Though a chimney is often viewed as a permanent part of your home, like any part of your home, it requires regular maintenance and occasional repairs to remain in good operating condition. If you’ve recently noticed issues with your chimney, such as changes in draft, water dripping into your chimney, or similar issues, you may be in need of chimney repairs for your New Braunfels home.
In other cases, you may not be aware of the symptoms until your chimney undergoes its usual annual inspection. At that point, a chimney professional may point out some work that will need to be done to keep your chimney operating effectively. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common chimney repairs our New Braunfels team sees and what we do when we fix them.
Common Chimney Repairs and What They Cover
Blockages in the Chimney
Some chimney blockages are easy to fix, requiring only a thorough cleaning. However, this can also be a sign that your chimney has structural issues that are causing partial collapse, or that an animal has taken residence in your chimney over the summer months, finding the masonry nice and cool on a sweltering day. For the latter two, a chimney specialist can help relocate your new housemate, reline your chimney, or otherwise ensure that you can use your chimney safely, without the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning due to poor smoke draft.
Brick Repointing
Referred to as either tuckpointing or repointing, this process needs to happen when the mortar between the bricks or stones in your chimney ages and begins to crumble. This can not only compromise the safety of your chimney, but your roof as well if bricks begin to fall onto it and damage the surface. In this case, we carefully remove the failing mortar and replace it, ensuring that your chimney remains in excellent condition for many years of reliable service in the future.
Crown Cracks or Damage
Rather than simply being a pretty top to your chimney, your chimney’s cap is a solid piece of masonry that protects the sides of the chimney from excess wear. It does this by sticking out from the edges of the chimney, allowing water to pass to the roof instead of eroding the sides of the chimney. If the crown has become cracked or damaged due to a blow or just old age, it’s important to have it repaired soon, because a broken crown can allow moisture to enter your chimney’s interior, causing freeze/thaw damage over the winter that can lead to an expensive chimney rebuild or replacement.
Chimney Cap Repair or Replacement
The little roof that sits over the top of your chimney is more than a cute hat to keep the rain out, though that is its primary purpose. Though it can be difficult to see, there’s heavy screening under that roof that allows smoke to pass through while keeping hot cinders in your chimney to prevent fire. It also keeps animals out, such as birds, rodents, and even raccoons. This helps keep your home safe and secure and keeps animals where they belong out in the wild.
Damaged Flue Liner
If you thought that your chimney was just a bunch of stacked bricks, you wouldn’t be alone. Most people never see the flue liner, a tube typically made of ceramic or metal that forms your chimney’s interior. This tube is used because it reduces the deposit of creosote and soot on your chimney’s interior, reducing the risk of a chimney fire. It can be damaged by a physical blow, chimney fire, or freeze/thaw damage from moisture inside your chimney. A chimney liner can often be installed that provides protection without a lot of extra work taking your chimney apart, making the process easier.
Loose Flashing
Have you noticed stains on the ceilings or walls around your chimney, or water leaks in the same area? These can be signs of loose or missing flashing around the chimney. Flashing is the part of your roof that goes around vents, chimneys, and other structures that protrude through your roof. If it’s missing, water can flow into your home around those openings, causing significant water damage and possibly leading to issues with mildew and mold if left untreated. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to fix, requiring a quick visit from a professional to repair or replace the flashing, giving you a strong seal against the elements.
Common chimney repairs are fairly easy and inexpensive to have repaired, but like most repairs, if these issues are not tended to, they become more expensive as other parts of the system begin to break down. If you need chimney repairs for your New Braunfels home – from repointing to chimney flashing and more – why not give the professionals at Wolfman Chimney & Fireplace a call or request an appointment? We’re always happy to help.
Reach us online, send us a text, or call us at 830-620-4335 today!