This recent project included a utility flue reline and crown repair in addition to some waterproofing measures.
The previous owner of the home had the chimney rebuilt, a new mortar crown pout on, and a 4? cap installed. On the surface these things sound great, however there were issues.
The crown we replaced was made of mortar which is not good at spanning large surface areas, and had already developed cracks in just a few short months. Also, the cap on top of the chimney was far too small without a proper liner kit. The flashing needed sealing as well.
We offered to fix all these issues as well as prevent the chimney from ever needing to be rebuilt again. We can confidently claim this by investigating the original cause of the deteriorated brickwork.
One thing about burning gas that people might not know: water vapor is a byproduct of gas burning. This is harmless if you have a plan to contain it. This chimney did not have a proper 4" liner installed to the furnace. This means the furnace was venting into a much-too-large passageway. This produces excessive condensation which is made worse by the fact that the brickwork is soaked from the inside.
Since we know that a dry chimney is a long-lasting chimney, soaking a chimney year round is not good. When the freezing and thawing cycles come and go, the brick and mortar holding moisture become damaged from freezing and thawing.
We solved these issues by installing a properly sized stainless steel liner system to the furnace. This maximizes the draft of the furnace while providing a barrier between the moisture and the brickwork. Install the custom connectors to the furnace in the crawlspace, and problem solved. This also takes care of any gaps in the interior passageway that could allow carbon monoxide into the home as well.
Other waterproofing measures taken: pouring a new concrete crown with overhanging edge and rebar, applying Chimney Saver Flashing Seal around the base of the chimney flashing, and applying Chimney Saver Waterproofing to the new crown and exterior brickwork.
After our utility flue reline and crown repair, this chimney is now taken care of for the foreseeable future.
