Water stains on walls near your fireplace are the most obvious sign. White staining on exterior brick, actual dripping during rain, or rust on your damper all indicate water intrusion that needs immediate attention.Other warning signs include cracked or missing mortar between bricks, damaged chimney caps, or pieces of brick or mortar in your fireplace. If you smell unusual odors from your fireplace or notice smoke backing up into your room, that’s a safety issue requiring prompt inspection.In South Huntington, NY’s coastal environment, even small problems become major damage quickly due to salt air and freeze-thaw cycles. It’s better to have questionable issues checked early than wait for expensive structural repairs.