Normal for chimney to leak rain?

[AlexNY]

I had a new woodstove and completely new chimney installed about three months ago (it cost me exactly $5000). I live in NY, and we recently had two days of heavy rain mixed with strong wind.

There was a rivulet of rainwater emerging from the juncture between the single wall stove pipe and the ceiling shroud. It was not a huge amount of water, about 1 cup per 10 minutes or so. The water was dropping right onto the top of my hot stove. I made the mistake of purchasing a stone stove (heritage from hearthstone), so naturally I am quite worried about rainwater dropping on the stove top during a burn.

The chimney installer came, inspected, and told me that strong wind and rain can force water into a correctly installed chimney, and refused to fix anything.

We have had light rain before (with no wind), so I am inclined to believe the installer.

However, we have heavy rain (with wind) frequently enough that this is going to be a major PITA because hot soapstone will crack if water falls on it (I am told that a cracked stone will cost me several hundred dollars to fix).

Any advice? What should I do?

Thanks.

 

[Pagey]

I had the same thing happen last year, and here was my problem: the installer didn't run a bead of silicone all the way up the vertical seam on the last run of Class A that was exposed above the roof line. So, water would run down the vertical seam on the exterior of the last Class A section, down the back side of the pipe in the living space, collect in the ceiling support box, and the drip from the corner of the box onto the stove.

You may want to check out your vertical seams if you can get easy roof access.

 

[BandSawyer]

I had water leaking in my chimney but not at the rate you describe. I applied a sealer to the masonry outside the house and that took care of the problem.

 

[rustynut]

pagey speakes of caulking the vertical seam and i agree...........
also make sure that the storm colar has been caulked
use that high temp caulk
this was a detail that i had missed and mine leaked the same way - until it was caulked
keeping it stoked
rn

 

[Tfin]

Had the same issue a year or so ago........turned out crows were picking at and pulling away the bead of silicone around the top of my storm collar. Bastidly birds.

Since I don't know how to keep the crows away, I go up and check it everynow and again and re-apply the silicone when necessary.

 

[tiber]

Since I don't know how to keep the crows away, I go up and check it everynow and again and re-apply the silicone when necessary.

In PA at least, there's no closed season on crow.

Here's your problem - The water on your stove is water that hasn't been wicked up by the rest of your housing material. In the age of chinese drywall and all the rest of the crap in the building industry, it's really not a good idea to get things wet. Frankly it sounds like they did a real crap-job with the flashing and they really should come back to fix it.

 

[begreen]

For sure you don't want any water coming down the pipe. Can you post a pic of the roof side of this installation. It's hard to tell whether this is a simple sealing issue or something more.

 

[Nic36]

I had the same issue as Pagey and Rustynut. However, mine was leaking a little less perhaps. So, I'm not sure if something else is going on. But, from where it is coming out, it sure sounds like it is wicking in along the outside chimney seam making it's way down the inside of the Class A chimney and coming out your celing support.

And no, no matter how hard the rain, it should not be leaking like that. Since I put a bead of silicone along the outside chimney seams, I have never seen a leak since. We have had some torrential rain and wind this year too......like two nights ago.

It just irks me that you cannot get anything done properly now. I have to learn how to do everything just because I can't hire any competent person to do anything correctly. The only thing I have hired someone to do in a long while was shingle my roof 3 years ago. And guess what, I found leaks. I should have learned how to put down shingles myself.

Anyway, I don't mean to change the subject, but it sounds like they did not seal something somewhere. As Begreen said, if you could post a picture that may help figure it out some. But, a bead of silicone down the outside chimney seam won't hurt a thing, so it's worth a shot.

 

[cycloxer]

No, that is not normal. I would politely explain to your installer that you didn't fork over 5 big ones to have water dripping onto your schnazzy soapstone stone. That is bs. 1 cup of water every 10 mins is a big leak. Tell him to get up there and caulk the thing the right way. There were several good pointers mentioned as to where to look for the leak.

I have a slightly different chimney setup, but I get exactly zero water coming into the chimney - even if it is raining horizontal - as it should be.

The guy is feeding you a pork sandwich.

 

[LLigetfa]

Had the same issue a year or so ago........turned out crows were picking at and pulling away the bead of silicone around the top of my storm collar. Bastidly birds.

Since I don't know how to keep the crows away, I go up and check it everynow and again and re-apply the silicone when necessary.

I put a bead of silicone under the storm collar and set the collar down into it while it was still soft.