How Does a Chimney Cricket Protect My Chimney from Water Penetration?

Made from galvanized steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, a chimney cricket can be excellent protection against water infiltration of your chimney. We would like to tell you more about what a chimney cricket is and its important job of preventing water from entering your chimney.Īccording to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), a chimney cricket is a small peaked roof which is installed on the back side of your chimney to deflect water and debris from your chimney. At Owens Chimney Systems, we know how to solve this problem by building and installing a chimney cricket as part of a customized flashing system to protect your chimney from water penetration. Water leaking down your chimney walls is another possibility. This water accumulation can be dangerous to your masonry chimney as it can seep into the bricks and mortar and cause serious damage and deterioration.

Similarly, your chimney may have a width of over 30 inches, which can also cause water to accumulate around the chimney’s base. When your chimney is located on a downward slope of your roof, you most likely are experiencing water pooling around the base of your exterior chimney where it meets the roof.

Roof cricket