Noticing dampness within your home usually raises immediate concerns due to the damage it can cause. Most people will notice it through wet patches on walls, flaking patches of paint or a tidemark rising across the whole wall. While these are the most common ways to identify damp, one of the more difficult ones to spot is chimney damp. Our damp proofing specialists at Prokil can help you spot the signs of chimney damp and provide effective damp treatment to prevent further unwanted damage.

What are the signs of chimney damp?

Chimney damp usually displays signs similar to that of regular dampness – however the moisture will be concentrated around the fireplace or chimney breast. If you are unsure whether you have damp on your chimney breast wall or in the stack, here are a few common signs to look out for:

• Reoccurring damp patches that come and go on or around your chimney breast, worsening during wet weather
• Damp marks on chimney breast wall, usually in a yellow or brown colour
• Damp in your loft or attic located near the area of the chimney
• Flaking paintwork on your chimney breast

What causes damp on chimney breasts and stacks?

Damp on a chimney breast or stack is more common in chimneys that have been boarded up or see little to no use. This is because unused chimneys suffer from less ventilation and moisture can easily become trapped.

Chimney damp can occur if your chimney has been capped or become blocked up. This is because ventilation levels decrease, meaning there is the potential for moisture to build up within the stack. As the moisture has nowhere to escape, this can cause damp to develop and cause damage if left untreated.

Another cause of chimney damp is poorly completed building works that may have taken place in and around the chimney itself. This can leave behind cracks in the brickwork or mortar, enabling moisture to enter and cause damp build-up.

Why do I need chimney damp treatment?

Chimney damp treatment is very important to prevent long-lasting damage to your chimney, including decorative spoiling and structural damage. If damp on a chimney breast or stack is left untreated, there is a chance that moisture contained within the chimney could spread to other parts of the property. When coal or wood is burned in a fireplace, a variety of chemicals are released which can stick to the chimney flue. These chemicals then absorb any moisture they come into contact with, causing the damp to spread throughout your home. When this happens, your home’s structure can become weaker and at much higher risk of damage.

The first step to solving chimney damp is always to call in a damp proofing specialist like Prokil. Our team will be able to give you a clear indication of what the root cause is and what needs to be done to solve it. We have over 50 years of valuable knowledge and experience and offer expert treatments to prevent damp from returning.

Learn more about how Prokil can eradicate your chimney damp for good by getting in touch. Call us on 0800 048 9488 to arrange a free* survey.

*Select surveys may incur a cost, contact us for more information.

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Sources

https://www.permagard.co.uk/advice/fix-damp-chimney-breast

https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/damp-chimney-breast.htm