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’s Technician did a terrific job cleaning out my dryer vent! He was very pleasant to work with and professional. He cleaned the outside dryer vent ductwork. It hadn't been cleaned in 10 years so there was a lot of lint and buildup in the ductwork. He said there wasn't much airflow going through the ductwork.
That could explain why it was taking so long for the clothes to dry. It was also a huge fire hazard. He cleaned up the area outside. I couldn't even tell he had been there. He pulled off the bottom of the dryer to check for lint build up in the dryer. There was a lot of lint in there too. He said he could clean the inside of the dryer also for an extra charge of $50.00.
I thought that was a very reasonable price so I had him clean the inside of the dryer also. I am very pleased with his work and glad I finally found someone to clean the vent. His company also automatically makes an appointment to come back in tow years to clean it again. The appointment will be in two years for the same date as the original visit. He put a magnet on the front of the dryer with the future appointment date so I don't forget. I will definitely use his service again.
~ Annette Mackin, Granite Bay, CA
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