Chimney Leak Repair in St. Louis, MO
Chimney leaks almost never enter where the water shows up. Water gets in at the crown, the flashing, the cap or through the masonry — then travels before it appears on your ceiling. The $69 inspection traces the actual source with photographs, and you get one fixed price to fix it.
A chimney leak is the most urgent call we get, and the most commonly misdiagnosed. The stain on your ceiling is the end of the water's journey, not the start of it. That is why patching the spot that looks wet so often fails: the entry point is somewhere else entirely, and every storm the water keeps coming. Finding the true source is a diagnosis job — and it is exactly what the inspection is for.
How this gets priced
Starts with the $69 inspection
We trace the source first — water testing and a camera scan where needed — then quote the actual fix as one fixed price. The $69 comes off the work.
How do I know I need leak repair?
If any of these describe your situation, it is worth having someone look. Most are cheap to fix early and expensive to fix late.
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney
- Dripping or damp firebox after rain
- Musty smell from the fireplace, worst after storms
- Paint or wallpaper peeling near the chimney breast
- White chalky staining on interior or exterior brick
- Rust forming on the damper or firebox floor
- Water sounds inside the chimney during heavy rain
- Leak that appears in winter even without rain — that is freeze-thaw
Why it matters
Every week a leak goes unfixed, water is soaking deeper into the masonry. In St. Louis that water freezes 40-plus times a winter, expanding and splitting the brick from the inside. A leak caught early is a small repair; the same leak after two winters is masonry work. This is the one chimney problem where waiting genuinely costs money.
Call (314) 887-7250What’s included
Exactly what happens when we come out, step by step.
- 1
Trace the real source — $69
We inspect the crown, cap, flashing and masonry, and camera-scan the flue where needed. Water enters in one place and shows up in another, and guessing is how people pay for the same repair twice.
- 2
Photo report and one fixed price
You see photographs of the actual entry point, a plain explanation of how the water is traveling, and one fixed price in writing. The $69 comes off the work.
- 3
Fix the source, not the symptom
Crown repair, flashing replacement, cap installation, masonry repair — whatever the diagnosis actually calls for, done with materials rated for the job.
- 4
Waterproof and verify
Where it makes sense we finish with a breathable masonry sealer, and we verify the repair holds — because in a St. Louis freeze-thaw climate, keeping water out is the whole game.
Chimney Leak Repair: common questions
Why is my chimney leaking when it rains?
Five usual suspects, in order of frequency: a cracked chimney crown, failed flashing where the chimney meets the roof, a missing or damaged cap, mortar joints letting water soak through the brick, and unsealed porous masonry. It is often more than one at once — and the stain on your ceiling does not tell you which. Only tracing the water at the chimney itself does.
Can't I just seal the spot that's wet?
That is the most common mistake we get called in to undo. The wet spot is where the water ends up, not where it gets in — sealing it traps moisture inside the masonry and the leak finds a new path. Worse, the trapped water freezes in winter and spalls the brick. A leak repair that lasts starts with finding the actual entry point.
How fast can you come out?
We are available 24/7, and active leaks get priority. If water is coming in right now, call (314) 887-7250 rather than using the form.
Does a leaking chimney mean an expensive rebuild?
Usually not. Most leaks trace to the crown, the flashing or the cap — repairs measured in hundreds, not thousands. A rebuild only enters the picture when water has been getting in for years and the masonry itself has deteriorated. The inspection tells you honestly which situation you are in.
Why does my chimney leak in winter with no rain?
Snow sitting on the crown melts from chimney heat and finds the same entry points rain does. And moisture already inside the masonry freezes, expands and opens new paths. Winter leaks are the same disease at a later stage — which is why they should not wait until spring.
Will homeowners insurance cover the leak?
Insurance generally covers sudden damage — storm, hail, a lightning strike — and generally does not cover slow deterioration. Our photo documentation of the source is exactly what you submit with a claim, and you get it whether or not you hire us for the repair.
Chimney Leak Repair across the St. Louis metro
We cover the full metro from University City. Chimney problems differ by neighborhood because the housing stock differs — here is what we see where.
Leak Repair in St. Louis
Predominantly 1890–1930 brick
Leak Repair in University City
Largely 1920s–1940s brick, Tudor and Colonial
Leak Repair in Clayton
1920s–1940s masonry, plus newer infill
Leak Repair in Kirkwood
Victorian through 1950s, wide mix
Leak Repair in Webster Groves
Victorian, Craftsman and 1920s bungalows
Leak Repair in Chesterfield
Mostly 1980s–2000s construction
Also serving Ladue, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Maplewood, Brentwood, Florissant, St. Charles, Des Peres.
Related services
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair covers everything from a cracked crown or leaking flashing to a damaged flue liner. We start with a $69 inspection so you get photographs and one fixed price for exactly what your chimney needs — and the $69 comes off that price.
Chimney Cap Installation
A chimney cap is a metal cover with mesh sides that sits on top of the flue. It keeps out rain, animals and debris, and stops burning embers from landing on your roof. It is the cheapest part of a chimney and it prevents the most expensive problems.
Chimney Inspection
A full chimney inspection with Total Chimney Services costs $69 anywhere in the St. Louis metro, and the entire $69 is credited back to you if you book a repair with us.
Need chimney leak repair in St. Louis?
Start with a $69 inspection and a photo report. Credited back in full when you book the work. Call (314) 887-7250.
Open 24/7 · Emergency service, day or night.