Leaning Chimney: Know The Causes And The Solutions

A common problem of every house is a leaning chimney that is not so uncommon to be overlooked by homeowners. Leaning chimneys are the evidence of serious issues such as bricks can easily fall, smoke can leak into home’s interior, snow and rain could seep in leading to water damage and bugs can enter exposed cracks that needs to be addressed immediately.

The leaning  chimneys are basically of two types, one that leans away from the house and the other one that leans on or over the house. Some homeowners try to fix this problem themselves but it is only temporary. As leaning chimney is a noticeable sign of foundation failure, at the first sight of damaged chimney, call in a licensed professional.

What is the cause?

The material such as bricks and stones that are used to build chimneys are extremely heavy. Actually, chimneys need specific concrete footing to support all the added weight. This footing along with the underlying foundation supports your home. There are various reasons that cause the leaning of your chimney that consists of:

• The clasps and brackets that hold the upper segments of chimney in place are worn
• The improper size of footing
• Over time, shifting of soil and water causes the cracks in it or crumbles the concrete
• Volatile soil contractions and expansions,