My chimney leaks during the Winter time.

Well folks, the cold weather is once again upon us. When winter hits, so do the leaking chimneys. Chimneys that leak during the cold weather months tend to have one of two problems, or both problems for that matter.

• The chimney lining system has failed. This is causing water to leak from the inside of the chimney out. This type of leak is usually associated with gas-fired appliances. Either the existing chimney has no/damaged lining system, or the existing lining system is oversized or improperly installed in the chimney. For more information about chimney liner leaking, click here!
• Inproper flashing. This can cause water/ice to build up behind the chimney and eventually work its way under the shingles. To read more about chimney flashing leaks, read more...

For a failed liner, the best solution is usually to have a new properly sized lining system installed into the chimney. For flashing issues, once Spring arrives, it is usually preferable to have a qualified roofing or chimney contractor come out and install new flashing.

Disclaimer:
These problems are meant to be examples of the common ways chimneys can leak from my past experiences. Any of these examples or none of these examples may apply to your chimney. Always contact a licensed chimney expert for your particular chimney leaking problems.