Pan is made too small allowing water between the pan and chase.


Old pan doesn't come to the outer most part of the chase.


New pan covers the entire chase, not allowing water inside the chase.

Other Typical Chimney Leak Causes

1.) One possible reason is that the flashing around the chimney is corroded, worn, or poorly installed. This can be determined by running a low pressure hose around the chimney-roof intersection and see if any water leaks inside. If you see any moisture, then you have a chimney flashing issue. Flashing can be custom made to suit your chimney roof intersection.

2.) The chimney top could be cracked or loose and the water is entering at the top and running down inside the chimney and coming out anywhere along the way. Chimneys are generally solid brick but sometimes concrete blocks or other solid filler materials are used in the chimney interior and the outside is brick veneer. Sometimes the interior of the chimney is built up of brick that are carelessly filled in with mortar. While this is usually structurally sufficient, it can leave channels, cracks and crevices where water can travel from the chimney top all the way down. These crevices can, in the aggregate, hold alot of water and your chimney brick inside your house can stay damp for weeks. In a new chimney installation great care should be used in filling the interior with brick and mortar so that there are no cracks. Chimney technicians should use hydraulic cement for mortar for the last 5 feet or so of the chimney near the top. Hydraulic mortar is non-porous and if placed solidly will not allow water penetration. If the chimney is already built, the top of the chimney should be covered with a chimney cap or shroud.


3.) Much of the brick used today is very porous on the surface. If you find you have a leak around the flashing and it is just glued flat to the brick instead of the stepped flashing being slipped into a one inch slot filled with silicone caulk, then you may as well get ready because this flashing will eventually leak. The flashing should be either copper, lead, or coated copper if it contacts the brick. Aluminum flashing will usually corrode in about 5 years when contacting with wet masonry. Copper flashing will usually last 20+ years, lead coated copper 75 years and lead 250 years. Chimney Solutions can use silicone water proofing sealant. This product works well on concrete, brick and it lasts.

4.) If water is collecting on the upper side of the chimney, Chimney Solutions can install a "cricket" in back of the chimney. The cricket is a small "roof" like structure diverts water flowing toward the chimney from upwards on the roof to either side of the chimney.