Does the end of the house where the chimney is face South? If so, it is possible that the wind driven rain is saturating and penetrating the brick. We had this problem until we had water seal applied to the chimney bricks. Our fireplace is brick and the face was wet and there was dripping water inside the firewood box.
There is a device called a Rilem Tube which would be placed against the exterior of the chimney and would simulate wind driven rain.

 

This is interesting, and sounds like it might be our issue. Guess we have to wait for a long dry spell before sealing. Unfortunately, we’re in Seattle, so….

 

Where does the water appear inside the house in relation to the chimney? Is this the first time the chimney has ever leaked? Besides the tuck pointing were any bricks replaced?

 

Inside, water dribbles down the face of the stone fireplace. It’s a slow drip. No bricks were replaced during the tuck-pointing. I didn’t watch them do it, but think they just removed crumbling mortar and repacked it. It’s definitely not the first time the chimney has leaked, but we had the tuck pointing done and the roof replaced (torch down) since the last leak a few years ago and it had been fine until now.

 

Does the chimney require or have a cricket on the high side?

 

No cricket- the chimney is at the center of the roof, so there isn’t a high side.

 

With a few chimneys over the years, that have needed work, and having paid $$$$ for professionals to repair, repoint and seal, only for the problem to persist or re-appear within a couple years, due to shoddy work ... I can relate and sympathize. This fall I decided to redo the top of our one chimney myself, to a much higher standard.

I would start by looking at the very top, or having it reviewed by a chimney sweep, rather than a mason.

Is there a cricket ( raised roof section ^ ) behind the chimney if it meets a slanted roof part, to divert water around the chimney?
I don't know why some designers and architects skip including crickets ... and will put flat walls in front of sloping roofs. If there is no cricket, you may need a contractor to add one.

Is there a cap on top of the flue?
Without a cap, water will enter the chimney and will then find its way gradually through the interior aspects of the chimney, along ledges, looking for protrusions and gaps.

Beyond that, there could be gaps in the very top, perhaps around the flue tile. Perhaps between the chimney and a wall face.

 

With a few chimneys over the years, that have needed work, and having paid $$$$ for professionals llto repair, repoint and seal, only for the problem to persist or re-appear within a couple

Does the end of the house where the chimney is face South? If so, it is possible that the wind driven rain is saturating and penetrating the brick. We had this problem until we had water seal applied to the chimney bricks. Our fireplace is brick and the face was wet and there was dripping water inside the firewood box.
There is a device called a Rilem Tube which would be placed against the exterior of the chimney and would simulate wind driven rain.

years, due to shoddy work ... I can relate and sympathize. This fall I decided to redo the top of our one chimney myself, to a much higher standard.

I would start by looking at the very top, or having it reviewed by a chimney sweep, rather than a mason.

Is there a cricket ( raised roof section ^ ) behind the chimney if it meets a slanted roof part, to divert water around the chimney?
I don't know why some designers and architects skip including crickets ... and will put flat walls in front of sloping roofs. If there is no cricket, you may need a contractor to add one.

Is there a cap on top of the flue?
Without a cap, water will enter the chimney and will then find its way gradually through the interior aspects of the chimney, along ledges, looking for protrusions and gaps.

Beyond that, there could be gaps in the very top, perhaps around the flue tile. Perhaps between the chimney and a wall face.

Yeah, we scoured the crown for cracks and gaps. We had it repoured when we had the tuck pointing done. The crown looks great. There is a cap on the stack, though maybe rain blows under it.

Center “ center “ of the roof with very limited brick surface exposed above the roof?
Or center of the roof but with three brick walls on the outside, coming down to the ground?

Center center. Only 5-6 rows of brick exposed above the roof. No major cracks, just a bunch of tiny ones like in the photos, and mortar pulling away from the bricks. It takes a long rain for a leak to start, so maybe it needs those little cracks caulked and a good coat of sealant?

 

Center “ center “ of the roof with very limited brick surface exposed above the roof?
Or center of the roof but with three brick walls on the outside, coming down to the ground?

 

How does the chimney cap look?
Do you have a flu cap?

 

You have a picture of the very top cement cap?

 

a picture of the top (crown) will help. A 1/8" gap is intentionally created between the concrete crown and the flue tile to factor for expansion. This gap must be sealed, preferably with polyurethane caulk. Any leak here will follow the flue and land on the fireplace.