Chimney Leak: Where Is the Water Really Coming In?
"During heavy rain, my second story ceiling has started dripping water a couple feet away from the chimney."
A homeowner who started a thread on r/Roofing wrote that. The water is probably getting in near the chimney, but the stain is rarely right under the leak: leaks are rarely located directly above the water spot on the ceiling1. Flashing, mortar or a spot higher on the roof can be the way in.
Quick answer:
- Look at the chimney from the ground with binoculars, then check the attic for a drip trail.
- Photograph or film every wet spot and every suspect part, with the date.
- Match what you see to the trade: flashing, or a leak higher on the roof, points to a roofer; loose mortar, the cap or the liner points to a chimney company.
- Check your deductible before you decide to call your insurer or a roofer you choose: if the loss is lower than the deductible, filing a claim probably isn't worth it2.
On this page
Where is the water really coming in?
Near the chimney, but not necessarily where the ceiling is stained. Wet spots near a chimney may mean defective flashing, narrow flashing or loose mortar joints1. Flashing is the metal that seals the joint where the chimney meets the roof. Mortar is the cement between the bricks.
A pro will also rule out a leak starting higher up on the roof. That is why the stain alone can't tell you which trade to hire.
Could the water be coming from a pipe rather than the roof? Who to call for a roof leak.
Check it safely, without going on the roof
Stay on the ground and inside the house. Don't risk serious injury trying to inspect or repair the roof1, and that includes climbing a ladder to get a better look.
- From the ground, with binoculars: look at the flashing for corroded, loose or displaced pieces1, and at the mortar joints for loose or crumbling spots.
- In the attic: follow the drip trail1 and look for streaks of light around the chimney3, which are potential leaks.
- When it leaks: a commenter in a roofing thread asked the question a pro will ask first: "How soon does it leak when it starts raining? Is it anytime it rains or has to be heavy?"
- Photos: take a photo or a short video of each spot, with the date, from where you can safely stand.
Roofer or chimney company?
It depends on which part is leaking. Flashing is part of the roof system, and a professional roofing contractor should do the closer assessment and the repairs of a roof system4. Our guide to chimney flashing repair covers that fix.
The cap, liner and mortar are chimney work. In Connecticut, chimney repairs include a chimney cap, a liner and mortar replacement5, and anyone doing a chimney repair must hold an active Home Improvement Contractor registration5, which a standard sweep does not need. Wherever you live, ask what credentials the person holds for the work they propose.
The homeowner from that thread asked the question this section is about: "Do I need tuck pointing or a roofer? Or both?" Tuck pointing means renewing worn mortar between the bricks. What you saw in your checks points to the answer:
- Flashing that looks corroded, loose or displaced, or wet spots next to it: a roofing contractor.
- Loose mortar joints, or a problem with the cap or liner: chimney repair work.
- Streaks of light in the attic, or a drip trail that ends away from the chimney: a roofer to assess the roof system around it, and to say whether the chimney is involved.
- Drips inside the fireplace, or wet bricks in the attic: you can't tell the cause from the house, so ask a roofer and a chimney company each for a written diagnosis.
Ask each pro to put their diagnosis in writing. You can send this:
Please write which part you think is leaking (flashing, mortar, cap or higher on the roof) and what you saw that shows it. Please send a photo of each problem you find. Please say which part of the repair is roof work and which is chimney work.
If a pro won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the ones who do.
What to do, in order, while you wait
- Find where it comes from and protect the house. Do the ground and attic checks above, then move belongings away from the drip.
- Prepare. The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurer pays anything. Compare it with what the repair might cost, and a written estimate from a roofer you chose can help you decide.
- Make the call. Contact your insurance company or a roofer you choose, not one who shows up uninvited6. If your checks pointed to loose mortar, the cap or the liner, call a chimney company you choose, or both trades. Have your notes and photos ready.
- If you file a claim, let the adjuster see the damage first: in Texas, permanent repairs should wait until the insurance adjuster sees the damage7. If you decide not to file, nothing here stops you from booking the repair.
If the roofer can't come today, reasonable steps to protect your property2 are in your hands.
- Water coming in now: catch it in a bucket and dry anything that gets wet within 24 to 48 hours8, which helps keep mold from growing.
- Temporary fixes only, after your photos: save receipts for what you spend2 and keep damaged items until the adjuster has visited, if you file.
- After the next rain: check the attic for a drip trail again1 and note what changed.
Is a chimney leak covered by insurance?
It depends on your policy and on the cause. Read your policy's wording on a slow leak versus sudden damage, and ask these questions when you call:
- Does the policy treat a slow leak differently from damage from one storm?
- Does the insurer want to see the damage before any repair?
- Which repair would it accept, who can do it, and by when?
Wondering how insurers tell storm damage from a maintenance problem? Will insurance pay for a roof leak.
What waiting can hide
Water can keep leaking where you don't notice it. A flashing problem can let water in, and the damage and rot can stay hidden beneath the walls or roof9. A wet ceiling is only the part you can see.
Quick questions
Can you hear dripping in the chimney? Note when you hear it: during any rain, only in heavy rain, or after the rain stops. If you can, record a short clip with sound to play for the pro.
Can I seal the leak myself? Sealing means working on the roof, and a professional roofing contractor should do the closer assessment and the repairs of a roof system4. A bucket and towels inside are the repairs that belong to you.
What if the stain is far from the chimney? It can still be the chimney. Tell the pro the distance, and ask them to check higher up the roof as well.
What should I say when I phone? Give the stain's location and distance from the chimney. Add when it leaks, what you saw in the attic, and that you have photos.
Sources
2. Triple-I, How to file a homeowners claim
3. NC State Extension, Inspecting a House
4. National Roofing Contractors Association, Roof Repairs After a Storm
6. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Avoiding predatory roofing scams
7. Texas Department of Insurance, Help after a storm
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
9. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Look for Missing Roof and Wall Flashing
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