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Roofing

Drip from Chimeny - vented unused chimeny

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.28 PM

I've got an issues with my chimney. So I opened up the chimney to the original opening in the upstairs bedroom. I've had a stone hearth installed and left the chimney open at the top and I'm leaving the chimney unused as a decorative fireplace. I noticed I was getting multiple drips of water down the chimney landing on the stone hearth. I've had a chimney cowl installed and some additional pointing but I'm still getting a drip. When I look up the chimney with a torch you can visually see drips of water, even water forming on the clay chimney pot where the ventilation slots are. The flashing has also been recently done and looks ok according to a second Roofer. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? I've been recommended to remove the chimney pot and cap off the chimney but I'm not sure I want to do that as visually the house looks better with chimney pots. I've now had the chimney capped off with slate so theres no water coming through at the top and an air vent fitted. But again when I look up the chimney theres droplets of water forming on the bottom of the slate capping the chimney. Every so often I get a condensation drip, any advice for this?

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4 Answers

Anonymous user

You need a better cowl try using a C cap cowl there no way any water will get in then. if it does there an issue with either flaunching, flashing or pointing I doubt your bricks are porous as there be all crumbly etc I’ll assume your chimney pots are not cracked or have a holes in too ? If all the above is fine and you use C cap cowl the only solution is to remove the stack down below roof level or completely or have it rebuilt if you can afford this and really want the chimney still for visual looks you say it’s vented so it can’t be sweating.
Answered9 December 2019
6

Dean Richards roofing

Rating: 5 out of 5
Pontypridd
There could be several issues like mentioned need to investigate further we find when it’s raining you are most likely to find the problem worked for us on quite a few jobs.
Answered5 December 2019
0

Hyndburn Roofing and Gutter Repairs

Rating: 5 out of 5
Accrington
Firstly, it would not be a good idea to cap off the chimney. Although this would prevent rainwater from penetrating inside, you may find that you will get drips from condensation because you have blocked off a natural source of ventilation and this chimney flue will be a cold spot. You may also develop other problems From your description, it appears that the problem is from high up in the pot rather than the chimney itself (flaunching, pointing, flashings etc) In this case, you simply need a suitable cowl. You mention that you have fitted a cowl but we do not have a picture to go by so it is difficult to advise. The shape / type of your chimney pot will play a part in deciding which cowl is suitable For instance, if you place a round cowl onto a square pot, there will still be gaps for the water to enter. If it is a round chimney pot of regular size then you have more options and the C Cap Cowl mentioned above would be a good option. A pepperpot cowl (a clay flue vent breathable chimney capper) is another option. Both will prevent rainwater (and birds) entering but will importantly allow chimney ventilation If it is a round Crown Chimney pot (the ones with lugs in the shape of a crown), and you wish to retain it for character then you may need to improvise and a roofer could advise the best way
Answered9 December 2019
0

Anonymous user

If the chimney is no longer in use I would just cap it off and that should be the end of ur issue or there could be hair line cracks in the pot so if rain water in ponding around the pot it would deep in
Answered16 December 2019
0