Orange County
(714) 843-9944

Long Beach
(562) 595-5122

Los Angeles
(310) 377-8163

Orange County
(714) 843-9944

Long Beach
(562) 595-5122

Los Angeles
(310) 377-8163

Founder: Steve Lovsteen

How to Address Mold or Moss on Your Chimney

Chimney bricks look best when they’re a natural reddish color. When mold or moss begins growing on the masonry, the appearance can become quite unsightly. But much worse than the appearance is the possible trouble that mold or moss on a chimney is trying to alert you to.

Moldy Chimney Repairs in Long Beach CA, Redondo Beach CA, and Hermosa Beach CAOliver Twist Chimney & Fireplace of Huntington Beach, CA, has helped our customers solve chimney issues since 1987. Here’s some information that will be helpful to you.

What Is Moss and Mold?

Moss is actually a land plant. Mold is a fungus. Both thrive in damp conditions. Generally, moss isn’t harmful, although it can be ugly when it’s growing where it shouldn’t.

Mold, on the other hand, can be very harmful. Certain species of this fungus, particularly black mold, are known to cause serious respiratory illnesses and can even be fatal in certain instances.

Mold spores easily detach from the main growth and spread through the air. The mold growth itself also can spread and move into areas of the chimney system and home that aren’t seen under normal conditions.

Why Are These Substances on a Chimney?

Damp conditions can encourage a growth of moss or mold. If the bricks of your chimney are cracked and the mortar joints are crumbling, the chimney can retain quite a bit of moisture, allowing moss and mold to flourish.

Mold Growing on Chimney in Laguna Beach CA, Dana Point CA, and Long Beach CA

Naturally, you want to know why these substances are on your chimney, and so do we. But our biggest concern is that a water leak of some kind has moved into the interior areas of the chimney, where it will cause not only a growth of moss and mold but also serious structural damage.

Green growth on a chimney’s masonry is often just the first sign of trouble. Our inspectors will look closely at your entire chimney system to determine if the exterior growth is pointing to a much bigger problem on the inside.

Common Issues Resulting from Leaky Chimneys

We’ve seen a lot of leaky chimney damage over the years. Major concerns include:

  • Masonry decay and possible collapse of the chimney
  • Damage to the chimney liner, which can lead to a house fire and the release of carbon monoxide, a deadly gas
  • Dangerous mold growth throughout the chimney’s interior as well as the home’s attic and crawl spaces
  • Rotting of nearby home building materials

Chimney Inspection and Repair

Professional Chimney Inspections in Rancho Palo Verdes CA, Rolling Hills CA, and Santa Ana CA

The Oliver Twist crew will inspect your chimney and make all needed repairs. These might include brick replacement, tuckpointing to replace decayed mortar, chimney liner repair and other services.

When the issues are resolved, we’ll apply a water sealant to the outside of your chimney to keep moisture out of the bricks in the future.

Call Your Southern California Chimney Experts Today

For more than 30 years, Oliver Twist has been helping our customers keep their chimneys safe, efficient and beautiful. Find out how we can help you. Call (714) 843-9944 or reach out with our handy contact form.

We offer licensed chimney services as well as fireplace and stove installations throughout Huntington Beach CA, Long Beach CA, Torrance CA, Anaheim CA, Santa Ana CA, Fountain Valley CA, Seal Beach CA, Garden Grove CA, Irvine CA, and many more SoCal communities.