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These chimney maintenance tips will help ensure that your chimney is well taken care of and working properly.  Cracks in brick or in the masonry joints between bricks are early warning signs that your chimney is on the road to ruin.   Patching cracks in your brick chimney can save you thousands of dollars worth of repairs later on, as well as keep you and your family safe by reducing the possibility of chimney fires.  Small cracks in the summer can become surprisingly large cracks by next spring.  Letting those larger cracks in the outer brick go unattended will deepen the penetrating effect of rain, snow, and ice.  Then, the water begins to work its way down, sometimes between the outer brick and the flashing, sometimes farther inside, between the outer brick and the flue.

Make Sure your Chimney is Waterproof

Moisture and the elements can be major problems for your chimney.  They can weaken the structural integrity of your chimney, cause mold and even damage the walls and floor around your fireplace. You’ll need to make sure your chimney waterproofing, chase cover, crown and flashing are all functioning properly.  Start by waterproofing your chimney. Adding a water sealant to the outside of your chimney will prevent moisture from breaking down the bricks and mortar and sneaking into you home.

Obviously there’s a large hole at the top of your chimney which allows smoke to escape.  You don’t want to seal that hole but you also don’t want rain and snow from getting into your home. What can you do?

For prefabricated chimneys, chimney caps are a great addition.  It covers the top while still allowing smoke to escape through a small pipe.  Most prefabricated chimneys come with galvanized steel chase covers which have a tendency to rust.  Replace it with a stainless steel, copper or aluminum chase cover so you don’t have to worry about rust again.

For masonry chimneys, you’ll need to get a crow.  It’s a concrete cover that prevents anything from getting into your home.  Like chase covers, the smoke escapes through a pipe coming from the crown.

The flashing is where the chimney meets the roof.  Without a sealant going around the meeting point, moisture can seep into your home.  Make sure your flashing is in good condition.

Make Sure Your Mortar Joints and Bricks Aren’t Crumbling

The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney play a crucial role in avoiding water damage inside of your home. However, they begin to crack and crumble over time and give moisture an entrance into your home.  Chimney tuckpointing is the act of repairing mortar.  If you notice that your mortar is crumbling and the bricks are starting to become loose, then you’re in need of chimney tuckpointing.

Make sure you get a waterproofing sealant for your chimney stack.  This will help keep the mortar and bricks protected from moisture.

Patch Cracks in the Large Crown Area

The chimney crown is a sloping cap that forms the top-most section of your chimney.  Its purpose is both to protect the masonry section of the chimney and to prevent water from pooling on top.  Cracks in the crown are even more problematic than cracks on the vertical sections of the chimney since water, snow, and ice can gather there.  Even with a recommended 1:4 ratio slope on the crown, moisture will linger on this area.

Patch Hairline Cracks With Sealant

Hairline cracks, sometimes called spider cracks, are treated differently from large cracks since mineral particles in the patch or mortar are too large to fit in the hairline crack’s narrow space.  The solution is to use a masonry sealer which can penetrate the hairline cracks.  As a bonus, this type of product will seal up all other areas of the porous crown, preventing additional hairline cracks from forming.

Repair Cracked Bricks

Individual chimney bricks that have a small crack or two can be repaired with mortar.  Clean out the crack with the edge of a putty knife or with a screwdriver. Sweep the crack clean with a wire brush.  Squeeze high-heat mortar into the crack as far as possible.  Generally, the mortar will not extend very far unless it is a large crack. With a gloved finger, wipe the mortar clean from the crack. Use a rag to clean the area around the crack.  If the brick cracks are very thin hairline cracks, you may be able to close them up by brushing them with masonry sealer.  It’s best if you hire a professional.

Another source for water damage is the step flashing.  It is sheet metal pieces “stepped” into the brick where it meets the roof line and is laced into the roofing.  Sometimes the mortar or bricks need repaired or replaced around the metal pieces. Sometimes a good silicone caulking will do the trick.

Replace Cracked Bricks

Severely damaged bricks should be entirely removed and replaced.  It is possible to carefully remove a single brick without affecting adjacent bricks.  With a masonry chisel or old flat-head screwdriver, slowly chip away mortar from between the bricks.  Using a drill and masonry bit to bore holes into the mortar will speed up the process and allow you to reach farther back.  Once the brick is loosened, pull it out by hand. Use the chisel to chip away residual mortar from the adjacent bricks so that they are smooth.  Use a small trowel to butter all four sides of the replacement brick (not including the front or back) with mortar. Push the replacement brick in place, centering it so that the seams on all sides are of equal width. Remove any excess mortar and smooth the joints with a tuckpointing tool.

Finish it off with a chimney cap

You don’t want animals getting into your chimney.  Set the cap over the flue liner and secure it with screws.  Tighten until snug, but no more. Excessive pressure can crack the clay liner.  A chimney cap keeps water and critters out of your flue and extends flue life.  Many codes require a mesh cap, so check before buying.

Have Your Chimney Inspected Once Per Year

Just looking at your chimney isn’t enough to spot problems – some are underlying and need a professional to find them.  Having a chimney inspection once per year is crucial to ensure your chimney’s safety.

These Chimney Maintenance Tips Will Save You Money and Keep Your Home Safe

There are many different chimney and home maintenance tips.  They cover everything from minor chimney inspections to completely changing how you use your fireplace.