Chimney Services
Chase repair details that keep water out
Same-day chase inspections are available in Bertha when the schedule allows.
Where water gets into a chase
Water reaches the inside of a chase in a few predictable ways. It comes through a rusted or flat chase top, around a storm collar that has lost its seal, through open seams or trim joints in the siding, through cracks in stucco and at the roof where the flashing has failed.
Each of those paths is checked before anything is opened. Repairing rotted wood without closing the path that rotted it only starts the clock again, so the estimate always pairs the damage with its cause.
Signs of rot inside the chase
Rot inside a chase shows up outside in small ways first. Paint bubbles or peels on one face, siding swells at the edges, nail heads rust through, and a panel flexes when pressed. Inside the house, a stain can appear on the ceiling or wall near the fireplace.
Sheathing that stays wet for long periods softens and loses its hold on fasteners. We probe suspect areas, check for moisture where we can and tell you how much of the chase we expect to open before any work is priced.
Insulation in the chase
It can be tempting to stuff insulation into a chase to stop drafts. Chimney makers are strict about it. The DuraTech manual allows only specified non-combustible insulation, only where its instructions describe, says fiberglass insulation is not approved, and says non-combustible insulation is not approved at the chase top.
We follow the manual for the chimney you have. If we find insulation packed against the pipe or in the required air space, we remove it and show you why before we close the chase.
Chases that hold more than one pipe
Some chases carry two chimney pipes, or a chimney and a vent for another appliance. Each pipe needs its own clearances, its own storm collar and its own opening in the chase top, and each maker's instructions apply to its own pipe.
When we repair a chase like this, we map every penetration first, keep the spacing between terminations and confirm each collar and seal before the walls and top are closed. If one of the pipes serves another appliance, that appliance's venting instructions govern its clearances and termination.
