The snow is going away but it’s being replaced by rain! There’s something so pleasant about the sound of rain falling on the roof at the end of a long, snowy winter. It washes away all the dirt and grime and leaves things feeling and smelling fresh and clean. Before you know it, there will be a soft green carpet of new grass and little pale green buds on the trees. But sometimes rain doesn’t have such a pleasant effect. Sometimes it brings weathering and wearing down of different structures. It can cause loss of topsoil, flooding of rivers, and wearing away of man-made and natural structures. And it can also cause severe damage to your chimney system.
What Happens To Your Chimney in the Rain
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), precipitation can damage your chimney in several ways. First, and perhaps most problematic, is that it can cause the mortar to wear away, to weaken and become crumbly. This is a problem because if the mortar wears away, the very structure of the chimney can be weakened. This can also cause cracks to occur, and this means that there can be water leaking down into the chimney and into the firebox. This means that you may have weakened wallboards or ceilings, and, in extreme cases where the damage isn’t detected right away, mold can start to grow. Other problems that a leaky chimney can cause are rusted fireplace accessories and damper system, a deteriorating heating system, and even a collapsed hearth support.
Causes of Chimney Leaks
There are several causes of chimney leaks, including loose or rusted flashing or a cracked or chipped chimney crown. But when you call Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, one of the first things we’ll check out is your chimney cap or your chase cover, depending on what type of chimney you have. First, what’s the difference? A chimney cap is placed on a brick and mortar chimney, while a chase cover is made for a prefabricated fireplace. A chase cover only goes over the top of the flue opening, but a chimney cap actually sits right on top of the chimney crown and covers the opening of your chimney. It is designed to have a little roof that deflects water away from the opening, and with metal grated sides that let the smoke out while keeping critters out of the chimney. If you don’t have either of these, you should!
Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc
Because precipitation can cause so much damage to your chimney structure, it’s very important that you take the best precautions available to make sure that it doesn’t get in your chimney. What this means is having a chimney cap or a chimney chase cover. Now is the time to give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc a call, before the rainy season hits in full force. We’ll set you up with a chimney cap or chase cover so you don’t have to worry about rain damage this spring.