Fireplace Standing Water: The Top 3 Causes For a Fireplace Leak

9/6/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the water damage professionals at SERVPRO when you find standing water in the fireplace!

A Dayton homeowner may be confused why there is standing water in their fireplace. 

Consider yourself lucky if you are a homeowner that has never found standing water at the bottom of the fireplace. There are many reasons why a fireplace may have standing water, but the most common is a fireplace leak in the chimney. This blog post will discuss three of the top causes for a chimney leak, as well as what you should do if you find standing water in the fireplace.

Signs of a fireplace leak

A homeowner will likely be left with water damage after a rainstorm passes when there is a chimney leak. A clear indication of a chimney leak will be standing water at the bottom of the fireplace. A fireplace leak left to sit for a prolonged period can start affecting the walls and ceilings around the fireplace with mold damage. 

3 Common causes of fireplace leaks

1. Cracked chimney crown: A chimney crown is the top part of the chimney located directly above the fireplace. If there is standing water in your fireplace, it may be due to a cracked crown or an insufficient amount of mortar.
2. Damaged fireplace flashing: Fireplace flashing is a thin steel or aluminum sheet used to seal the fireplace from rainwater. Damaged flashing can cause standing water in a fireplace and high energy bills due to the accessibility of outdoor elements.
3. A damaged or missing chimney cap: A chimney cap is a fireplace accessory used to help prevent water leaks and animals from clogging the fireplace flue. If you are experiencing standing water in your fireplace, it might indicate that your chimney cap is damaged or missing.

A recent fireplace leak service call

A few months back, the professionals at SERVPRO of East Dayton/Beavercreek received a call from a homeowner who found standing water inside and around their fireplace. The homeowners knew about our water damage services because we had serviced their home the previous year after a dishwasher leak. 

For this particular water damage call, we knew that we had to go up on the roof and inspect the chimney to determine the cause of the fireplace standing water. After about an hour of inspecting the chimney, we found that the cement chimney crown had a crack. The chimney crown crack had allowed water into the flue lining and entered the chimney. 

The homeowners were happy to find out that there was no mold growth inside the chimney flue, and we were able to professionally seal the cracks rather than having to replace the chimney crown. 

After a few days, we were able to remove all standing water in the fireplace without severe demolition, and the homeowner was able to start using their chimney "Like it never even happened."

What to do when there is standing water in the fireplace?

It is essential to contact a water damage professional at the first sign of standing water in a fireplace. Water damage professionals will commonly use thermal moisture imaging cameras to easily determine the standing water location and severity of the damage, even when it is hidden from plain sight.

Once they can locate the location and the severity of the damage, they will design a unique drying plan tailored to the damaged property.

Wrapping up

As you have learned, standing water in the fireplace can cause major structural damage, especially if some cracks or holes allow for more water to enter into the flue lining and then inside the chimney structure itself. If you find standing water in the fireplace, you should contact the water damage professionals at SERVPRO of East Dayton/Beavercreek immediately. 

SERVPRO is a highly reputable restoration company in Dayton, Ohio, that puts customer services before anything else. Please contact us today for any further questions on how we can help you with the standing water in your fireplace.