When your chimney leaks in heavy rain it is often the result of cracked and separated bricks and mortar. Water freezes the cracks in winter. When the temperatures warm up, the ice thaws and leaves a gap in the mortar and around the flue pipe.
We all love spring time. Flowers, bird chirping and warmer weather means mother nature is waking up. In parts of the country, it signifies the “great thaw”. Frozen rivers will expand and flood low areas. Your driveway and steps may show expansion areas from the freeze and thaw.
Chimneys are the same way. Many chimney tops are not slanted properly and water sits on top and seeps into the cracks. When the temperatures freeze, the water does too. As it expands, the brick joints will push apart. This is where the trouble starts.
Notice in this "before" picture the cracks in the top portion of the chimney. It leaks in heavy rain! Request Service By Clicking On The Picture.
How do we stop chimney leaks in heavy rains?
The process of stopping chimney leaks in heavy rains is pretty straight forward. First, we clean and scrap any old mortar and chipping off the top and sides of the chimney. Most of the time, we have to add mortar back into a few areas.
Secondly, after the holes are patched and sealed, we coat the area with a sealant designed for chimneys. It will last from 10 to 15 years with periodic inspections.
The top picture is the “after” picture all sealed up and ready for another decade. Sometimes, the flues coming up from the firebox are installed without being level or plumb. We can not really change that but the repairs will minimize the look if needed.
How do you tell if a firebrick repair is urgently needed? Here is what to look for when it is time to call a professional to replace the fire brick if needed. In the Knoxville TN area, firebrick is frequently inspected as part of our Platinum Chimney Sweep Service. There are several reasons why the fire brick condition is so critical to the health of your fireplace or wood burning stove. Let’s go through the issues.
First, the brick serves two purposes. It protects the outer housing from high temperatures. A wood burning stove can produce temperatures up to 600 degrees internally. In addition, without the brick, the heat and flames would do major damage to the metal, access doors and surfaces. The brick forms a barrier between the fire and the walls of the stove or wood structure in a fireplace.
Second, the fire brick also absorbs and radiates heat inside the stove or fireplace. This allows the heat to continue to radiate out into the space even as the burning wood starts to fade.
In addition, ask for a full inspection of your flue and chimney cap.
After a thorough cleaning, inspect the insides to see if a firebrick repair is required.
By inspecting the stove or fireplace annually, any damage to the firebrick will quickly be seen. A reliable, professional chimney sweep company inspects this brick very closely for damage.
Firebrick and other masonry repairs in a chimney are usually not a do it yourself project. This is special brick and is sourced from different reliable vendors. However, outside patio fire pits use firebrick also and chimneys as well. Pay attention to the type of brick needed for your home’s safety and protection. For instance, brick is expensive. Only buy quality fire brick. Use qualified professionals to install it. Therefore, necessarily hire a contractor based on low price. A fire is expensive. Fire from a chimney issue is often very substantial. Even if it is contained early your insurance cost will go up. Check out the 5 star reviews of chimney sweep companies near youfor reliable installers of firebrick.
Is firebrick special?
Firebrick is used in chimneys on decks and around pools. We inspect these bricks as part of the home inspection process for chimneys also. Outdoor bricks are exposed to the elements. Rain harms bricks. Similarly, snow harms bricks. Freezing rain harms bricks. In other words, the weather breaks down the bricks in addition to the fire.
In conclusion, the brick is special because it stands up to very high temperatures. It is a special type of brick. First, it gets pitted and degrades over time. The effectiveness of the brick is lowered in protection. Secondly, we check for excessive pitting and crumbling of the brick. This indicates it is time to replace the brick. Brick can not be fixed or made new. Finally, it must be replaced for safe operation.
We are the best gas chimney repair in Knoxville TN because we show up, provide an honest opinion of your system and quote a fair price. So often, the biggest challenge in serving the gas chimney is having someone SHOW UP.
There are many times that homeowners told us no one answered a call or showed up after 6 or more calls! That is not right. For many, a gas fireplace is the sole source of heat for their home. With temperatures in east Tennessee routinely in the teens overnight, we must help everyone keep their gas chimney systems working.
See what many of our customers have to say about us on our testimonial page (click on the review below)
Best gas chimney repair Knoxville Testimonial
We are not showing you this to brag. Actually, we are so frustrated at the lack of service by so many others in the industry. Many won’t travel over 30 miles outside of Knoxville TN. Really? With all of the homes in the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, this is not right.
Clear Chimney travels from Cookeville TN to Morristown TN and down to Chattanooga TN. We even go up into Kentucky for special services. We view this as a service to our fellow families. Heating in your home can mean the difference in surviving the winter.
