Can anyone help me understand about my chimney?

[Namechanger430]

I am being a bit thick I expect. I have just had the chimney taken down and capped. The mortar had completely gone, to the point where it was more or less a pile of stacked bricks. Decent guy who did it, and it looks like a good job, have no issues there. But he mumbles a little and I'm not sure I understood what he said. I'm sure he said there would be damage to the chimney further down (water let in), probably in the attic where we can't see, but I think he said that would sort itself out after the capping, does that sound right? Also, the house has been much damper than it used to be in the last couple of years and we've been getting mildew, could this be the cause and should it be better now? Cheers for any advice :)

Your explanation sounds totally plausible to me. Water was getting in because the chimney leaked (no mortar) and was not capped. Now it's capped and not as much/ no water will get in. Damp should dry out, hey presto

Do you have air bricks in the chimney walls?

Before the chimney was capped air could circulate up and down and prevent damp. Now it is capped you need air brinks/vents both into the house and on the external wall to keep the air flow and stop it getting damp. At least that's my understanding and how our chimneys have been done...

I would get a builder in to have a look at it if you are now getting damp in the rooms with the chimney breast. Should be a reasonably quick job to put a couple of air bricks in?

A disused chimney should be ventilated top and bottom, or it will get condensation inside leading to damp and yellow stain. A single airbick top and bottom will do.

As your is capped and you will not use it again the upper airbick can be in the loft.

If the chimney has more than one flue, each must be ventilated.

If you have any trouble with it in future, the chimney can be dismantled below roof level, and the roof reinstated over it, with the flues left open snd uncapped in the loft. Discourage the builder from throwing bricks and rubble down the chimney.

betold the chimney has just gone down this week. The damp has been a problem over the last couple of years. No airbricks though so that might be something to look at...

PigletJohn I was hoping you would be around :) The first floor fireplace is still open, so hopefully that counts (so they will definitely not be throwing rubble down it!). I will have to have a dig around downstairs and see what they did with that one as it's covered over - potentially it could be aerated easily as I'm not sure it's bricked up. So guess I just need one in the loft... time to get ordering that new loft ladder I suppose....