ChimneySaver Saves Your Chimney
Now that Spring is finally here, we get to enjoy some warmer days. However, with spring weather comes spring showers as well. Rain and your chimney does not have a good relationship. When it comes to your chimney, water is not good for it at all. Rain can cause serious problems to the structure of your chimney. At Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service, we want to help you understand just how much damage water can cause, and what you can do to prevent water from entering your chimney system.
Freeze-thaw Cycle
Even though warmer weather is here, it’s not unusual for the weather to dip below freezing, especially at night. This freeze-thaw cycle can have devastating effects on your chimney. When spring rains come, the precipitation permeates the porous mortar and rests in them. When the temperatures dip below freezing again, that moisture freezes and expands and causes the pores to get bigger. As this cycle continues, the pores can get big enough to cause chimney leaks or an unsteady chimney structure altogether.
Damage by Water
When your chimney starts to leak, there are some areas that are more prone to damage than others. For example, when rain trickles down your chimney, it can cause the damper to rust and warp. This also cause the seal to not be as tight. If this happens, outside air can get into your house, and the heated or cooled air from your home can escape, which causes an increase of your energy bill.
Other damage caused by water include rusted fireplace accessories, deteriorating firebox assembly, or a deteriorating chimney liner. You might even notice that the ceiling around your fireplace is soft and saggy, with brown spots. You also might notice the walls around your fireplace is stained and weak or flaky, or that the floorboards are soft and peeling. Any of these signs can mean your chimney is leaking.
What to Do
If you’ve noticed any sign of chimney leaks, the best thing to do is professional chimney waterproofing. At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, we are just a call away. We can inspect your chimney and look for leaks. After we get the troubled areas fixed, we can then waterproof your chimney. We use ChimneySaver to waterproof chimneys, a vapor permeable solution. There is likely moisture present in your chimney pores. It’s important to pick a product that doesn’t just keep precipitation out, but it also allows remaining moisture to leave. That’s exactly how ChimneySaver is designed to work.
If you’re worried that precipitation is shortening the life of your chimney, give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service a call and we’ll apply ChimneySaver, to save your chimney!