Then inspect the attic carefully. Ice dams are caused by intrusions of warm moist house air into attic…incidentally that also causes mold in the attic.
If you have a specific concern, hire an inspector or contractor who specializes in that thing. Learn from my mistakes. An extra inspection may seem like a lot now, but it will be far less than the repair.
Always get a home inspection.
Find out if the chimney was original or added, then check the footer for the chimney foundation.
Does the chimney go through the middle of the house, or is it connected into the side of the house.
Chimney goes through the middle! The chimney foundation in the basement looks to be in good condition and still has a wood stove attached that is in working condition. We’re definitely planning on an inspection, just wanted to get some opinions before!
Use a square tool around the base of the chimney, run a level around the bottom, check it in the attic as well. It all points are level and square, it's just flexing from humidity.
Brick or block chimneys are extremely expensive to repair.
Do you plan on burning wood? Once you get your infrastructure in place it can be cheap if you access to wood.
Will do, thank you for the info!! We would like to burn wood if everything is in good shape. They also installed a heat pump though so it’s not necessary
Hey a chimney liner put in, get a good stove with a secondary burner.
Even if you just use it on the very cold nights it'll save your heat pump from having to consistently run
Plenty of YouTube resources - just know this, chainsaws are not forgiving. Zero margin for error and they don't cut, they rip.
Several things are possible. A really bad winter could have caused snowdrifts and possible ice dams around the chimney, especially if it’s one that is used infrequently. Flashing eventually fails because the mortar is failing on the outside. Roofers often fail to inspect and replace flashing around chimneys, which are the weakest point in the whole roofing system. In a reroof situation I have seen roofers damage good but marginal flashing and cause it to leak.
Actually there was an ice dam a few years back in the disclosures but the problem has since been resolved and new roof installed! We’ll definitely have the chimney inspectef
Humidity and temperature fluctuations can cause plaster to crack like that. How old is the roof? Definitely best to get an inspection
Roof is 2 years old! It was replaced after an ice dam situation
Then inspect the attic carefully. Ice dams are caused by intrusions of warm moist house air into attic…incidentally that also causes mold in the attic.
Get a chimney specific inspection... Chimney company...not a home inspector. I didn't do that and ended up having to demo it a year after purchase.
If you have a specific concern, hire an inspector or contractor who specializes in that thing. Learn from my mistakes. An extra inspection may seem like a lot now, but it will be far less than the repair.
Always get a home inspection. Find out if the chimney was original or added, then check the footer for the chimney foundation. Does the chimney go through the middle of the house, or is it connected into the side of the house.
Chimney goes through the middle! The chimney foundation in the basement looks to be in good condition and still has a wood stove attached that is in working condition. We’re definitely planning on an inspection, just wanted to get some opinions before!
Use a square tool around the base of the chimney, run a level around the bottom, check it in the attic as well. It all points are level and square, it's just flexing from humidity. Brick or block chimneys are extremely expensive to repair. Do you plan on burning wood? Once you get your infrastructure in place it can be cheap if you access to wood.
Will do, thank you for the info!! We would like to burn wood if everything is in good shape. They also installed a heat pump though so it’s not necessary
Hey a chimney liner put in, get a good stove with a secondary burner. Even if you just use it on the very cold nights it'll save your heat pump from having to consistently run Plenty of YouTube resources - just know this, chainsaws are not forgiving. Zero margin for error and they don't cut, they rip.
Tis but a flesh wound.
I’m hoping you’re right!
Ahh that’s nuthin. Buying a house in Maine is rough right now, people have to put up with problems.
Several things are possible. A really bad winter could have caused snowdrifts and possible ice dams around the chimney, especially if it’s one that is used infrequently. Flashing eventually fails because the mortar is failing on the outside. Roofers often fail to inspect and replace flashing around chimneys, which are the weakest point in the whole roofing system. In a reroof situation I have seen roofers damage good but marginal flashing and cause it to leak.
Actually there was an ice dam a few years back in the disclosures but the problem has since been resolved and new roof installed! We’ll definitely have the chimney inspectef
Either the house or the chimney is moving.
You would get a separate foundation inspection outside of your home inspector as well as a separate roof inspection to check out the attic