Expert: James Ball - 1/20/2010

Question
Thanks for your QUICK answers James. Much appreciate it.

I have additional questions if you don't mind...

1. There will be several big storms hitting our neighborhood in this week. With the Spark Arrestor gone will the rain water fall through the chimney and leak into the house and cause damage? Our house is built in the early 70s. Some people said the old chimney had some way to deflect rainwater if there is no Spark Arrestor. Is that true? I tried to look at the fireplace but it was covered with a tin box so I can't see the surrounding walls and therefore cannot tell if rain water has sipped down the chimney (the recent two days have been stormy weather and there would be two more storms coming later this week).
2. If the rain water does drip through the chimney is there anything I can do to prevent or lessen the damage? The chimney is tall and I don't think I can go up there to put a tarp around it, and with the coming storms I don't think the repairment can come to fix it until the storms pass.
3. Can the Spark Arrester be fixed by a handyman or does it have to be done by certified Chimney Sweep? I'm concerned about the cost and the timeliness of their fixing this apparently small problem.

Thanks for your time James.

Answer
Welcome back Richard, any one can reinstall the cap (but a certified sweep might now why it came off and how to fix it and know the codes in your area), I use silicone in most cases. if it drips put a pan or towel in the fireplace, just don't wait to long.
James