Leaning Chimney Can Cause a Problem for Santa

of year when family and friends gather, share stories, and pass out presents. We parents know it’s a fun time to keep the Santa spirit alive in our children. To witness the miracle of wonder on their faces as we share stories of Santa coming down the chimney at night to pass out presents.

If you have a brick chimney attached to the side of your home, did you know that it is the heaviest portion of your home? There is a lot of weight for such a small space. With Santa heading to your home, have you taken the time to check and make sure the chimney’s foundation is stable and in tact?

If your foundation or soil isn’t stable, your chimney will start to lean or bricks can crack. Chimney brick cracks are a sign that you have a house settlement problem.

Too much water, poor drainage, a dry and hot summer or poor soil preparation by the home’s builder can all weaken soil and cause house settling. Usually homes settle when when the ground under your home becomes weakened and is unable to support the weight of your home and foundation.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can just patch the cracks or have to demolish your chimney. Your chimney can be saved; you just need the help of a foundation repair expert!

Keep in mind that structural issues with your chimney are often connected to other potentially serious foundation problems. The same problems that caused your chimney to lean and show signs of failure can apply equally to your foundation.

These cracked bricks or leaning chimney indicate that you need to have your foundation evaluated for repairs. Telltale Signs:

• Leaning or tilting of the chimney
• Cracks where the chimney foundation meets the home foundation
• Damage to the roof where flashing meets the chimney
• Gaps between the chimney and home walls that have been filled in with mortar, foam, or caulk.

Filling in the void between your house and chimney is not the answer! Many homeowners will have the void filled with masonry, foam, caulk, or some other material. This is a temporary fix only — and it’ll have to be removed when the real repair is done.

To avoid costly repairs in the future, get your foundation checked today. Patching or covering up small problems now may lead to larger headaches in the future.