Chimney Leaking Droplets

[ddurrett896]

Been in my house for 8 years and never had an issue with the chimney or leaking. Replaced the roof 1.5 years ago and been fine (hurricanes, nor'easters included) until recently.

What's happening is the chimney is leaking small droplets when there's a heavy rain. It's not even a steady drip, almost like the droplets form and hang there then finally drop.

Below is a picture of my chimney. Got up on theroof with a hose and hit all sides at and below the flashing (GREEN ARROWS) and nothing. Moved to the top cap and bricks (RED ARROWS) and soaked it for maybe 30 seconds and finally a droplet dropped into the attic.

Anyone got an idea? At first I though it was the flashing, now I'm thinking the brick is adsorbing the water and somehow making it's way down. Cap is in original and has small cracks, but nothing that hasn't been there since we moved in.

Figured next step would be to replace cap then waterproof above the flashing, but I'd ask before committing. Any info would be greatly appreciated.


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[sti491]

I had a similar problem and it took several attempts to fix it. I caulked all the obvious places, then sprayed the brick with a Thompson’s Water Seal type product, but for chimneys. Still leaked.

Finally, I took really good quality clear caulk, and painstakingly use a finger to push it in every minuscule, sometimes not so small, nooks & crannies, chips and mortar cracks or openings, all over the brick exterior. It took a long
time.

That fixed it.

 

[moreover]

I battled a chemny issue much like yours. My leakage was substantially worse when we had a prolonged soaking rain event. I tried everything in the book initially. I repointed all the brickwork as some had developed cracks and was pulling away from the joints. Then sealed it as mentioned above. When this didn't resolve the problem I focused on the spalled mortar chimney cap. Chipping the old (applied in 1987) mortar from the cap using a pneumatic chipping hammer.

Buckets of mortar were mixed and brought up to the chimney and troweled on. I finished the repair with ChimneyRX sealer.

No leaks after 2 years. It's probably time to reapply sealer and inspect the sealer on the cap.

 

[rlitman]

Where's the drop coming from in relationship to the chimney. I'd guess, from this opposite side of the internet, that it's a flashing issue. Do you have a cricket flashing, or is water allowed to find a level there?

https://www.google.com/search?q=chimney+cricket+flashing

 

[ddurrett896]

Where's the drop coming from in relationship to the chimney. I'd guess, from this opposite side of the internet, that it's a flashing issue. Do you have a cricket flashing, or is water allowed to find a level there?

https://www.google.com/search?q=chimney+cricket+flashing

Thought that at first, so I soaked it and nothing. No need for a cricket.

The leak is on the sides where the 3 and 6 o’clock green arrows are.

 

[moreover]

I forgot to add. I had cut away the ceiling area away to repair the damage and inspection and was able to see the water saturating the cap and brick mortar and weeping through in droplets. I'd be willing to bet this is your problem. My chimney looked in similar condition to yours.

 

[rlitman]

Thought that at first, so I soaked it and nothing. No need for a cricket.

The leak is on the sides where the 3 and 6 o’clock green arrows are.

Any time the roof slopes down into a chimney, you need a cricket. Anyway, water wicks in weird ways. I'd think that any water that gets into the masonry will not lead to a drip, unless there's a crack leading it back out.

 

[Bert_]

Cap is not in great shape. Flashing looks like it's just laid up against the brick and tarred.

You can't hardly get anyone to do good chimney flashing. When I roof my own house, the chimney is getting flashing tucked into the mortar joints and all the corners will be soldered.

 

[firebirdparts]

Bend you a little tin cap that will cover the top.

 

[captain14]

Mike Haduck has a YouTube channel for masonry work among other topics. I’ll look later and see if I can find one where he replaces the chimney cap. I had mine redone 25-30 years ago. Didn’t leak but it was starting to deteriorate.

 

[BillK]

Is it actually dripping inside the fireplace ??? If so I cant imagine it getting through the brickwork all the way into the inner liner etc. I bet its being blown into the sides of the cap.

 

[SALIV8]

I’d have it tuckpointed (grind out and replace mortar tho, not just a topping) then have the top cast replaced also.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you hosed around the flashing had no issues, let it alone. Don't try to fix a problem when there isn't one.

If you got leakage when hosing around the crown, that is your issue. You need either a new premade chimney crown or form/pour your own.

Wait till nicer weather. Remove the chimney cap, that's the metal piece on top of the flue, then carefully chip and break up the crown. Be careful as to not crack or break the flue liner.

Once it's all removed, form up a new crown, one that over hangs the brick chimney by 1 1/2-2 inches. Once it's done and cured, brush some concrete sealer on it.

 

[Firstram]

I had the same problem. Grind all the mortar back and tuck point, and redo that mortar chimney cap. When you do the cap, ratchet strap a form in place so you have an overhang.

 

[captain14]

Mike Haduck has a YouTube channel for masonry work among other topics. I’ll look later and see if I can find one where he replaces the chimney cap. I had mine redone 25-30 years ago. Didn’t leak but it was starting to deteriorate.

Here’s a link to the first of Mike’s 10+ part series on chimney repair.

 

[greenskeeper]

Paint with drylok. Had to do this on my detatched garage chimney as the block would absorb water and leak during heavy rain. Two coats and it's been dry for 5+ years.

 

[joey1320]

Figured next step would be to replace cap then waterproof above the flashing, but I'd ask before committing. Any info would be greatly appreciated.


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I would start by properly caulking or using the correct mortar to seal/fix the top cap. No need to actually replace it unless you want to for piece of mind.

Fix those cracks and gaps. Do some tuckpointing(?) where the red arrows are on the bricks and see what happens.

 

[zak77]

It is very possible the brick is absorbing water and causing infiltration. I sealed the brick on my chimney and that stopped the leakage. Picked some water based stuff at Home Depot and sprayed it on. I honesy didnt think it'd help but sure enough.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I agree with NUTTSGT fix it right. I might try a sealer on it for a temporary fix.

 

[ducatithunder]

Chances are its your crown. It looks cracked and not an idea condition. Get this done soon as the water will start to freeze and the brick will spall. Not a good thing and will be alot more costly to repair.

I recently did mine. That crown is supposed to extend past the brick. The crown is a roof for the chimney. Likely you will have to cut off the old motar crown and re pour it. Sealer is a very temp fix. Its more labor then cost to redo the crown. Do it right the first time becasue doing it twice *****, more so if you pay someone else to do it twice. Its pretty straight forward. Just need to leave a slop and expansion gap around the flue. Build a small wooden frame and pour the concrete. You can buy a kit but wood is cheaper and easier to customize around odd shapped chimenys. Dont use mortar ... concrete is what you want. Either sand mix or rock. Fiberglass reinfornced is also a good idea. I had to mix (9) 80lb bags for my cap. Luckly my house is MCM ranch single story. It was roughly 3x6ft and my cap was 3 inches thick. Your is way smaller. Google chimney crown replacement and DIY. Good luck

 

[ducatithunder]

After the crown is done. I would take a good look and see if the mortar for the brick needs to be repointed. Again, youtube is your friend if you want to DIY. Where abouts in VA are you?

 

[ddurrett896]

Where abouts in VA are you?

South east