Chimney Inspection for Buying or Selling

Why a sale calls for a closer look

The National Fire Protection Association's standard for chimneys, fireplaces and vents, NFPA 211, describes three levels of chimney inspection. As summarized by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, a Level 2 inspection is called for upon the sale or transfer of a property, along with other events such as a change in fuel or appliance.

The reasoning is simple. The new owner has no history with the chimney. Problems inside a flue can be expensive to fix and are rarely visible during a walk-through.

A sale is also often the first time anyone has looked inside the flue in years. The previous owner may not have used the fireplace, or may have switched the furnace without changing the flue. Those changes show up during a Level 2 inspection and rarely during a walk-through.

What a Level 2 inspection covers

Under the CSIA summary, a Level 2 includes everything in a basic Level 1 inspection plus:

• The accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, including attics, crawl spaces and basements
• A visual inspection of the inside of the flue by video scanning or other means
• A check of proper clearances from combustibles in accessible locations

It does not include opening walls or removing parts of the structure. That is a Level 3, which is used only when a serious hidden problem is suspected. See chimney inspection levels for the full comparison.

Buyers and sellers use it differently

Our guide on buying a home with a fireplace covers questions to ask during a purchase.

For sellers, an early inspection gives you options. You can repair the problem before listing, get quotes so the issue can be priced into negotiations, or simply know what a buyer's inspector is likely to raise. For buyers, the findings give you facts to take to your agent rather than guesses.

How we assess it

1. Identify every flueWe note each fireplace, stove, furnace, boiler and water heater and which flue each one uses.
2. Exterior and roofWhen safe, we check the crown, cap, masonry and flashing.
3. Inside the flueWhen the flue allows, a chimney camera records tiles, joints, liner condition and blockages.
4. Attic and basementWe check accessible areas around the chimney when safe, including clearances and signs of water or heat damage.
5. Report on siteYou receive the inspection report, with photos, on site at the end of the visit. Any repair is scheduled separately and only after you have reviewed it.

Common findings in older New Jersey homes

• Cracked or missing flue tiles, or no flue liner at all
• Furnace or water heater flues that no longer suit the equipment after an upgrade
• Crowns with cracks and no overhang, missing caps
• Worn mortar joints and leaking flashing
• Fireplaces that have not been used in years, with nests or debris in the flue

Finding these does not mean a chimney cannot be used. It means you know what work it needs.

Reading the findings

The report is handed over on site when the visit ends, so you have it in hand before your inspection deadline. It describes what we saw, where it is and what it means for use of the chimney. Photos go with each item so someone who was not there can understand it. It helps to read them in three groups:

• Stop-use items. Conditions where the appliance should not be used until the problem is fixed, such as a badly damaged flue or a blocked heating vent.
• Repairs to plan. Problems that are not urgent today but will get worse, such as a cracked crown or worn joints.
• Maintenance. Routine items like cleaning or replacing a cap.

If a finding raises questions, ask us before the inspection period ends. It is easier to clarify an item early than after the deal terms are set.

What the inspection cannot tell you

• Parts of the flue the camera cannot reach, such as tight offsets, may not be fully visible.
• Areas hidden behind finished walls are not opened during a Level 2.
• Weather, snow or an unsafe roof can limit what can be checked from above.
• We describe conditions and needed work. We do not advise on prices in a negotiation or on legal disclosure duties. Your agent or attorney handles those questions.

Weather can also get in the way. A wet or icy roof may not be safe to access, and snow can hide the crown and flashing. If that happens, we tell you which parts could not be checked so you can decide whether a follow-up visit makes sense.

Planning around the closing date

Home sales move on deadlines. Submit your request as early as you can and tell us your inspection deadline. Because the report is given at the end of the visit, you do not wait for it to be written up later. A team member will contact you to confirm a time. We are open Sunday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and closed Saturday.

Next step

Request a home sale chimney inspection. Include the address, the number of fireplaces or stoves and your deadline.

Questions homeowners ask

Sources

1. CSIA: The Three Levels of Chimney Inspections