My Fireplace Is Leaking & Smelly

Causes

• Moisture can be a common problem in many areas of the home, especially bathrooms and basements. However, your fireplace also can have a leakage problem. Fireplace chimneys may have unsealed gaps that allow rainwater to run into your fireplace. Leaks in the roof near the fireplace or the brick can also allow water to come into your home and begin to cause moisture damage. If the seams of your chimney were sealed with furnace cement, water eventually can cause the cement to become dry and brittle, and it may fall out, allowing water to run into the gap and into your fireplace.

Effects

• When water is constantly trickling into your fireplace, mold can begin to grow. Mold spores are everywhere outdoors, and when they float down your chimney and land on the leaking water in your fireplace, they can begin to grow. Mold growth can produce a musty, earthy or foul odor that can be strong and unpleasant. Water leaking inside your home also raises the level of humidity inside your home, which increases the chance of mold growth elsewhere in your home and can make your house feel damp and uncomfortable.

Solution

• Inspect your chimney for gaps and cracks in furnace cement. Seal or caulk any gaps to prevent water from leaking inside. Be sure to check the shingles around your chimney on the roof for signs of water damage and leaks that cause water seepage. Reseal any damaged furnace cement with fresh cement. Clean the creosote inside your fireplace so you can see if any mold growth is present. You might need to call a professional mold removal contractor to remove heavy mold growth. Anyone who has a known allergy to mold or who has asthma should not remain indoors during mold removal.

Prevention

• Inspect your fireplace each year for signs of water stains, rotting structure and water leaks. Replace any broken or missing firebricks, and seal any visible gaps that can allow moisture inside. Clean the creosote from inside your fireplace each season before using to reduce the risk of fire and to make mold growth easier to see.