Chimney Waterproofing

While your chimney is a normal part of many houses across Illinois (and the world), we often see these important parts of our homes from far away. Upon closer inspection, you will often see that your chimney receives a lot of wear and tear over the years. While your home may protect you from the outside, what protects your chimney from water?

Since it is constantly exposed to the outside, the extreme elements can wear down brick, caulk, and sealants over time if you don’t waterproof your chimney.

While waterproofing a chimney is important for weather like rain, snow, sleet, ice, and hail, wet weather isn’t the only one that can cause issues! Waterproofing your chimney can even add an extra layer of protection from the sun as well.

Think of it like sunscreen for your chimney. Sunlight can accelerate any damage that water-based elements have begun, as well as exacerbate them through UV damage.

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can gradually degrade and fade exposed materials. Over time, UV radiation can cause the exterior surfaces of your chimney, such as bricks, mortar, and sealants, to fade, crack, and deteriorate from the heat.

When your chimney bricks heat up, this causes them to expand and contract. Frequent changes in temperature can result in cracks and damage to your chimney, making it more susceptible to water penetration and damage, as well as drastically altering its homey aesthetic.

Over time, all kinds of weather can lead to cracks, gaps, and weakened mortar joints, allowing water to seep in and further damage your chimney. While you can’t control Mother Nature, you can control what actions you take to prolong your chimney’s lifespan.

1. Chimney Waterproofing Reduces Risk of Water Damage

When water gets inside your chimney structure, the chimney itself, plus your home’s siding, ceiling, drywall, insulation, and more can all be affected. Once it settles, this can cause major issues for both your home and you.

Water damage is costly to fix and can easily grow in scope. Plus, fixing your roof could potentially displace you from your home for the time being as well as lead to mold and mildew that can have harmful health effects if you continue to live among the problem.

2. Improved Structural Integrity

Waterproofing your chimney provides a preventative barrier to counteract any weather your chimney has to endure. Not only does this improve the structural integrity of your chimney, but by preventing any cracks, this prevents water damage from spreading to the rest of your house, increasing the strength of your roof, walls, and home as well.

3. Waterproofing Your Chimney Can Improve Functionality

With cracks in your chimney, it can’t function as well as it should. By being open to the outside, this allows heat to escape from inside your home, while water can now get inside your chimney, causing mold and creosote to grow in hard-to-reach places and put out your fires!

4. Waterproofed Chimneys Are Energy Efficient

A waterproof chimney helps maintain the efficiency of your heating system. Water infiltration can damage the chimney liner, leading to cracks or deterioration that affects proper ventilation and heat transfer. By preventing water entry, a waterproof chimney operates more efficiently, minimizing heat loss and maximizing energy savings.

When properly sealed with waterproof chimney products, this ensures your chimney can do its job: properly funnel air, allow smoke to flow out, and not let in any of the external elements.

5. More Savings Over Time

Did you know that simply waterproofing your chimney can benefit your budget? Think about it!

Waterproofing your chimney not only leads to you not having to spend money to fix it but prevents water damage to other parts of your home that can be much more expensive to replace. Plus, with a properly functioning chimney, this allows you to spend as much on utility bills, as your chimney lets you heat your home with less electricity while preventing heat from also escaping.

How you treat your chimney is up to you but investing in preventative measures now will save you money, time, and stress down the road!

While we truly believe a waterproofed chimney is important, sometimes the problem is simply too far gone for professional chimney waterproofing. As we’ve stated before, over time, repeated water damage can lead to a compromised chimney structure.

In this case, waterproofing a chimney can only do so much, and more serious steps need to be taken in order to avoid a chimney collapse. But not to worry, we can help with that too!

At Valley Chimney, our professional chimney sweep services encompass all your chimney needs. While waterproofing is important, if your chimney is past the breaking point, we can perform the chimney masonry needed to get it back in action in no time! See our full list of services to let us know exactly how we can help your home’s chimney needs.

While waterproofing your chimney can be cost-effective, some people may think to take it a step further and apply the waterproof chimney sealant themselves. Never do this!

When it comes to your chimney, any service, inspection, or cleaning should only be done by certified professional chimney sweeps. Saving money is important but never at the risk of critically hurting yourself.

DIY chimney cleaning and maintenance is incredibly dangerous. While it is important to have your chimney properly waterproofed, let the professionals at Valley Chimney do it for you!

Valley Chimney is a family-owned chimney service company that has served over 55,000 chimneys since its inception in 1978. Our clients are located throughout the western suburbs of Chicago and receive quality services from our Certified Chimney Sweeps™.

Your safety and comfort are our utmost concern, which is why our sweeps are certified by both the CSIA and the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Constantly training and learning, we provide advanced chimney waterproofing, care, and maintenance to keep your house feeling like home.

So take the first steps toward protecting your chimney, your home, and your wallet! Contact Valley Chimney to set up your appointment for waterproofing your chimney with ChimneySaver™ today!