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I have an older 1 1/2 story bungalow (circa 1933)with a chimney used only to vent my gas (hot water heat) furnace. I've owned the house for 8 years. I had a new roof put on when I bought it, but the chimney still leaked. So I had it tuck pointed by a master mason. Still leaked. So I had a reliable roofer come in and flash the chimney. No leaks for about a year. Son-in-law (a part-time roofer) added tar. That didn't work. It appears to leak only on the top floor, where most of the paint and some of the plaster have come off. It wasn't very good plaster to start with. The plaster on the main floor is holding (no signs of leaking down there)and was always a better quality. What can I do to get this fixed? I am at my wits end with mold and stains on the ceiling and walls upstairs.
I should also mention that I have a dryer vented through the roof "down" from the chimney. Son-in-law installed this too. I don't think that is leaking, but some of the stains are showing up on the other side of the wall near the dryer vent.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
HI Carol,
Has anyone checked to see if the chimney is blocked or oversized?
If the only thing venting into it is the water heater, it could be condensing and leaking.
I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem.
You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.
Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.
Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com
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Answers by Expert:
Bart Ogden
Expertise
I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.
Experience
Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas
Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee
Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps
Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate
Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems
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