Why does my Aurora chimney leak after a freeze?

Water gets into small cracks in the crown, mortar and brick, then freezes and widens them. Aurora has cold, snowy winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles, so the cracks grow each season. By spring they let in more water.

Is there a best time of year to repair masonry in Aurora?

Masonry repair is usually done in the warmer months, because mortar needs to cure without freezing. Many Aurora homeowners also book in late fall, before the first hard freeze. The technician can tell you what can wait and what should not.

Do I need a permit for a chimney leak repair?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally. One is commonly needed for relining a chimney or rebuilding it above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Confirm with the Aurora building department before work begins.

Who checks the credentials of the person doing the work?

Illinois does not separately license chimney sweeping, inspection or masonry repair at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, so ask the building department what Aurora requires of contractors. You can also check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

What does One Call Chimney actually do?

We are a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we do not perform it ourselves. Every job comes with a free estimate, and you approve the price before work starts.

Chimney Leak, booked with one call, in Aurora, IL

Aurora has a dense stock of 19th- and early-20th-century brick and frame homes in and around downtown and on the older east and west sides, and many of them have masonry chimneys. If there is a damp patch on the ceiling next to your chimney, water is almost certainly getting in at the flashing, the crown, the cap or the mortar joints. The job usually means tracing where the water enters, repairing that spot, and repointing or replacing any damaged brick. Plan around the weather: masonry repair goes best when mortar can cure without freezing.

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This happens a lot in Aurora because of the winters. Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds, and wind-driven rain gets in where ordinary rain runs past. A small gap at the crown or flashing in October can be a wet ceiling by spring. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor.

While you wait — please don't

Don't just seal over the stain. Paint or caulk on the ceiling hides the damage while water keeps coming in from the chimney.
Keep clear of the base of the chimney. A chimney that has been wet for years can become structurally unsound, and falling brick is a hazard at the base.
Don't climb up to check the roof. Wet, icy or steep roof edges are dangerous, and the technician can inspect the chimney safely.
Stop using the fireplace if smoke enters the room. If smoke comes into the room, or you feel dizzy, get outside and call 911, because carbon monoxide can be deadly.

What the technician does

Free estimate and inspectionThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first.
The entry point is tracedThe aim is to find where the water gets in, not to seal over the symptom. Ask the technician to show you what they found.
Flashing is replacedWhere flashing has failed, it is replaced and counter-flashed into the mortar joint.
Crown repaired or recast, cap fittedA cracked crown is repaired or recast. A cap is fitted to keep rain and snow out of the flue.
Repointing and brick replacementFailed mortar joints are repointed and spalled brick is replaced.
Water repellent where appropriateA breathable water repellent may be applied to the masonry if the technician judges it suitable.

Why this happens in Aurora, IL

The Fox River runs through the center of Aurora. The older neighborhoods and historic districts around it, such as Downtown Aurora, the Near East Side, the Near West Side and the Tanner Historic District, hold many century-old brick and frame homes. Their chimneys and tuckpointing need regular attention. Illinois winters add to the load. The heating season typically runs from about October into April, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles drive spalled brick, cracked crowns and worn mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow off the open prairie add water at the crown, flashing and cap.

Timing matters here. Demand rises in spring after severe storm and hail season, and again in late fall before the first hard freeze. Masonry rebuilding, tuckpointing and crown repairs tend to be done in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. If you have noticed a stain, it is worth booking an inspection before the next freeze. Aurora's newer subdivisions on the far east and far west sides often have factory-built metal fireplaces with chimney chases, and the water can enter in different places there. The inspection works out which type you have.

Questions people ask

Why does my Aurora chimney leak after a freeze?: Water gets into small cracks in the crown, mortar and brick, then freezes and widens them. Aurora has cold, snowy winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles, so the cracks grow each season. By spring they let in more water.
Is there a best time of year to repair masonry in Aurora?: Masonry repair is usually done in the warmer months, because mortar needs to cure without freezing. Many Aurora homeowners also book in late fall, before the first hard freeze. The technician can tell you what can wait and what should not.
Do I need a permit for a chimney leak repair?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally. One is commonly needed for relining a chimney or rebuilding it above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Confirm with the Aurora building department before work begins.
Who checks the credentials of the person doing the work?: Illinois does not separately license chimney sweeping, inspection or masonry repair at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, so ask the building department what Aurora requires of contractors. You can also check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
What does One Call Chimney actually do?: We are a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we do not perform it ourselves. Every job comes with a free estimate, and you approve the price before work starts.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a free estimate for your chimney leak in Aurora. The technician inspects first, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.