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To repair cracked mortar on your chimney cap or between bricks, you’ll need:
* A ball-peen hammer
* A cold chisel
* Ready-mixed mortar
* A trowel
* A caulking gun and caulking compound
* Safety goggles and gloves
Mortar chimney caps are sometimes vulnerable to cracks along the joints because the mortar shrinks, causing the joints to open. Lime-based mortar decays over time and may crumble.
Minor cracks and the joint between the flue and the cap can be sealed with masonry caulking compound.
If the cap is crumbling, you’ll have to chip out the old, deteriorating mortar, using a ball-peen hammer and a cold chisel as shown at below left. Be sure to wear gloves and goggles. Brush off any loose debris. Then, as shown below at right, apply a new layer of ready-mixed mortar, using a trowel. Slope it away from the flue so rain will drain off properly. Keep the mortar damp for 4 days to allow it to cure.
 
To repair mortar around the bricks, remove the old mortar and pack cracks with new mortar—using dry ready-mixed mortar that’s weather resistant.
Renew flashing seals by chipping out the old mortar. Caulk along the edges of the flashing and caulk the joints between the flashing and the chimney.
To clean a chimney:
It’s very messy to clean a chimney, but it ought to be done regularly to remove built-up creosote and soot, which can catch fire or obstruct the air flowing through your chimney. Restricted airflow can cause your fireplace to operate poorly and sometimes cause soot and ash to blow back into your house.
It’s often wise to hire a chimney sweep for this job, but you can do it yourself if it’s possible to work safely up on the roof and you can reach the top of the chimney. Cover the mouth of your fireplace by taping plastic sheeting across it. Use old sheets or drop cloths to protect nearby rugs and furnishings. Plan to wear a dust mask, gloves, and goggles to protect yourself from the dust, ash, and soot.
You’ll need:
* A steel chimney-sweeping brush
* A rope the length of flue and the chimney
* A water-filled plastic jug to serve as a weight for the brush
* A heavy-duty vacuum cleaner
Carefully climb onto the roof and if the chimney has a cap or spark catcher attached to the top, remove it. Tie the water-filled jug to the bottom end of the chimney brush and the long rope to the top end. Lower the weight and brush down into the chimney—all the way to the bottom—and then pull it back up. Pass it through several times until it comes up relatively free of debris. Let the dust settle, then vacuum out soot and debris that has fallen into the fireplace.
If your chimney isn’t equipped with a damper, costly heated air is being drawn out through the chimney every day. Have a mason install a damper inside the chimney or mount a special chimney cap on top that includes a damper.
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