Water Leaks on Prefabricated Chimneys
Unlike Masonry Chimneys, Prefabricated chimney components are made of thin sheet metal and are very susceptible to rusting. Left unchecked, water damage often causes your fireplace or stove to become damaged beyond repair requiring a total replacement of the entire system! For this reason, it is imperative that water is not allowed to collect or infiltrate where it doesn’t belong!
The following are the most common types of water leakage problems we see on prefabricated, factory-built chimney systems. If your chimney system has any of these problems, you’ll want to have it corrected as soon as possible to avoid unsafe conditions or avoidable expensive repairs in the future.
Chimney Cap Issues
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Damaged chimney rain cap.
Missing chimney rain cap.Chase Pan Cover Issues
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Ponding water on chase pan cover.
Chase pan cover rusted through.
Chase pan cover penetrated with nails or screws.
Chase pan cover rusted and incorrectly pieced together.
Wood rot due to an incorrectly sized chase pan cover.Storm Collar Issues
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Storm collar missing.
Storm collar not caulked.
This storm collar has been installed too high.Signs of Water Leaks
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A peek between the upper fireplace ventilation louvers will often reveal water marks if a leak above is present.
Visible water stains inside the firebox are also strong indicators that the sheet metal firebox is on its way to becoming rusted out.
When this happens, the entire fireplace and chimney pipe will need to be replaced.
Extensive rust damage.You can convert your prefab unit with a wood stove insert. Consult with A to Z to get all the details about this type of upgrade to be sure it’s done right!
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A to Z did a great job sweeping our chimney! After they cleaned the flue, they put a small camera up the chimney to make sure it was sound. He had me look at the computer screen to show me what he was looking at and he was able to show me that our chimney was in great shape (after the cleaning, of course).
The whole process was seamless and easy for me and the technician was very professional throughout.
~ Lori Hanegan, Rocklin, CA
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