Brick Chimney leak

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.

Bcamp01

New Member
Jan 8, 2019
1
Oklahoma
My brick chimney is leaking on the inside with heavy rains. In the picture seems like the obvious spot that it is leaking from. Would you all agree that this is the probablentry point for water? Also, what kind of sealant is best to use here?
Thanks!
20190106_133450.jpg
 
I would clean all that as best as you could and use clear silicone like ge silicone 2.




Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25
 
that looks like a good place to start. If it does not resolve problem Then your mortar joints further down are the problem. The good news is, if that should be the case, there are several clear sealants on the market that can be applied with a garden sprayer. If nothing is loose. Over the course of the last 40 years I have chased water intrusion problems on brick chimneys on mutiple dwellings. Likely haven't seen it all but apx 90%
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bcamp01
Yes, I'd remove that old roofing cement and use a trowel to lather on a new coating of roofing cement. Perhaps reinspect your work a couple of days later and decide if a second layer is a good idea.

It will either solve the problem or you will need to look farther for possible problems.
 
No absolutly do not use roofing cement use a good silicone. And no spray on sealers wont do anything at all if the mortar is cracked. They are only usefull if the masonry units are abnomally porous.

Can you post some pics of the masonry?
 
Hello bholler,

Why do you recommend against furnace cement?
Well I recommend against roofing cement because it is the wrong product for this application. (And most others it is used for for that matter). It will seal it up for at most a year then it will crack because it doesn't stay flexible enough and another coat will be applied. By the time we get called out to actually fix the leak there is usually over a gallon of the crap on there we have to chip away to actually fix the problem
 
My brick chimney is leaking on the inside with heavy rains. In the picture seems like the obvious spot that it is leaking from. Would you all agree that this is the probablentry point for water? Also, what kind of sealant is best to use here?
Thanks!View attachment 237702
The real problem is there is no lip on the chase cover it should have a lip and storm collar so you aren't relying just on a bead of caulk that gets stretched every time that chimney warms up.
 
Well I recommend against roofing cement because it is the wrong product for this application. (And most others it is used for for that matter). It will seal it up for at most a year then it will crack because it doesn't stay flexible enough and another coat will be applied. By the time we get called out to actually fix the leak there is usually over a gallon of the crap on there we have to chip away to actually fix the problem


<<
How to Use Roof Cement
87739327_XS.jpg

Related Articles




Roof cement is a multi-purpose patching material and adhesive for repairing holes and leaks in roofs; fixing rust spots and joints in leaky gutters and metal trim; and stopping leaks in flashing around chimneys, valleys and coping. It also is used to glue down loose asphalt shingles and fill cracks in concrete. Roof cement is an emulsion of asphalt, refined mineral spirits, plasticizers and non-asbestos reinforcing fibers. There are formulas for dry and wet surfaces.
>>


Well --- seems like it's within the uses recommended for roofing cement. But I'll defer to your practical experience with the stuff.
 


Here's a video on installing the flashing and storm collar. It looks like the flashing ought to be waterproof and the storm collar protecting against water getting down into the chimney pipe.

So that suggests that there was no proper flashing used at all in the case at hand, with the furnace cement trying to substitute for both the flashing and storm collar.
 
<<
How to Use Roof Cement
View attachment 238410
Related Articles




Roof cement is a multi-purpose patching material and adhesive for repairing holes and leaks in roofs; fixing rust spots and joints in leaky gutters and metal trim; and stopping leaks in flashing around chimneys, valleys and coping. It also is used to glue down loose asphalt shingles and fill cracks in concrete. Roof cement is an emulsion of asphalt, refined mineral spirits, plasticizers and non-asbestos reinforcing fibers. There are formulas for dry and wet surfaces.
>>


Well --- seems like it's within the uses recommended for roofing cement. But I'll defer to your practical experience with the stuff.
Just because you find a site saying something does not mean it is true. Roof cement is an absolute nightmare to those of us who actually fix leaks.
 


Here's a video on installing the flashing and storm collar. It looks like the flashing ought to be waterproof and the storm collar protecting against water getting down into the chimney pipe.

So that suggests that there was no proper flashing used at all in the case at hand, with the furnace cement trying to substitute for both the flashing and storm collar.

This is a chase cover it doesn't need flashing just a lip turned up