Does homeowners insurance cover chimney repair?
Short answer. Homeowners insurance covers chimney repair when a sudden covered event caused the damage, such as lightning, a falling tree, wind or a chimney fire. Routine repairs like tuckpointing, crown sealing, waterproofing and replacing aged flashing are maintenance and are not covered.
Common chimney repairs and how they are treated
- Rebuilding a top knocked down by wind or a limb: usually covered.
- Replacing a cap blown off in a storm: usually covered.
- Repairs after a lightning strike: usually covered.
- Relining a flue cracked by a chimney fire: usually covered as fire damage.
- Tuckpointing eroded mortar: maintenance.
- Sealing or rebuilding a cracked crown: usually maintenance, unless an impact broke it.
- Waterproofing spalling brick: maintenance.
- Replacing flashing that aged out: maintenance; flashing torn by wind is a storm repair.
Is it the chimney or the roof?
Many "chimney leaks" are flashing leaks. Clues:
- Water at the ceiling beside the chimney during wind driven rain points to step or counter flashing.
- Water inside the firebox or on the damper points to a missing cap or a cracked crown.
- Stains on the upslope side of a wide chimney point to a missing cricket, which sheds water around it.
A storm that damaged the roof may also have damaged the chimney flashing, and both belong on one claim.
Before you file
Photograph the chimney from all sides, note the storm date, and get an inspection that separates storm damage from wear. See wear and tear vs storm damage, and if water reached the interior, read interior water damage coverage.