot doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and when it starts to become a serious issue, mold starts to form. Mold is a problematic issue, and black mold can cause serious illness. This may seem grim, but it’s a major problem that just a small leak can create before you even realize there’s an issue.
Water seeps into brick and mortar and sits there until it either evaporates due to heat or freezes during cold weather. Evaporation is preferred, but that isn’t always the case. Water expands when it freezes, and if it is trapped in the bricks or mortar, it cracks just a little. Then more water seeps in and the freeze process begins all over again. This process repeats until there are large cracks in the masonry if you don’t notice it and make timely repairs.
Protection Doesn’t Cost Nearly As Much as Replacing
When you start to break down the cost of cleaning and eradicating mold, it’s not that difficult to see that waterproofing the chimney is cheaper and easier. Waterproofing doesn’t cost a lot of money. We regularly waterproof the chimneys of Delaware County homeowners to help combat the damages caused by water.
Lou Curley’s Chimney Service is located in Delaware County. We provide chimney services to the surrounding areas and towns along the Main Line. Ask about our monthly deals when you call to schedule an appointment for your next chimney inspection, repair, or cleaning. We’re offering $20 off of a chimney cleaning for August, and we’ll have another great money-saving offer for September.