Chimney Inspections

What Is a Chimney Inspection?

A professional chimney sweep is someone who you call to your home or business to perform a thorough chimney inspection. This may raise a few questions such as, what this really means and what exactly is the professional chimney sweep going to do. There has been a misunderstanding for quite some time about what will come of the investment being made in a professional chimney sweeping. A general understanding about what can be expected has been put into action between the chimney owner and chimney professional.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) were created after some constant misunderstandings and concerns among chimney owners. As these organizations worked together, they were able to examine common issues and are now able to provide more clear guidelines for chimney inspections that are acceptable to both chimney owners and chimney professionals.

There are two publications where standards placed by these organizations can be found:

1. “Successful Chimney Sweeping”, published by the CSIA, (13-1 – 13-4)
2. “NFPA 211 Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances”, published by the NFPA, (13.1 – 14.6.3.2)

You and your family can gain a great peace of mind by having your chimney thoroughly inspected at least once a year. There are many benefits to having your chimney and fireplace inspected, with the most common reasons being:

• Weather Damage : Everyone experiences some sort of storm damage to their homes, whether it be rain, hail, wind, or snow. All of these elements can cause serious damage to our life’s investments. One of the most common reasons for people having their chimney inspected is because of damage due to inclement weather.
• Fire Damage : If your house has been claimed in any way by a fire caused by your chimney and/or fireplace, an inspection of your chimney can specify the cause and the professional doing the inspection can make recommendations to you to prevent such an issue from occurring again. You can feel safe after a fire with a report from Chimspector Venting Specialists, Inc.
• Preparation for Use : It is a great idea to have your fireplace and chimney system inspected before use if it has been unutilized for an extended amount of time. This includes making sure that the damper is working properly and clearing the passageway from any debris or animal nests.
• Buying or Selling a Home : One seriously stressful experience can be purchasing a new home. While an inspection may give some a sense of comfort, it may not always be as thorough as you would prefer. Our chimney sweepers at Chimspector are available to inspect the chimney and fireplace of your new home, as to avoid any future unexpected costs of repairs or rebuilds and fire damage. If selling your home is a consideration, we also provide inspections that can protect you from future problems or claims with the chimney and fireplace system by appropriately documenting any conditions before the final sale. It is important to us for your new home purchase or sale to have a sturdy and safe chimney system.

For the protection of homeowners and to provide specific consistency for all chimney and fireplace inspections, the NFPA approved two levels of inspection: Level 1 (minimum requirement, unchanged system) and Level 2 (required when any change was made.)