Risks of a Cracked Crown
If minimizing home maintenance costs sounds great, it helps to be aware of the risks of a cracked crown in winter. Chimney crowns need to be monitored for two important reasons. First, chimney crowns are prone to cracks and deterioration, especially in cold winter weather. Secondly, chimney crowns serve an essential purpose, but only if they are in a good state of repair. Chimney Sweeps Inc. serves the San Diego area, where our chimney technicians frequently repair and rebuild cracked crowns. Learn more below.
What is the Purpose of a Chimney Crown?
The white portion at the top of your chimney is the chimney crown. The material used to build chimney crowns is notoriously prone to deteriorate and develop cracks. During chimney inspections, our NFI-certified chimney technicians are careful to check the chimney crown because it has the important function of preventing precipitation from infiltrating the chimney system. Virtually every exterior chimney component has that same function! However, experience has taught us that, probably more than any other part of the chimney, crowns are vulnerable to the elements.
What Else Can Cause Cracked Crowns?
Besides constant exposure to harsh weather conditions, there are other potential reasons for the deterioration of chimney crowns. More examples follow:
- Lightning strikes
- The crown was built with inferior materials
- Pounding hail
- Falling trees
- Earthquakes
- An aging chimney
Why is Water Intrusion Such a Risk?
When water gets into masonry, it is the beginning of a very destructive process. So, if the crown is cracked, it is important to discover the problem quickly. Each brick that contains water due to some kind of breach in the chimney system will eventually collapse. What happens is that the water expands and contracts during freezing and thawing cycles of winter. This movement in the bricks causes them to break down from within and flatten. Eventually, the chimney will begin to lean due to structural instability, and it could collapse.
Water infiltration can cause all kinds of damage to your home and chimney. For example, you may discover that you have a leaky chimney. Signs of a leaky chimney include water dripping inside the fireplace, water stains on the walls and ceilings near the chimney, efflorescence aka white discoloration on the chimney masonry, cracked masonry, and musty smells.
Tips for Preventing a Cracked Crown
After our chimney professionals have checked or fixed your chimney and declared it free of moisture damage, ask for waterproofing. Our chimney experts will apply a waterproofing sealant to the chimney, including the crown. It is important to hire qualified chimney sweeps because using the wrong type of sealant will put your chimney more at risk for moisture damage. As professionals, we know the correct waterproofing materials to use for best results.
Chimney Sweeps Inc. Can Repair and Rebuild Chimney Crowns
The more quickly you fix a cracked crown, the less expensive the repairs involved will be. At Chimney Sweeps Inc., we care about our customers and the risks of a cracked crown in winter. Be sure to schedule annual inspections, as all leading fire safety experts recommend. Problems can be caught early enough to avoid significant repair costs. Chimneys are much more vulnerable than many homeowners realize–especially the crown. Contact us today!
