Why Is My Chimney Pulling Away From My House?

The modern home is square, sealed, and secure. By that, we mean that they’re built to specifications to keep everything lined up, efficient, and in place. That’s why it can be so frustrating when you see a chimney pulling away from your house. What causes a leaning chimney and what are the ways to fix it? Let’s tackle both of those questions today.

Is a chimney pulling away from your house a cause for concern?

In a word, yes. A chimney that is leaning or pulling away from your house can lead to a variety of problems with your home. Namely, it can:

• Lead to chimney leaks within your home’s interior;
• Cause physical damage if it collapses;
• Create a house fire if you use your fireplace while the chimney is pulling away.

So what causes this? Although there can be a myriad of answers, there are four overarching reasons. Here they are along with the solutions to each.

Reason 1: Problem with the structure

Are you familiar with the freeze-thaw cycle? This states that when water enters something porous, it expands when it freezes. When it melts, it then leaves behind a larger crack. Then, when it fills with more water and freezes again, it creates an even larger crack.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

What is the most porous material in your home? Your chimney’s masonry. Repairing the existing masonry and then waterproofing it can help prevent this problem. If left unattended, however, the structure will eventually start to lean as more and more bricks fall prey to this problem.

Reason 2: Installation

Guidelines for chimney installs have changed over the years. If your home was built decades ago, it likely wasn’t built to modern standards. This can lead to a leaning chimney over time.

Likewise, if your builder used poor quality materials or used too small of a base, it will eventually lead to larger problems. The solution is to contact Chimney Solutions Indiana and schedule an annual inspection where our team can ensure that any installation problems are rectified as soon as they present themselves.

Reason 3: Erosion and shifting soil

Erosion and shifting soil are often other causes of a leaning chimney. The solution here is to start with the right materials from the — literal — ground up. When your builder is planning your chimney, they need to use non-expansive soil under your chimney base.

Reason 4: Inadequate maintenance

Finally, a chimney that is used routinely but never inspected or swept will eventually lead to interior damage. Flue tiles can break, creosote can invade the masonry, and other problems will manifest themselves up to and including water damage.

The solution is, once again, an annual inspection and sweep that will eliminate these issues before they become larger problems.

Your source for sweeps, inspections, repairs, and more

Our team can help identify which of these problems is the primary cause of your chimney pulling away from your house. Regardless of the issue, however, we can provide a solution. From masonry repairs to annual inspections to waterproofing to sweeps and more, when you need chimney service you need the very best.

Ready to get started? Then call Chimney Solutions Indiana at (317) 757-6979 or contact us today via our online contact form.