Rain dripping down chimney

[bruncher]

I have a chimney leaking into a fireplace. Well the drip is audible, not so far visible. The drip sounds like it's hitting the board which blocks the chimney above the fireplace - which is still accessible. Small bedroom fireplace; Victorian house.

Roofers are booked to come and re-flaunch the stack and re-point.

The question I would appreciate help with is whether I should unblock the chimney, investigate and get sight of what's going on. The chimney has been boarded neatly, but the water must be going somewhere and should I be catching it in a bucket or other container?

Perhaps it's an impossible question. The drip was infrequent, but with the current heavy rain is every 15 - 20 seconds.

[todthedog]

We had a lined chimney for a wood burner a Chinese hat cover sorted the problem

[richlist]

Yes there are simple rain covers that can be fitted that continue to allow ventillation. They just clamp onto the protruding chimney pot with a very large jubilee clip. They cost £20- £30 + fitting..

[dspp]

In the short term where it is going is likely not that significant. Solving the ingress is the real issue. You may be into trays and/or cladding if a cowl does not solve it.

regards, dspp

[sg31]

It does sound like your problem is ingress of water. A cowl would help but if you are exposed you may still find problems occur when it is windy, there are storm cowls available which should solve that at extra cost.

Repointing, reflaunching and maybe checking the flashings are likely to solve the problem. Inspecting where the water is appearing inside can be useful but is often deceptive. It can appear a long way away from where the problem occurs. At least you will know the water is coming in above the point where it appears.

I have had a couple of cases where the drip was caused by condensation on the inside of the chimney because clothes were dried on radiators and the owners had showers with little ventilation. That's unlikely if you have boarded the fireplace over.

It was always rcommended to fit a vent to the fireplace when boarding it.

[88V8]

It was always rcommended to fit a vent to the fireplace when boarding it.

Yes, it is important to maintain some air flow in a flue otherwise it can gradually become very wet.
And eventually you will get sooty marks appearing on the chimney breast from soot leaching through saturated pointing.

If there is still a chimney pot in situ, you can climb up and pop one of these elephants foot caps on https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Buff-Chimney ... SwxbNdqCi1.
Also available new, and in various colours.
In windy areas you may wish to cement it into the pot.

If the pot has been removed, there should already be a rain cowl.
If the flue has already been capped, as commented you need to look elsewhere to find where water is getting in.

V8