Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

Waterproofing a Chimney

You have probably heard us warn you about the dangers of water penetration of your chimney. Water can cause so much damage and deterioration that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has named water as the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys. To protect your chimney from water penetration damage, there are several preventive measures you can take, including installing a good quality chimney cap on top as well as a customized flashing system around your chimney where it meets the roof. However, the best investment you can make to prevent water penetration of your chimney is to schedule a professional waterproofing treatment from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service. We are proud to offer this chimney maintenance service, and you can trust the ChimneySaver products we use to protect your chimney from water penetration. We would like to tell you more about the kind of damage water can do, along with what you can expect from our waterproofing service.

How can water damage my chimney so badly?

Water penetration can seriously deteriorate the masonry materials of your chimney. The bricks and mortar that your chimney is constructed from are very porous and naturally absorb water. Extensive damage can occur when the water that is absorbed and trapped inside these masonry materials freezes and expands in the winter. As this water thaws, it causes the bricks and mortar joints to crack and break apart. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles can lead to bricks and mortar joints falling out of the chimney, which can lead to serious structural problems. Not only does water cause this type of damage, but it can also cause rusting damage to the metal components of your chimney, including the liner and damper. Sometimes, water can even leak into your home to create water stains in the ceilings and walls.

What can I expect from a waterproofing treatment from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service?

Before our CSIA-certified chimney technicians apply the waterproofing treatment to your chimney, we will examine your chimney to see what type of formula we will use. Generally we use a water-based formula, but if you have had a waterproofing treatment done in the past, we will have to use a solvent-based formula. After we clean the bricks with brushes, we will then apply a coating of this water repellent formula to your entire chimney. This 100% vapor-permeable waterproofing formula will create a barrier against water penetration of your chimney, while still allowing vapors to escape from the bricks and mortar. This environmentally-friendly product will resist mildew, mold, and fungus and reduce water penetration by 99.9 percent. You will also receive a 10-year warranty, which means the bricks and mortar of your chimney will be protected from water leaks for a decade.

Prolong the life of your masonry chimney. Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule an appointment for our waterproofing services today.

Proper Chimney Waterproofing

Is your chimney ready to stand up to winter weather? One of the most common types of chimney damage, spalling occurs when the temperature drops below freezing. Water that has leaked into the bricks and mortar of your chimney will freeze and expand, and when the temperature warms up, the water thaws and causes the masonry materials to crack and break apart. Have you ever noticed how potholes always appear on the roads after an ice storm? That type of damage is also spalling damage, and if you have seen how large some potholes can be, you have an idea of how badly it can deteriorate the exterior of your chimney. At Santa’s Friend Chimney Service, we offer several ways to protect your chimney from water penetration damage. One way we can help to keep your chimney in one piece is waterproofing. We would like to tell you more about how water can damage your chimney as well as how waterproofing can prevent water from leaking into the bricks and mortar of your chimney.

Besides spalling, how else can water penetration damage my chimney?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has famously said that water is the biggest enemy of masonry chimneys because of the amount of damage it can do when it leaks into chimneys. Spalling damage is most likely the most devastating type of water penetration damage because if left unrepaired, your chimney could possibly collapse! However, water leaks can do even more damage. The metal components of your chimney like the damper can deteriorate from rust corrosion and break. Any wood surrounding your chimney can rot. Your ceilings and walls can become stained and distorted from water leaking through the chimney. Preventing water penetration is crucial to protecting your chimney from damage and deterioration.

Are there other benefits to having my chimney waterproofed?

Although keeping your masonry chimney safe from water damage is well worth the cost of waterproofing, you will see other advantages from this service. An environmentally friendly formula that is 100% vapor permeable, the waterproofing agent we use is manufactured by Chimney Saver and comes with a 10-year warranty with our professional application. Waterproofing your chimney will also make it more resistant against mildew and fungus.

What can I expect from a waterproofing treatment from Santa’s Friend Chimney Service?

When our CSIA-certified chimney professionals arrive at your home, they will begin by seeing which type of waterproofing formula will work best for your chimney. After scrubbing and cleaning your bricks and mortar, your chimney will get a coating of the waterproofing formula to create a barrier that will protect your bricks and mortar from becoming deteriorated by spalling and other water penetration damage.

Don’t hesitate to protect your masonry chimney this winter. Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule an appointment for a waterproofing service before the temperature drops below freezing.