During the rainy season, Chimney Works takes a lot of calls from Cincinnati homeowners with water coming in and around their chimneys, fireplaces, and stoves.

We have an entire article about leaking chimneys, but for a quick summary, common causes of chimney leaks are cracks in the chimney crown, chimney flashing that has pulled away from the chimney, and broken bricks and mortar. Chimney Works specializes in repairing these types of problems. Read more about leaking chimneys and how Chimney Works evaluates and repairs them.

The smell is due to creosote deposits in the chimney, a natural byproduct of wood burning. The odor is usually worse in the summer when the humidity is high and the air conditioner is turned on. A good cleaning will help but usually won’t solve the problem completely. There are commercial chimney deodorants that work pretty well, and many people have good results with baking soda or even kitty litter set in the fireplace. The real problem is the air being drawn down the chimney, a symptom of overall pressure problems in the house. Some make-up air should be introduced somewhere else in the house. A tight sealing top mounted damper will also reduce this air flow coming down the chimney.

Smoke in the house when you are operating your fireplace or stove can be caused by many factors.

Start by checking that your damper is opened and working properly. Dampers can get off track and even though you have opened the damper it may still remain closed. Sometimes, when lighting a fire if you overload your stove or fireplace it makes it difficult for the smoke to go up the chimney. Also, remember that heat rises and the low temperatures of a fire that is just started may not push the smoke up the chimney. Next check for any obstructions such as a bird’s nest. Everything checks out, you may have a negative pressure situation in your home where the air is being pulled down the chimney.

If the faces of your bricks have started to crumble or flake and fall off, that’s called “spalling”. It is caused by water getting into the bricks and then freezing, expanding and with nowhere to go, breaking your bricks.

Prevention is key here, as once a brick has spalled its best to chisel it out and replace it. A breathable sealant should be applied to your chimney to extend its life.

If you have recently purchased a home and the chimney was neglected you are right to be concerned. The best thing to do is to call a chimney sweep and have them clean and inspect your chimney. A good chimney sweep will understand the NFPA recommendations and will help you identify anything related to your chimney that needs to be addressed.