Winter typically brings lots of snow and ice to the lower Hudson Valley area. This means your chimney needs to be able to be properly protected from all the brutally cold temperatures and the elements. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), chimney masonry damage can quickly become a serious problems over the winter. This means you need to take all the extra precautions when it comes to protecting your masonry chimney against the harsh conditions of winter.
For over 25 years, All Seasons Chimney has been protecting the chimneys with professional chimney water preventive services, and we know what works to keep winter weather to a minimum for your chimney. Waterproofing your chimney save you from expensive repair work in the near future. We would like to answer a couple of frequently asked questions about this chimney maintenance service.
Why does winter weather cause so much damage to masonry chimneys?
The bricks and mortar joints of your chimney are constantly exposed to water. Some of that moisture gets absorbed into the porous masonry. Whenever the cold temperatures of winter drop below freezing, the moisture freezes and expands inside the bricks and mortar joints, which causes cracks and crumbling. As the weather warms back up, the water then seep even further into the masonry, where the process is repeated. An entire winter season of freeze/thaw cycles lead to serious structural issues. This includes missing bricks and possibly even a collapsed chimney. Professional chimney waterproofing helps to avoid these risks by creating a barrier against water penetration.
What can I expect from a waterproofing treatment from All Seasons Chimney?
Before we get started on protecting your chimney from the freeze/thaw cycle, we look for damaged bricks and mortar joints. If we find any problems, we will give you our plan of repair. Once your exterior chimney is clean and in sound shape, we will apply a specialized waterproofing treatment that is made especially for chimneys. After the treatment dries, your chimney is protected from the freeze/thaw cycles for at least a decade. The bricks and mortar joints also will be safe from efflorescence, mildew, fungus, and other stains.
Is your chimney ready for winter? Contact us today at All Seasons Chimney to schedule your appointment for our professional chimney waterproofing services. We are here to help you with all of your chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs this winter.