It May be Eroding Soil

Even a freshly laid foundation is vulnerable to the damaging effects of water exposure. When there is moisture present, it is possible for water to seep into cracks and fissures, which weakens the structure from the inside as well as the outside. A chimney is not an exception to the principle that water will take the route of least resistance; hence, the soil and moisture that are located close to the chimney’s base are likely to wreak havoc on the chimney’s structural integrity in one way or another.

Of course, this doesn’t happen immediately; it takes years for the soil and landscaping around the base to become more loose and cause an apparent movement in position. In addition, there are certain kinds of ground that are simply unable to support the weight of these massive chimneys. If the soil is too loose, the base of the chimney will shift, which will result in the chimney leaning to the side, as can be seen from above the ground.

How can I tell whether or not the Chimney is Distancing Itself from the House?
You may be wondering if, in fact, this issue is affecting your chimney, but a visual inspection performed on the exterior of your property does not provide a clear response to this question. After all, you don’t want to wait until the chimney becomes an exact duplicate of the Tower of Pisa before taking action to fix the issue.

When evaluating a chimney to determine whether or not it is leaning, there are a few indicators that may be looked for. In certain instances, particularly those in which an earlier effort was made to correct the chimney’s angling away from the home, it may be difficult to determine the exact cause of the problem. It’s possible that the previous owners of the residence saw that the chimney was detaching from the structure, but they didn’t bother to properly restore it since they didn’t have enough money.

Filling the space between the leaning chimney and the main house structure with mortar, caulking, or expanding foam insulation is a popular and inexpensive temporary remedy that could have been done to hold the chimney in place. Another option would have been to use expanding foam insulation. There is also the option of using metal straps to secure the chimney in its position. Although each of these solutions is more cost-effective than rebuilding the chimney from scratch, none of them is a long-term option.

When the flashing on the roof becomes loosened, this is another another sign that the chimney is leaning to one side. It’s possible that the foundation is unstable, which led to the chimney being uneven. If you want to determine whether or not your chimney leans to one side, a good place to start looking is at the mortar joints that run horizontally. In addition to this, you may check to see if the chimney is centered on its entrance by using a leveler or by going up to the attic.

What Can Be Done About a Chimney That Is Leaning
A chimney that is drawing away from your house has the potential to be taken over by gravity at some point in the future. When this happens, the chimney can pose a risk to anyone who happens to be in the area at the time or wreak thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage. You don’t want to let this issue remain unresolved, and you definitely don’t want to resort to making quick remedies that could not be permanent or efficient.

In the event that a chimney begins to draw away from the home, there is the potential for a wide variety of complications to emerge. Imagine, if you are a regular user of fireplaces, the possible dangers that may be caused by a chimney that is leaning, in the event that a fire is lit and the smoke that is produced has nowhere clear to go as it rises.

If you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Camino and other affordable services.

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