Cracked chimney crowns letting water into the flue
Why it happens here
Freehold Township's freeze-thaw cycles crack the concrete crown mix, especially on chimneys built before 1990. Once cracked, water runs straight down the flue and into the house. Wind-driven rain from the Route 9 corridor makes it worse on exposed stacks.
Our approach
We chip out the failed crown, rebuild it with a proper slope and overhang so water sheds away from the flue, and seal it. We also check the cap at the same time, since a missing cap and a cracked crown usually show up together.