5 Common Chimney Troubles and How Our Experts Repair Them

Jun 27, 2025

Chimney Repair

Cracked Flue Tiles and the Danger They Pose

Cracked flue tiles are a frequent issue in older chimneys. Over time, heat and moisture can cause these ceramic tiles to fracture, leading to serious safety concerns. Cracks create gaps where hot gases can escape, increasing the risk of house fires and reducing chimney efficiency.

Our repair specialists address this by inspecting flue tiles with video scanning tools. When cracks are found, we recommend professional relining or sealing with heat-resistant materials. This restores the integrity of the chimney and ensures proper venting.

Water Damage and Chimney Leaks

Moisture is a chimney’s worst enemy. Rainwater, snow, and humidity can seep through porous masonry or damaged flashing, leading to rusted dampers, stained walls, mold, and structural decay. Water intrusion weakens bricks, corrodes metal components, and fosters hazardous conditions.

Our team repairs leaks by sealing crowns, replacing compromised flashing, and applying waterproof coatings. We also ensure that chimney caps are functioning properly to divert water away from vulnerable areas. Early intervention prevents costly long-term damage.

Blockages from Creosote, Debris, or Animals

  • Signs of a blocked chimney include poor draft, smoke backing up into the home, and strange odors
  • Creosote buildup is a sticky, flammable byproduct of wood combustion that accumulates in the flue
  • Bird nests and other animal intrusions can obstruct ventilation
  • Leaves, twigs, and collapsed masonry are common culprits
  • Damaged flue liners or misplaced insulation may also block airflow

We resolve these issues by conducting thorough inspections, cleaning with rotary brushes, and installing chimney caps or screens to prevent reentry.

Chimney Cap and Crown Failures

Caps and crowns play a critical role in protecting your chimney. The crown covers the top of the chimney stack, while the cap shields the flue opening. When these components crack or corrode, they expose the chimney to moisture, debris, and animal intrusion.

Our technicians replace worn-out caps with durable stainless-steel options and repair crowns using high-bond, weatherproof Crowncoat. This prevents water from pooling at the top and ensures long-term structural health.

Masonry Deterioration and Structural Weaknesses

Bricks and mortar joints naturally degrade over time due to exposure to wind, rain, and temperature changes. Crumbling mortar or spalling bricks compromise the stability of the chimney and create safety hazards.

We address this with tuckpointing—a method of removing and replacing damaged mortar—and, if needed, full chimney rebuilds. Our goal is to preserve the chimney’s structural integrity and restore its aesthetic value, ensuring it stands strong for years to come.

If you’re noticing any of these issues or want to prevent them before they start, Chimney Clean Co offers expert inspections and repairs you can trust. Visit chimneycleanco.com to schedule a service and keep your chimney safe, efficient, and ready for every season.

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Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.