This winter I noticed a part of my chimney is leaning slightly. Not a lot, but noticeable. Is this serious?
Answer
A leaning chimney is a sign to take seriously because it can mean the bonds in that area are no longer holding properly, and gravity will win that battle every time.
You’ll sometimes see a small lean that begins at a certain spot, just enough that you notice it’s not as straight as the rest of the chimney.
If the rest of the chimney looks straight and the lean begins at a certain point, rebuilding that section where the lean begins can correct the alignment so the brickwork on the chimney is plumb with the rest of it.
If the entire chimney is leaning or tilted in one direction, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then the problem isn’t just that group—it’s the chimney’s stability overall and will need to be rebuilt from the bottom up.
