water dripping in

[johnnywyoming]

Bought a house with an existing Brass Flame KS 805 MH wood stove. Probably installed in the 1990s. The chimney sweep we hired said that there were no problems with the old stove. He cleaned it and stated that it’s built like a tank and he could not find any problems with the chimney. He has been a sweep for 30 years and spent almost three hours here.

We recently had a new roof put on the house by one of the most reputable companies in Oregon. A few weeks after that, we noticed a drip from the chimney support box starter section (just under the ceiling). I called the sweep; he suggested that the wind might be blowing rain into the chimney (live on the coast). He put a wind-directional chimney cap on it. Still, the drips keep coming. Called the roofing company, and they came out immediately to reseal the chimney on the roof.

So I have not fired the stove up since then (two weeks ago) and yesterday there was a puddle of water on top of the stove! I’m unsure whether it originated from the support starter box this time. I am wondering if we are experiencing a buildup of condensation. Warm indoor air can cause excess water vapor to rise through a cooler chimney, according to what I read. The sweep said that the chimney is a two-wall, which is supposed to be better than one-wall. The puddle is localized where the chimney meets the top of the stove, and rust is forming all around the circumference.

The sweep said to light a fire to keep the chimney warm, but honestly, some days we don’t need a fire.

Any ideas or experience with this?

 

[bigealta]

I second lighting up the stove and dry out the chimney when it rains.
Chasing chimney leaks can be frustrating.

With big winds here on the coast too, i can get drips from wind driven rain that gets under the cap and drips inside the flue. In the winter no problem we never see it as it cooks off before it gets very far down. In summer it can make it down to the stove or the fireplace floor that the stove sits in.

 

[Highbeam]

Assuming this is a composition roof, your roof guy screwed something up. The fact that he "sealed" it means he doesn't know what he is doing and is gooping tar all over to try and make up for the lack of skill. Should have no sealant and no exposed fasteners. One exception is the center of the ridge cap, and on the actual chimney pipe, the storm collar, there is a ring of silicone sealant that often fails.

I hate roof leaks and hack roofers.