Signs you can see from the ground
Walk outside and look up. These are visible without a ladder.
- Brick faces flaking, popping or crumbling (spalling)
- Mortar joints that look recessed, sandy or missing
- White chalky staining across the brick
- A cap that is missing, crooked or rusted
- A stack that no longer looks plumb
Signs you find inside the house
These usually mean water has already been getting in for a while.
- Stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney
- Rust on the damper or firebox metal
- Pieces of clay tile in the firebox
- A musty or smoky smell, especially with the AC running
- Smoke entering the room during a fire
What to do next
Most of these have cheap fixes early and expensive fixes late. An inspection with photos tells you which stage you are at and what it costs to stop it there.