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The Sterling Chimney Sweep teamMy chimney is leaning. What should I do?
Keep people, pets and cars away from the base of the chimney and from the side it leans toward, leave the fireplace unlit, and call for a look. Do not push it, brace it or climb up to inspect it. A leaning chimney can shift further without warning, and the first job is distance.
What do I do in the first hour?
- Move people, pets and cars away from the side the chimney leans toward.
- Do not light the fireplace, stove or furnace that vents through it.
- Take a photo from the ground, with the date, and a second one from another angle.
- Look for a gap between the chimney and the house wall, and note how wide it seems.
- Call us and describe the lean and what you see.
Why does a chimney lean?
A chimney is heavy brick and mortar standing on its own footing. The footing can settle or shift, water can wash out the mortar and loosen brick, and a crown or cap that has failed lets rain into the stack. Often, more than one thing is going on. Only a close look separates them.
| What you see | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A gap opening between chimney and wall | The stack is moving away from the house | Keep clear and call |
| Stair-step cracks in the brick | The footing or the stack has shifted | Keep clear and call |
| Loose or fallen bricks | The mortar has failed | Keep clear and call |
| A lean that looks the same in photos weeks apart | The lean may be old, and it still needs a look | Call anyway |
What not to do
Do not try to brace it, strap it or push it back. Do not stand under it to inspect it, and do not light any appliance that vents through it. A lean puts pressure on the flue, and smoke and gas can escape where it has opened.
Stop and call: if bricks are falling or the chimney looks about to come down, keep everyone away and call 911. For anything less, call us, and we will say how soon it needs a look.
What happens at the visit?
We look at the chimney from the ground and from the roof where it is safe, and we check the gap at the wall and the condition of the mortar. Then we lay out the options, which may be a repair, a partial rebuild or a full rebuild. You decide, and no work starts until you do.
Who do I call first?
Call us for the chimney. If you plan an insurance claim, ask your insurer what they need from you. We can describe what we found and what a repair involves. Our chimney repair service covers rebuilds and repairs. We look at leaning chimneys in North St. Paul, Hastings and across the east metro.
Leaning chimney questions
Short answers first.
Is a leaning chimney urgent?
Treat it that way until someone has looked. Keep clear of it, leave it unused and call. Not every lean is falling, but you cannot tell from the ground.
Does a leaning chimney mean the foundation is failing?
It can be a footing problem, but mortar and water damage also cause leans. A close look separates them, and we tell you what we see.
Can I still use the fireplace?
No. A lean can open the flue and let smoke or gas escape into the house. Wait for a professional look.
Can I take my own photos safely?
Yes, from the ground, with the zoom on your phone. Stay well back from the base and never go on the roof.
Chimney leaning? Keep clear and call.
Tell us which way it leans and what you see. We will plan the next step.