Tampa Bay’s Veteran Chimney Pros Weigh In
In Florida, hurricane season isn’t just a date range on a calendar — it’s a real, yearly threat to your home. And while most people focus on protecting their windows, doors, and yard, very few stop to think about their chimney.
At Swept Away Inc., we’ve been inspecting and repairing chimneys across Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties since 1993 — and we’ve seen it all. We’re talking chimney caps ripped off by 80mph gusts, rain flooding down an unsealed flue, blown-off chase pans, bricks pulled loose by wind shear… and the insurance nightmares that follow.
So before the next storm hits, let’s talk about what you can do to protect your chimney — and your home — the right way.
🔍 Step 1: Get a Full Chimney Inspection
Don’t guess — inspect.
Just like your roof or your windows, your chimney needs an annual check-up. But during hurricane season? That inspection becomes critical.
Here’s why:
Storm damage to chimneys is often silent at first. You won’t see the cracks. You won’t know your chase pan is rusted. You might not even realize your flue has shifted until the ceiling stains start forming… or you light the first fire in winter and smell mildew and smoke.
A full chimney inspection from Swept Away includes:
- Examining your firebox, smoke chamber, and flue liner
- Checking for cracks, separations, or fire hazards
- Inspecting the chimney cap, chase cover, flashing, and all rooftop components
- Looking for signs of water intrusion or past storm damage
We’ve trained our team to look for Florida-specific risks: saltwater corrosion, uplift pressure from coastal winds, and subtropical storm patterns that wear down traditional materials faster than in northern states.
Bonus Tip: We photograph everything so you can see exactly what we’re seeing — and make informed decisions.
🔩 Step 2: Secure (or Replace) Your Chimney Cap
Let’s be blunt: if your chimney cap is loose, rusted, or missing — it’s not going to survive a hurricane.
We see this every single storm season. Homeowners call us weeks later asking why water is dripping down the fireplace or why there are squirrels nesting inside their chimney.
The chimney cap is your chimney’s first line of defense, and it has two jobs:
- Keep water out of the flue
- Block debris, pests, and downdrafts
At Swept Away, we install UL-listed stainless steel chimney caps with hurricane straps, designed to withstand intense Florida storms. These aren’t box-store bolt-ons — they’re fit and anchored into your masonry or chase top using hurricane-rated fasteners.
Why stainless steel?
- It holds up better in salty coastal air
- It meets Florida building code for storm durability
A properly installed chimney cap doesn’t just survive storms — it protects your home for years.
💦 Step 3: Chase Pan or Crown? Either Way, It Better Be Sealed Tight
Let’s break it down:
- Prefab chimney? You’ve got a chase pan — a sheet-metal lid that covers the top.
- Masonry chimney? You’ve got a crown — a concrete layer sloped to drain water away.
Now here’s the kicker:
Both of these fail all the time in Florida. Rust, UV rays, salt air, and poor construction combine to create the perfect storm — and once those fail, water gets in fast.
If your chase pan is rusted or sunken in the middle, or your crown is cracked and pulling away from the flue, here’s what happens during a storm:
- Rain hits your roof horizontally at 40–80mph
- It seeps into every weak point
- It soaks into the chimney structure, attic, insulation, and drywall
- Weeks later, you find mold, smells, and ceiling stains
We fabricate custom chase pans, re-seal and re-slope crowns with elastomeric waterproofing, and make sure your chimney top sheds water — not collect it.
🧱 Step 4: Address Brickwork, Gaps, and Flashing Before Wind Takes Advantage
During a storm, wind doesn’t just hit from above — it wraps around your home. That means water is pushed underflashing and sideways into your chimney joints.
That’s why flashing and mortar joints are common failure points.
Typical signs your flashing or bricks need repair:
- You see moss or mildew around your chimney base
- You find loose bricks or crumbling mortar
- The metal flashing is pulling up, rusting, or not sealed properly
We use high-grade sealants, tuckpointing techniques, and re-flashing systems to restore chimney strength before storm pressure makes the problem worse.
🧰 Pro Tip: A leaking chimney base looks like a roof leak — but roofers often miss it. If your flashing is the issue, a chimney specialist find it.
🔥 Step 5: Don’t Forget What’s Inside
Sure, most storm damage starts on the outside — but it ends inside.
After a bad storm, we often find:
- Damaged dampers that no longer shut tight
- Rusted firebox
- Warped flue tiles that pose fire risks
- And water-damaged smoke chambers that smell like mildew
Just because the chimney looks fine from the street doesn’t mean the interior isn’t compromised. Moisture + time = deterioration — and that deterioration leads to fire hazards if ignored.
Our inspections always include interior components. We’ll tell you what’s still good and what needs to be repaired or replaced so you’re not caught off guard come fireplace season.
🧰 Bonus: What to Do If You’ve Already Had Storm Damage
We hear it from Florida homeowners all the time:
“Hurricane Ian blew the entire cap off. It landed in the neighbor’s pool.”
“We thought the roof was leaking — turns out it was the chimney.”
“I haven’t used the fireplace since the storm because it smells like wet ash.”
The good news? We can help — and fast. Whether it’s emergency tarping, waterproofing, custom cap replacements, or full structural repair, Swept Away Inc. specializes in storm recovery chimney work. We’ve got the parts, the experience, and the boots on the roof to get it done right.
📍 Local Advice for Tampa Bay Homeowners
We’ve worked on thousands of chimneys across:
- St. Pete & Clearwater
- Tampa & Carrollwood: Brick chimneys with cracked crowns and open flues
- Palm Harbor & Largo: Homes that still have no chimney caps or missing dampers
- Riverview & Wesley Chapel: Chimney flashing often done improperly by roofers
We know what fails in each area — and how to fix it the Florida way.
📞 Don’t Wait Until It’s Leaking — Book Now
The longer you wait, the higher the risk. Chimney damage often doesn’t show up right away, and by the time you spot it, repairs are more expensive and invasive.
Let’s get ahead of the storms this year.
✅ Book your chimney hurricane inspection today:
📞 Or call us directly at: 727-596-5946
We’ll check your chimney from top to bottom, give you a clear report, and recommend only what you need.
💡 Bundle & Save: Ask About Dryer Vents & Pressure Washing
Want to knock out other important home safety tasks while we’re already there? We offer:
- Dryer vent cleaning (great for fire prevention & energy savings)
- Exterior pressure washing (driveways, siding, patios, and more)
Bundle these services during your chimney visit and we’ll build you a custom package with discounted pricing — because taking care of your home shouldn’t break the bank.
Thanks for trusting Swept Away Inc. — proudly serving Tampa Bay since 1993.