Home › Service Areas › University Place › Chimney Leak Repair
Chimney Leak Repair in University Place, WA
Wind-driven rain finding its way down your University Place chimney? We find the path and close it.
- Serving University Place & Pierce County
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
Free Chimney Leak Repair Quote in University Place
We'll confirm a time by phone or text.
On the bluff in University Place, a chimney leak is often a wind problem as much as a water problem. Rain coming sideways off the Sound hits the west face of the chimney and gets pushed up under the flashing, behind the counter-flashing, and into hairline cracks in a crown that would shed a vertical rain just fine. Inside, the homeowner sees a stain on the ceiling next to the chimney breast, damp plaster, or a firebox that smells of wet ash. We start every leak call with a water test from the roof so we can tell the difference between a flashing leak, a crown leak, saturated brick and, on a factory-built chimney, a rusted chase cover. Then we fix the path we found, not the one that is easiest to sell.
Repairs range from new step and counter-flashing to a crown rebuild starting at $299, a chase cover starting at $299, a stainless cap, or tuckpointing with a breathable water repellent. The quote is free, and so is a second opinion on someone else's bid; we price match and take 10-25% off. We come from Renton in about 40 minutes, often same-day when water is coming in, and if the leak returns, we're not done.
Symptoms
Signs University Place homeowners notice
- Water pooling in the firebox or dripping from the damper after rain
- Brown stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney that grows during the wet season
- White crusty efflorescence on the brick inside or outside
- Rust streaks down the siding of a framed chimney or down the face of the brick
- Spalling brick faces or crumbling mortar near the top of the chimney
- Damp firebox walls even when it has not rained for a day or two
University Place Conditions
Why this happens in University Place
The wet season in University Place is long. Sea-Tac normals show about 29.65 inches of rain from October through March, roughly 73% of the 40.34-inch annual total, and November alone averages 6.31 inches. Masonry that never gets a dry week for six months stays saturated, and with winter lows averaging around 37F it freezes on roughly 60 nights a year and thaws the next day. The Brick Industry Association describes the result on saturated brick and mortar: cracking, spalling and loss of the joints that keep water out.
Mid-century masonry chimneys, typical on the older streets near Tacoma and Lakewood, tend to leak at the crown and flashing first. The newer homes toward Chambers Bay typically have sided chases with galvanized covers that rust through after years of standing water. Either way, moss on the shaded side of the stack holds water in place from October to April and keeps the problem fed.
How It Works
Our chimney leak repair process
Map the symptom
We ask where the water shows up, when, and how long after rain, because each entry point leaves a different signature.
Check the top
Crown, cap and chase cover are inspected first, since they are the most common leak sources and the fastest to rule in or out.
Check the roofline and masonry
Flashing, mortar joints, spalled brick and the flue itself are checked, including for condensation that mimics a leak.
Fix in the right order
We repair the entry points that are actually leaking, from the top down, and leave the sound ones alone.
Water-test and follow up
Where possible we run water on the repair to confirm it is dry, and if the next storm proves us wrong, we come back at no charge.
Full details, options and pricing factors on the main Chimney Leak Repair page.
Need chimney leak repair in University Place?
Call now or request a free quote — we confirm by phone or text.
☎ 206-453-2045 Request a QuoteQuestions
Chimney Leak Repair in University Place — FAQ
The leak in our University Place chimney only shows during southwest storms. Why?
Wind-driven rain enters through openings that a calm rain never reaches: the top edge of the counter-flashing, a small crown crack on the windward side, or under the lip of a cap. We test for it by spraying from the direction the storms come from. Those leaks are usually fixed with flashing work and a crown seal or rebuild, quoted free.
Should I have my roofer or a chimney company fix the flashing?
Chimney flashing is where the two trades meet, and it fails where the metal enters the mortar joint. We cut the counter-flashing into the brick and seal it, which a roofer often will not do. If the roof itself is also leaking, we tell you so you can bring in a roofer, and we coordinate so the chimney side is done first.
How soon can you do chimney leak repair in University Place?
We confirm a time by phone or text after you request a quote; same-day service is often available for urgent problems in University Place and the rest of Pierce County.
Other services in University Place
Chimney Leak Repair nearby