What is a Chimney Crown?

One of the most crucial components of a chimney responsible for harm reduction caused to our environment is the chimney crown, which is often ignored while talking about the chimney system. The topmost part of a chimney that blocks water from going through or into bricks is the chimney crown.

What exactly is a chimney crown?

A chimney crown is a piece of concrete, metal or stone covering the chimney. Water is directed away from the flue and the chimney structure by the crown, by closing the chimney from the top. The chimney crown’s primary function mentioned before is to prevent water from entering the bricks and mortar. This helps in avoiding degradation of the joints, spalling of bricks and corrosion of metallic components. This design ensures that water doesn’t accumulate by draining away from the flue thus minimizing freeze-thaw cycles that are known to weaken a chimney with time.

For chimney owners, it is necessary to understand what exactly is the chimney crown, what it does and how one can take care of it. This blog will help us appreciate the significance of chimney crowns and some of their uses.

The Importance of Chimney Crown

Rainwater may readily seep into the bricks and mortar of your chimney structure if the chimney crown is cracked or missing. During the winter, the water that enters the chimney structure freezes. The water expands by over ten per cent when it freezes, which can cause bricks to split. The quantity of water that has penetrated, the quality of the bricks, and the chimney will all affect how big or little the cracks are. These fissures might cause the mortar to deteriorate.

Even a very small amount of water present inside the chimney system can lead to brick flaking, mortar deterioration or even salt deposits into your chimney. Without a good quality chimney crown, which is perfectly sealed with your chimney system you cannot provide complete protection to your chimney. Also in this case, if the crown is not taken care of or installed for a long period, the bricks and the chimney can break up to an extent where your chimney would not sound structurally sound.

To ensure that the chimney crowns are functioning properly, periodic checks and maintenance are essential. When operating the chimney, exposure to various factors can lead to the chimney crown cracking or splitting, which will eventually enable water to enter the chimney system. Frequent inspections will make sure that any little cracks in the crown are meticulously sealed by experts using a waterproof sealant; if major cracks are present, you will undoubtedly require professional assistance. There can be some cases where the crowns are either not constructed properly or not installed properly where the professionals will have to completely change the crown.

What are the signs of Chimney Crown Damage?

After knowing the importance of the chimney crown we will now go through the different problems that can happen to the crown and how to resolve those problems. Damage to chimney crowns can lead to chimney leaks, spalling bricks, damaged liners, and a lot more.

Some of the signs which show that your chimney crown needs repair are:

Efflorescence: The white blotches on your chimney indicate efflorescence, which results mainly from salt crystallization, which typically occurs in cementitious materials or bricks. The efflorescence is the first sign of a moisture issue. A small amount of white stains is enough to show problems in the chimney crown, but if they become excessive, they can lead to major problems.
Cracks in the Chimney Crown: The Chimney crown’s primary purpose is to shield the chimney from moisture. When this upper part has visible cracks, it turns out to be a leak for raindrops that causes various problems, and if the problem is not resolved with time it can lead to major issues.
Damage to Mortar Joints: The mortar joints generally get weakened or damaged because of the presence of moisture. In the presence of moisture the mortar begins to deteriorate and even in the later stages starts rusting which can further lead to many problems.
Spalling Bricks and Rust: Another major indication of moisture can be the broken or missing bricks. The structure of the brick gradually starts deteriorating if the bricks start spalling and rusting. The spalling of the bricks can even lead to cracking, flaking or crumbling.
Fallen Chimney and Water Pooling: One of the biggest problems can be when you can see a tile inside your fireplace, as the fallen tile indicates broken flue lining. The major reason for this can be damage through water, but this can also happen because of poor building construction or no crown.

All of these are the major signs which show that your chimney crown needs repair and maintenance. If you can suspect any of these problems in your chimney then you should immediately call a professional. Being a typical homeowner, you won’t be able to discover water leaks before it has done significant water damage, thus it turns out to be very important for every homeowner to keep these signs in mind along with having regular chimney cleaning.

Wrapping Up

If a damaged chimney crown is figured out, it is very important to get it repaired as soon as possible. A professional will guide you completely with the type of repair needed for your chimney crown depending upon the severity of the damage. You can contact Chimney Sweeps, for any of your problems related to the chimney crown or in case you need an inspection for your chimney. To schedule your next chimney inspection or chimney crown repair or for any further information contact chimney sweeps today!