A house on a Clermont ridge or at the edge of open water has nothing upwind to slow a storm gust, so its chase, cover and cap take a harder beating than those on a sheltered lot. That shapes where leaks here usually start.
Top, sides or roof line
Chimney leaks come from three places. The top: a cracked crown, a missing cap or a rusted chase cover lets rain fall straight in; see repairing or replacing the crown and a sloped replacement chase cover. The sides: brick and open mortar joints soak up wind-driven rain, and on a chase, siding seams let water behind. The roof line: step and counter-flashing that were cut short, left loose or only caulked; see resetting failed flashing.
Each needs a different repair, which is why the entry point comes first. On the top alone, caps versus chase covers decides which part is at fault.
Leaks in Clermont
Around King’s Ridge and Lost Lake Reserve, most chimneys are framed chases, and wind-driven rain works past a loose cover, a lifted storm collar or open siding seams on the exposed side first.
Where this page applies
Many communities with Clermont addresses are unincorporated Lake County; this page follows the city’s verified list.
Reading where the water shows up
| Where you see water | Often points to | Checked first |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling or wall beside the chimney | Water at the roof line | Flashing and any cricket |
| Inside the firebox or on the damper | Water coming down the flue | Cap, crown or storm collar |
| High on the chimney breast | Water through the brick or crown | Crown and mortar joints |
| Rust streaks down a chase | Water pooling on the chase top | Chase cover |
Water can travel before it shows, so this is a starting point; see water stains next to the fireplace.
Repair or waterproofing?
| Feature | Repairing the source | Water repellent |
|---|---|---|
| Fixes | Failed flashing, cracked crowns, missing caps, rusted covers | Brick that absorbs too much rain |
| When | First, always | Only after the masonry is sound |
| Won’t fix | — | Flashing, crown, cap or chase cover leaks |
Fixes
- Repairing the source
- Failed flashing, cracked crowns, missing caps, rusted covers
- Water repellent
- Brick that absorbs too much rain
When
- Repairing the source
- First, always
- Water repellent
- Only after the masonry is sound
Won’t fix
- Repairing the source
- —
- Water repellent
- Flashing, crown, cap or chase cover leaks
Waterproofing doesn’t solve every chimney leak. Applying masonry water repellent reduces how much rain brick soaks up, but only once the actual entry points are repaired.
When the leak comes with damage
- Water getting in, masonry otherwise sound: leak repair, on this page
- Loose brick, cracks through the structure, storm damage: structural chimney repair options
- Not sure what’s going on: a full chimney inspection
Leaks around Clermont
- Anywhere in Clermont: tell us where the water shows up and when
- Nearby: Minneola chimney leak repair, leak diagnosis and repair in Groveland and help with chimney water entry in Montverde
- Other work on the house: our Clermont service area
For the full background, see leak repair in depth and why chimneys leak in Florida storms.
References (3)
References behind the local data for Clermont.
