Being familiar with common and critical issues in various elements of your house saves you money and hassle as a homeowner. Let’s take, for example, your roof. Certain areas, like the flashing around your chimney, are known for experiencing problems and letting water and debris into your home. Here’s why leaks around chimneys are such a common roofing problem and what you should know so that you can take proper care of your roof.
Why Are Leaks in Chimney Flashing So Common?
Why is flashing so vulnerable to leaks while other areas of your roof may not experience as many issues across its lifespan? The answer lies in the fact that flashing around the chimney is much more easily affected by external factors than other areas of the roof. This metal seal can be structurally affected by exposure to extreme temperatures, corrosion or deterioration. This part of the roof can also leak more easily if your flashing was poorly installed.
What Are Some of the Top Causes of Leaks Around Chimneys?
It’s important to know what can cause flashing to introduce leaks even if you can’t do much about it. Knowing the reasons behind common leaks near chimneys will enable you to be on the lookout should those risks be present where you live. Beyond poor flashing installation, these are some of the top reasons why chimneys leak.
- Your roof is being subjected to high temperatures. While this may not stress out other elements of your roof as much, it can cause flashing to expand and contract, pulling it away from your chimney and affecting the seal.
- Water or physical debris has corroded or broken the flashing surrounding your chimney. Your shingles may hold up better against certain threats, but flashing may not.
- The sealant used when installing flashing begins to dry out and become less effective over time.
As with any other area of your roof, your flashing will degrade with time. However, flashing’s inherent vulnerability means that it may give out before other parts of your roof do.
What Should You Do to Fix the Problem?
The best thing to do is to keep an eye out for signs that there’s a leak around your chimney and have a professional roofer come out annually to conduct inspections. Staying on top of your roof’s health will help you catch problems fast and solve them before a minor chimney leak becomes a major structural issue.
Leaks around chimneys are common because flashing can be more vulnerable than other parts of the roof and subject to corrosion, temperature fluctuations and other external threats. The best way to stay on top of this problem is with regular inspections and educating yourself about the signs of leaks. Have you noticed that a leak is starting around your chimney? Reach out to Joe’s Roofing in Reno, NV for residential roof repair support now.
