Chimney Leak Repair Across New Jersey

A chimney can let water in at five places: an open flue with no cap, a cracked crown, failed flashing, porous brick and mortar, or the joint where a chase cover meets a factory-built chimney. The stain on your ceiling rarely tells you which. Water travels along framing, flue tiles and the inside of the brick before it shows up.

That is why we start with a free leak check, not a quote. We look at every possible entry point, from the cap down to the attic, and photograph what we find. Then you get a written price for the fix that matches the real source, starting with the simplest one that will work. Sometimes that is a cap; sometimes it is flashing and brick together.

Signs you need this

• Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney
• Water dripping into the firebox
• Rust on the damper or fireplace doors
• Musty smell from the fireplace after rain
• Rust or water at the furnace or water heater draft hood

How we do it

1. Free leak checkWe inspect the cap, crown, flashing, brick and attic for the source of the water.
2. Find the sourcePhotos show where water is getting in, and we explain why we think so.
3. Fix from the top downCap, crown and flashing come first, then brick and mortar if needed.
4. Seal the brick if neededA breathable water repellent finishes the job on brick that soaks up water.

Is it a chimney leak or a roof leak?

If water shows up only during wind-driven rain, flashing or porous brick is likely. If it drips into the firebox in any steady rain, an uncapped flue or a cracked crown is the usual cause. If the stain is several feet from the chimney, check the roof too.

We trace the water rather than guess. We look at the attic framing around the chimney for water tracks, which often points straight to the side or corner where water enters. If it turns out to be a roof leak, we tell you so you can call a roofer.

Why do Shore chimneys leak after storms?

Superstorm Sandy damaged about 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey, according to FEMA estimates, more than 40,000 of them in Ocean County. Many chimneys, chase covers and flashings were patched in a hurry afterward, and some of those repairs are now failing.

Add over 50 inches of rain a year at Toms River, salt air that rusts steel chase covers and caps, and strong onshore wind, and a Shore chimney takes more water than one inland. Stainless caps and chase covers and properly set flashing hold up best there.

Why is there water at my water heater or furnace?

If the furnace or water heater vents into an uncapped chimney, rain can come straight down the flue and out at the draft hood. That rusts the appliance and can corrode the vent pipe.

Water can also come from condensation: gas exhaust cools in a chimney that is too large or unlined for a modern appliance, and the water vapor condenses inside. A cap fixes rain; condensation usually needs a liner sized to the appliance. We check which one it is.