Hi Wendy, I have pondered over your question, and i am trying to visualize how the water is getting in. Do you have a chimney cap? I was thinking if you don't , the water is simply running down the exposed chimney during heavy rains. Since you have had the bricks pointed, I doubt the water is getting in there. The moisture in your ash pit could also explain the lack of a chimney cap. I'm curious let me know, Tom