Brick chimney with flashing on a snowy roof

Chimney Leak Repair That Finds the Cause

A leak by the chimney can come from the flashing, the crown, a missing cap, porous brick or failed mortar. Patching the ceiling stain does nothing. We trace where the water enters and fix that.

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About Leak Repair

Water near a chimney rarely shows up where it gets in. It can soak into the crown, travel down inside the brick, run along the flue tile and appear as a stain on the ceiling a floor below. It can slip behind flashing, follow a rafter and drip from a light fixture across the room. That is why patching the spot that looks wet so often fails, and why a leak repair is mostly detective work.

Weather in this region creates several leak patterns. Nor'easters drive rain sideways, so a chimney can leak only in storms from one direction. Snow piles up on the uphill side of a wide chimney, melts by day and refreezes at night, backing water under the shingles. Flat-roofed rowhouses in Philadelphia and parts of New York have their own weak point: the membrane turned up the chimney side, which cracks and lifts with age.

Finding the source means testing one part at a time. Inside, the stains are mapped and the attic is checked during or after rain. Outside, the cap, crown, brick, joints and flashing are each examined, and where needed a measured amount of water is run over one section while someone watches inside. Once the entry point is known, the fix is matched to it, and the result is confirmed in the next good rain.

What Our Crew Does

Questions about when it leaks: wind direction, heavy rain, snowmelt or all the time
Stains, damp plaster and the attic around the chimney checked from inside
Cap, crown, brick faces, mortar joints and flashing checked one by one from the roof
Controlled water testing of one section at a time where the source is unclear
The entry point shown to you before any repair is priced
Repair matched to the source: flashing, crown, cap, joints, cricket or repellent
A follow-up check after the next substantial rain

When to Call Us

Stains on the ceiling or wall by the chimney
Water in the firebox after rain
Peeling paint near the chimney
A musty smell from the fireplace
Rust on the damper

How the Job Goes

Trace the water
We check flashing, crown, cap, brick and mortar to find the entry point.
Explain it
You see what we found and get a free written estimate.
Fix the source
New flashing, crown repair, a cap or repointing, whatever the cause needs.
Confirm
We check the work and tell you what to watch after the next storm.

Your Options

Flashing reset or replacement

When water enters at the roof joint. Sound flashing can be resealed; rusted or tar-covered flashing is replaced.

Crown and cap work

When water gets in from the top, through a cracked crown or an open flue.

Repointing and brick repair

When open joints or spalled brick let water into the masonry itself.

Cricket

A small peaked diverter behind a wide chimney on a sloped roof, so water and snow do not pile up against the back.

Breathable water repellent

When the brick itself soaks up rain. Applied only after the other entry points are closed.

What Affects the Cost

How many entry points are found, since leaks often have more than one
Roof type: asphalt, slate, tile or a flat membrane roof
The width of the chimney and whether a cricket is needed
The condition of the brick and joints next to the flashing
Height, pitch and access to the chimney
Time spent testing when the source is not obvious

Every job starts with a free written estimate, so you know the price before we start.

When It Cannot Wait

A ceiling that sags or bulges near the chimney
Water dripping near light fixtures, outlets or wiring: switch off that circuit if you can do so safely
Rust or water pooling in the firebox after every storm
A musty smell or dark spots spreading on walls beside the chimney

Make It Last

Clear gutters and valleys around the chimney each fall so water drains away
Watch for ice building up behind the chimney after snow and have it looked at if it keeps forming
Have the sealant where counter flashing enters the brick checked each year
Keep a cap on every flue, including flues that are no longer used
Reapply water repellent when rain stops beading on the brick

Questions About Leak Repair

Is it the roof or the chimney?

Often it is where they meet: the flashing. We check both before we say which.

Can you seal the brick?

Yes. A breathable water repellent can help porous brick, after the cracks and joints are fixed.

How soon should I call?

As soon as you see water. Wet masonry and wood framing get worse with each storm.

Why does it leak in some storms but not others?

Wind direction and duration change which part of the chimney gets soaked. A crack on the north face may only take water when a storm pushes rain from that side for hours. Snowmelt leaks show up days after a storm, not during it. Keeping a note of when the leak appears, and from which direction the weather came, shortens the search a lot.

Do you repair the ceiling or wall inside?

Our work is the chimney, flashing and the masonry side of the leak. Plaster, drywall and paint inside are worth repairing once the source is fixed and the area has had time to dry, usually by a painter or plasterer. If the stain is near wiring or a light, have an electrician look at it.

How long should I wait before repainting the stain?

Wait until the source is fixed and at least one heavy rain has passed with no new damp. Then let the area dry thoroughly, since paint over wet plaster blisters and the stain bleeds through. A stain-blocking primer under the finish coat keeps old marks from showing. If the stain grows again, call before you repaint.

Guides From Our Crew

Why homeowners call Pro 1

18,000+ Chimney Jobs. One Standard.

15+ years and 18,000+ chimney jobs taught us what homeowners want: a crew that shows up, explains it plainly and leaves the house as clean as they found it.

$500 OFF any chimney service

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Our own local crews
The people at your door work for us and live in the area. We never send subcontractors.
Licensed and insured
Your home and our crew are covered on every job, from a sweep to a full rebuild.
Free written estimate
You see what we found and what it takes to fix it, in writing, before any work starts.
Upfront pricing
The price we write down is the price you pay. No hidden fees and no surprise add-ons.
Fast response
Open 24 hours Sunday to Friday, with a real person on the phone and same-day visits when we can.
Clean, careful work
Floors and furniture covered, the roof and yard cleaned up, and a walk-through when we finish.

Leak Repair Near You

Limited time offer

$500 OFF

Any chimney service. Mention it when you call or book online.

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Mason working on a brick building from a lift — **18,000+** projects completed by our own crew

Simple from the first call

How It Works

Your callCall, text or book online
Tell us what you see or smell. A real person from our team answers and sets a time that suits you.
The visitFree chimney inspection
Our own crew arrives in a marked Pro 1 van, covers the floor and inspects the chimney from the firebox to the cap, free of charge.
The estimateFree written estimate
We walk you through what we found, in plain words, and put any repair in writing before work starts.
The workThe job, done right
We do the work, clean up the roof, the yard and the room, and walk you through the finished job.

Book before the holidays. Fireplaces get their heaviest use from Thanksgiving to New Year. A free inspection now catches nests, creosote and cracked flue tiles before the first big fire and the family gatherings.

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Get a Free Estimate

Leave your details and our local team calls you back to set a time.

Talk to your local chimney team

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