The Stain on the Ceiling Is the Last Place the Water Went
You notice a brown ring on the ceiling next to the fireplace. Or the wallpaper above the mantel starts to bubble. By the time you see it inside, water has been getting in for a while.
Chimney leaks are tricky because water travels. It can enter at the crown, run down inside the brick, and show up three feet away on a bedroom ceiling. Smearing roof tar on the nearest joint rarely fixes it.
Dallas Chimney Care repairs chimney leaks in Dallas, TX by finding the entry point first. We check the roof, the attic and the firebox, and we show you photos of exactly where the water gets in.
The Five Places a Chimney Leaks
1. Flashing
This is the number one cause. Flashing is the metal that seals the chimney to the roof. Sealant dries and cracks in the Texas sun, wind lifts the metal, and water runs behind it.
2. The chimney crown
A cracked crown lets rain into the top of the chimney. See chimney crown repair.
3. A missing or damaged cap
With no cap, rain falls straight down the flue. See chimney caps.
4. Porous brick and mortar
Old brick soaks up rain like a sponge, and open mortar joints let it through. The fix is tuckpointing and chimney waterproofing.
5. A rusted chase cover
On a prefab chimney, the flat metal cover on top rusts through and drips into the chase. A new stainless steel cover solves it.
Chimney Flashing Repair and Replacement
If the flashing metal is in good shape, we clean the joint and reseal it with a sealant made for roofs and masonry. If the metal is rusted, bent or was never installed the right way, we replace it: step flashing under the shingles, counter flashing cut into the mortar joints, and a cricket behind wide chimneys so water does not pool.
Do Not Wait for the Next Storm
Dallas gets its heaviest rain in spring and fall, often in fast, hard storms. A slow leak can turn into a soaked ceiling in one afternoon. The longer the wood stays wet, the more of it has to be replaced.
Call when you first see the stain. We offer same-day and next-day appointments, and we are open every day from 7 AM to 11 PM.
What a Homeowner Can Check From the Ground
You do not need to climb on the roof. From the yard, look at the base of the chimney with binoculars. Rust stains, gaps or lifted metal point to the flashing. Inside, look up past the damper with a flashlight after a rain. Water or rust there points to the cap or crown. Then let us inspect it up close. We specialize in chimney leaks, and our repair services cover every one of the five causes above.
Why Dallas Chimney Care
Dallas Chimney Care is a small local Dallas chimney sweep and repair company, led by an owner with 20 years of chimney experience and a certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We are insured, and leak repairs carry a 5-year workmanship warranty.
A yearly chimney inspection catches most leaks before they stain a ceiling, and the National Fire Protection Association recommends one every year. See all of our chimney repair work.