Help!! We just had a huge rain storm here in the north east (over 4
inches since this morning). This afternoon we noticed a lot of water
coming out of the ash cleanout doors in the basement and making a mess.
After several hours of wet vacing the rain has let up and with that
the water soon stopped coming out the cleanout door. I finally was
able to open it and the water inside is about 3-5 inches deep and just
below the lip of the door (obviously the water level was higher
allowing water to pour through while the rain was heavy). The land
slopes AWAY from the house on the chimney (brick) side and I saw no
puddling outside the chimney. I could really use some expert opinions
here....

1.) Is the water likely coming from above (no chimney cap, or bad
flashing)?
2.) Is this ground water likely leaking through the chimney and polling
in the cleanout (I'd estimate the cleanout floor to be about 2-3 feet
below ground

We are having a chimney cleaning co. come to assess the situation, but
I'd also like to be armed with some knowledge before making any
decisions........

Thanks in advance!!!

"grodenhiATgmailDOTcom" wrote in message
oups.com...
Help!! We just had a huge rain storm here in the north east (over 4
inches since this morning). This afternoon we noticed a lot of water
coming out of the ash cleanout doors in the basement and making a mess.
After several hours of wet vacing the rain has let up and with that
the water soon stopped coming out the cleanout door. I finally was
able to open it and the water inside is about 3-5 inches deep and just
below the lip of the door (obviously the water level was higher
allowing water to pour through while the rain was heavy). The land
slopes AWAY from the house on the chimney (brick) side and I saw no
puddling outside the chimney. I could really use some expert opinions
here....

1.) Is the water likely coming from above (no chimney cap, or bad
flashing)?
2.) Is this ground water likely leaking through the chimney and polling
in the cleanout (I'd estimate the cleanout floor to be about 2-3 feet
below ground

We are having a chimney cleaning co. come to assess the situation, but
I'd also like to be armed with some knowledge before making any
decisions........

Thanks in advance!!!


1. That sounds like too much water to be captured by an open chimney at the
top. Besides, you would see the water in the fire box first before it ran
into the cleanout.

Bad flashing could allow roof runoff to run down the side of the chimney
between the house and brick to a spot where it drains into the cleanout. A
garden hose on a dry day can diagnose this.

2. My bet is on a broken mortar joint at or just below the outside ground
level allowing a direct passage for water to enter the cleanout.

Wait for the chimny cleanout and inspection, they should find it. Use a
company that can do camera inspections as the crack may not be in an exposed
location.

We did get SOME water in the firebox (what we simply call the fireplace
right?, where the logs go?). This was a small puddle, although I doubt
anywhere near enough to have filled the ash clean out. If it was
flashing, would I also have ceiling damage in the room with the
fireplace, or would water run down the chimney wall inside the basement
(ie I'd see it streaming down the basement wall above the cleanouts).
Although, again, I'll have to diagnose that on a dry day with a hose.
You suggestion on cracked morter below or at ground level seems
plausible, is it possible the crack could be anywhere else on the
chimney or would the liner block water thus ruling that out? Would a
chimney cleaner co be the right person to diagnose such a problem (I'm
guessing yes) or should we call someone else? Thanks again for
responding!!

PipeDown wrote:
"grodenhiATgmailDOTcom" wrote in message
oups.com...
Help!! We just had a huge rain storm here in the north east (over 4
inches since this morning). This afternoon we noticed a lot of water
coming out of the ash cleanout doors in the basement and making a mess.
After several hours of wet vacing the rain has let up and with that
the water soon stopped coming out the cleanout door. I finally was
able to open it and the water inside is about 3-5 inches deep and just
below the lip of the door (obviously the water level was higher
allowing water to pour through while the rain was heavy). The land
slopes AWAY from the house on the chimney (brick) side and I saw no
puddling outside the chimney. I could really use some expert opinions
here....

1.) Is the water likely coming from above (no chimney cap, or bad
flashing)?
2.) Is this ground water likely leaking through the chimney and polling
in the cleanout (I'd estimate the cleanout floor to be about 2-3 feet
below ground

We are having a chimney cleaning co. come to assess the situation, but
I'd also like to be armed with some knowledge before making any
decisions........

Thanks in advance!!!


1. That sounds like too much water to be captured by an open chimney at the
top. Besides, you would see the water in the fire box first before it ran
into the cleanout.

Bad flashing could allow roof runoff to run down the side of the chimney
between the house and brick to a spot where it drains into the cleanout. A
garden hose on a dry day can diagnose this.

2. My bet is on a broken mortar joint at or just below the outside ground
level allowing a direct passage for water to enter the cleanout.

Wait for the chimny cleanout and inspection, they should find it. Use a
company that can do camera inspections as the crack may not be in an exposed
location.

On 7 Jun 2006 15:26:40 -0700, "grodenhiATgmailDOTcom"
wrote:

"grodenhiATgmailDOTcom" wrote in message
oups.com...
Help!! We just had a huge rain storm here in the north east (over 4
inches since this morning). This afternoon we noticed a lot of water
coming out of the ash cleanout doors in the basement and making a mess.

We had a similar problem about a month ago. North Central Connecticut. Tons of
rain. We have no cover over the chimney, and the rain comes right down. In our
case, it seems that the Ash cleanout door had not been used for about 40 years
and was full to over the top of the door. It was a messy job to clean it out.
Dead birds, etc. I guess that normally the water sits at the bottom of the ash
box and evaporates due to the nearby heat. After cleaning it out we have had
even more torrential rain, but nothing has leaked out. Gotta make a note to
clean out the box again in 40 years.

On a separate item, I noticed water in the attic coming from the chimney. I
went up the ladder with some caulk thinking it was the flashing, but it turned
out to be the grout between the bricks was missing in many locations, letting
the water to go right through. I patched up the holes with some redi-mix
cement. Seems OK now.

Time to start building an Ark!

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