Signs Your Chimney Needs Repair

From the Yard

Most chimney warning signs can be seen without a ladder. Stand back from the house with binoculars and look for:

• A cap that is missing, bent, rusted or leaning.
• Cracks across the crown, or pieces of it on the roof.
• Loose, cracked or flaking brick, and stucco that is cracked or bulging.
• White powder or dark streaks running down the masonry.
• Flashing at the roof line that has lifted or rusted.
• On a framed chase, rust running down from the chase cover.

Inside the House

Chimney damage signs inside the house are usually about water:

• Stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney after rain.
• A musty or smoky smell, worse in humid weather.
• Damp or peeling paint near the fireplace.

In the Firebox

With a flashlight, look into the fireplace:

• Cracked firebrick or crumbling joints.
• Rust flakes on the firebox floor or a damper that sticks.
• Pieces of clay tile on the smoke shelf, a sign of a cracked flue.
• Water on the hearth after a storm.

Stop, Book or Watch

How to tell if your chimney needs repair right away: stop using the fireplace if you see pieces of flue tile, a chimney that leans, smoke escaping into rooms beside the chimney, or after any chimney fire. NFPA 211 treats those as conditions to correct before use.

Book a repair soon for an active leak, a missing cap, a cracked crown or loose brick. Watch, and mention at the yearly inspection, hairline cracks, light staining and a slow damper. Small problems found early stay small.