Chimney Inspection

What an inspection is for

A chimney carries hot exhaust out of the house through a column of masonry or metal that sits partly outdoors, partly inside your walls and partly out of sight. Problems in it rarely announce themselves. A cracked flue tile, a gap at a joint or a crown that's letting water in can all look fine from the living room.

NFPA 211, the national fire protection standard for chimneys, fireplaces, vents and solid fuel appliances, calls for these systems to be inspected at least once a year. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) promotes the same annual check. An inspection also comes before any repair recommendation from us: you see what's there before anything is proposed.

The three inspection levels

NFPA 211 describes three levels. Each one includes everything in the level before it. The level is chosen by the situation, not by how much you'd like to spend.

Our guide to inspection levels goes deeper into each one, with examples.

Which level fits your situation

Same fireplace, same use

If nothing about the system has changed and nothing unusual has happened, a Level 1 inspection is the usual annual check. It's often done together with a chimney cleaning.

Something changed

Switching fuel, replacing a stove or furnace, adding an insert or relining the flue all call for a Level 2. The chimney has to suit the new appliance. See inspection before a new appliance.

The house is being sold or bought

A property transfer is one of the listed reasons for a Level 2. For a sale, the inspection report is given to you on site at the end of the visit. See chimney inspection for buying or selling.

Something happened

A suspected chimney fire, a lightning strike, storm damage or a tree falling on the roof are all events where a Level 2 is recommended. If you think you've had a chimney fire, see chimney fire damage inspection.

Something is hidden

A Level 3 is reserved for cases where an earlier inspection suggests a serious hazard in a concealed area, such as charring of framing next to a chimney. It may involve opening a wall or removing part of the chimney, so we explain why it's needed and what it involves before recommending it.

How we assess it

Whatever the level, the visit follows the same order:

1. HistoryWhat the chimney serves, how it's used, recent changes, and anything you've seen or smelled.
2. Inside the houseFirebox, damper, smoke chamber, hearth and the appliance connection.
3. The flueA chimney camera where the flue allows, to view the lining joint by joint.
4. Outside and aboveCrown, cap, brick, mortar and flashing from the roof when it's safe, and attic checks when it's safe and accessible.
5. Findings with photosWhat we saw, what it means for the system, and any repair options. Nothing is scheduled until you've seen the findings.

When there's a leak and the source isn't clear, a controlled water test can be added. That's covered on the chimney leak repair page.

Why the camera matters

Many of the problems that affect safety are inside the flue: cracked or shifted tiles, open mortar joints, glazed creosote, and damage from a past chimney fire. From the top or bottom of the chimney you only see a few feet. A camera lowered through the flue lets us record each section. Our guide to camera inspections shows what the footage can and can't reveal.

A camera can't get through everything. Heavy creosote, a tight offset or a blocked flue can stop it. If that happens, we'll tell you which sections weren't seen and why.

Footage also gives you a record. If you're comparing options, talking to a roofer or a home inspector, or checking a flue again after a repair, still images from the camera show exactly what was seen and where.

What an inspection can't tell you

• It reports the condition on the day of the visit. Weather, use and time keep working on the chimney afterward.
• It covers what can be reached and seen at that level. Concealed areas stay unseen unless a Level 3 opens them up.
• It can't predict how the chimney will hold up over the coming years.
• Symptoms you describe are clues. The inspection is what confirms or rules out a cause.

Booking an inspection

When you request an inspection, tell us what the chimney serves (fireplace, stove, insert, furnace, water heater), whether anything has changed or happened, and whether a sale is involved. That helps us plan the right level. A team member will contact you to confirm a time.

Request a chimney inspection

Questions homeowners ask

Sources

1. CSIA: The three levels of chimney inspections
2. CSIA: Frequently asked questions