Chimney Inspections

I'm buying a new house, should I have the chimney inspected?

I'm buying a new house, should I have the chimney inspected?
The NFPA calls for a level 2 inspection when real estate changes hands, not all areas enforce this, and most home inspectors only look at the top and the bottom of the chimney, a level 2 inspection will require the use of a video camera to identify any flaws inside the flue.

What should I do before my chimney inspection?

What should I do before my chimney inspection?
The best things you could do to help the inspection to go smoothly is to remove items from around the area where we will be working, also we use a large vacuum so please remove any items that may prevent us from getting from the door to the chimney. Once we get started, it is best to keep pets and small children away as our vacuum is very loud and may scare them.

How often should I have my chimney inspected?

How often should I have my chimney inspected?
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends chimneys have level 1 inspection annually, even if you have not used your chimney for years or if you only use your fireplace once a year, an inspection will make sure the chimney is free of obstructions.

How long will an inspection/ cleaning take?

How long will an inspection/ cleaning take?
Most chimneys can be inspected and cleaned in a hour to a hour and a half, more time may be needed if there is heavy build up of creosote.

What if I never use my fireplace?

What if I never use my fireplace?
The danger is because there may be blockage in your chimney that could be from animals nesting in there to liners falling down. If this has occurred, the first time you use it the smoke will fill your house.

Is it better to sweep a chimney from the top or bottom?

Is it better to sweep a chimney from the top or bottom?

A very common question, to a chimney a brush being pushed from the bottom or the top will have the same cleaning effect. The only advantage to sweeping from the top is to inspect the roof and flashing for leaks, and crown of the chimney, which is not always visible from the bottom.