Getting Your Chimney Ready Before Hurricane Season

Why the chimney deserves attention before storm season

A chimney sticks up above the roof with nothing to shelter it. In a strong blow it catches more wind than almost anything else on the house, and the small metal parts on top are the first to go. A cap held by one rusted screw or a chase cover that already flexes in a breeze is unlikely to hold through the gusts of a tropical storm.

Most of what fails in a storm was already weak beforehand. That is the good news: the weak points can be found and fixed in spring, on a calm, dry day, rather than patched in the rain afterwards.

A ten-minute check from the ground

This is the hurricane season chimney checklist we suggest, and the easiest way to prepare a chimney for hurricane weather. Walk around the house with binoculars on a clear day and look at the chimney from every side. You are looking for anything that has moved, rusted or opened up since last year. Do not climb onto the roof to do this; the view from the yard is enough to know whether to call.

• The cap: sitting straight, screen intact, no rust streaks below it
• A chase cover on a framed chimney: flat or sagging, rusted edges
• The crown: cracks, missing corners or plants growing on top
• The flashing: metal lifted away from the brick or the roofing
• The brick: open joints, chipped faces or a lean when viewed from the side

What a crew checks up close

On the roof, the inspection looks at how the cap or chase cover is fastened, not only whether it is there. Caps should be fastened to the flue tile or through the crown, and chase covers fastened through their sides. The crown is checked for cracks that wind-driven rain will push water into. Flashing is checked for lifted edges and failed sealant, and the top courses of brick are checked by hand for movement.

NFPA 211 already recommends a yearly chimney inspection, so scheduling it in spring simply lines that visit up with storm season.

Branches, satellite dishes and other neighbors

A limb that overhangs the chimney can break off and land on the crown. Trimming it back before the season starts protects both the chimney and the roof. Antennas and dishes strapped to a chimney put extra load on the brick when the wind catches them, and the straps can crack the masonry; it is worth asking whether they can be moved.

When a storm is forecast

Close the damper or the top sealing damper so rain and wind-driven debris stay out of the room. Do not light the fireplace while the storm passes. Bring loose outdoor items inside so they cannot be thrown against the chimney.

After the storm, look again from the ground before anyone uses the fireplace. A missing cap, a bent chase cover or new staining inside are all reasons to call for a check. Please stay off a wet roof; our storm damage page explains what happens next.