Our Company Blog

We Offer Solutions For Leaky Chimneys

Is a leaky chimney causing you stress? With the holiday season a few months away, you’re likely anxious to resolve any structural issues and water damage as soon as possible. Fortunately, the team here at Weststar Chimney Sweeps has solutions for you. There are several ways to tackle leaky chimney issues, and we have a few solutions to help your chimney be leak free!

We Install Chimney Caps

We Offer Solutions For Leaky Chimneys - San Diego CA - Weststar Chimney SweepsA big reason for excess water throughout their fireplace and chimney is the absence of a chimney cap. If you don’t have a cap or if your current cap is broken, professional assistance is necessary for preventing leaks in the future. Chimney caps cover the flue opening, so water cannot get into your chimney to destroy your liner and the rest of your system. They’re also great for keeping out birds and excess debris. If you’re ready to ensure a good-looking and better-functioning chimney cap, call in our experts now!

We Repair Chimney Crowns

The chimney crown is located at the top of your system, and it extends past the edge of the chimney. It works to divert water away from the masonry. When it comes to protecting the absorbent brickwork, the chimney crown plays a key role! Unfortunately, crowns tend to break down over time, especially if they are not properly constructed. It’s very important to get a professional crew to repair your chimney crown! Some crowns need simple repair work, while others require an entire rebuild. We’re happy to help.

We Provide Top-Of-The-Line Waterproofing Services

Once we’ve completed any repair and reconstruction work, we strongly suggest you to invest in our waterproofing services. Some homeowners turn to store-bought paints and sealers, but they can actually wind up doing more damage in the long run.

It’s vital that your chimney can still breathe out vapors while hosting this protective coat, and many waterproofing options don’t allow for this. They tend to block moisture from entering, but any water already in the masonry can’t escape. This will cause your structure to suffer. We use sealers that are completely vapor permeable, so you won’t be left with a damaged structure. Call on our team at 619-338-8116 now!

Why You Should Waterproof Your Chimney

Fireplaces make a great addition to any living space. They add a warm and welcoming aesthetic that enhances the overall feel of the room, and I think everyone agrees that cozying up to a warm hearth after a long day is more than ideal!

Your fireplace works hard to keep your home warm and bring your family together, which is why it’s important to take care of it. Scheduling regular maintenance and inspections, as well as keeping it protected, will benefit you a lot in the long run and will ensure your chimney is not left vulnerable to animals and bad weather. One practice we highly recommend is waterproofing. Learn more below!

Damage & Your Chimney

When it comes to protecting your chimney from water damage, you don’t want to skimp. Water takes its toll on masonry and, once it is absorbed into your brickwork, you could wind up facing lots of issues. Bricks are strong, but incredibly porous and many homeowners don’t realize how easily water is sucked in! That’s why protecting your chimney’s exterior is so vital for running a long-lasting appliance.

Some issues you may notice are rotting, stains, clogs, decay, and deterioration. You may also see cracks or holes forming throughout the chimney, as well as your mortar breaking down and crumbling. All of these things lead to even more issues when not quickly resolved, and they make your fireplace unsuitable and unsafe for regular use.

If your chimney is exposed to enough wear and tear it may eventually settle or collapse, putting your entire home and family at risk. It’s not worth the stress and worry… invest in preventative measures to ensure your residence stays protected every day!

We Can Help You Out!

At WestStar Chimney Sweeps, we have all of the tools and expertise needed to ensure the job gets done right. When you put your chimney in our hands, you won’t need to worry about anything – we know our stuff!

And trust us when we say that hiring a professional is the way to go. We know that there are multiple online tutorials that ensure homeowners can save time and money by doing this job themselves. Unfortunately, many products that people wind up using don’t allow the chimney breath out vapors, thus trapping the moisture in.

We use products that protect your home, without suffocating it. By investing in our waterproofing services today, you can say goodbye to future issues with leaks, water damage, and more! It’s a small price to pay for years of protection, and we know you’ll be happy you did it.

Contact us to learn more, and we can get you in our books! We love making homes great and we can’t wait to get started on yours!

Extend the Life of Your Chimney

Chimney systems are comprised of many parts that rely upon one another to operate at peak efficiency.  A problem with one part of the system can cause another part of the system to have to work harder to pick up the slack, thereby causing that overworked component to wear out at a much quicker rate.  This can quickly become a vicious cycle if the initial problem isn’t addressed in a timely manner.  The moral of the story here is quite simple: repair minor problems early on to prevent them from becoming major problems down the road.  Keep reading to get a better understanding of ways you can help to extend the life of your chimney.

Put a Cap on your Chimney

Installing a properly-sized chimney cap is one way to be proactive in protecting your chimney.

Installing a properly-sized chimney cap is one way to be proactive in protecting your chimney.

A chimney cap is designed to cover your chimney’s opening in order to keep water, birds and other wildlife, leaves, twigs and other debris from getting into your chimney.  Water is diverted away from the center and off the sides of your chimney.  Mesh screening on the side blocks birds, other wildlife, leaves, twigs and other debris from getting in.  Purchasing a chimney cap and having it installed by a certified chimney professional is a choice you won’t regret!

New Chimney Flashing will help Prevent Leaks

Chimneys are notorious for leaking; the source of these leaks is almost always the flashing.  It keeps water out of the chimney and protects your flue and roof.  Flashings are made from a variety of materials (e.g., aluminum, copper, galvanized steel, and/or tin).  You should have new chimney flashing installed if any of the following issues exist:

  • Your flashing is missing.
  • Your flashing is rusted through.
  • Your flashing is falling off.
  • Your flashing is completely covered with roofing tar (this is a common short-term fix that’s sure to be hiding bigger problems).

Many homeowners also opt to have new flashing installed when having a new shingle-roof installed.

Crumbling Mortar is a Definite Warning Sign

The mortar used in your chimney’s construction is exposed to various elements on the outside and heat and chemical compounds from your firebox on the inside; all of these things speed up the weathering process.  Because of this, it’s common for mortar to crumble and fall away sooner or later, which leaves open areas between the bricks.  This only makes a bad problem worse, giving rise to more issues.  During chimney repointing, the process for repairing your damaged mortar, a chimney professional will remove the damaged, old and loose mortar from the joints between the bricks and replaces it with new mortar.  It can’t be stressed enough that only a skilled professional should perform this work, as it requires an experienced hand.

Flue Liners

Problems in your chimney’s flue can present serious risks to your home and family, because it’s no longer able to perform its primary function: safely containing and venting the products of combustion to the outside of your home.  If your current liner has deteriorated, it’s recommended that you either have a new one installed or have your current liner repaired.  There are several different relining options available to you, depending on both the type of flue liner you currently have and the overall condition of your flue.  Because of the nature of the job completed by your chimney’s liner, it’s a critical part.  Every chimney must have a working liner!

Your chimney system is comprised of numerous parts, all of which are inspected by a chimney professional during your yearly chimney inspection and sweeping.  To prevent major chimney system repairs, it is of paramount importance to make minor repairs as soon as problems arise.  Some parts are in the line of fire more than others and are adversely affected by the heat, while other parts are exposed to the elements, thereby causing them to wear out faster.  Contact the team at Weststar Chimney Sweeps with any and all of your chimney service related questions.  We want you to have all of the information you need!