Basics of a Chimney Inspection

For homeowners who have a fireplace or wood stove, cleaning the chimney regularly is a must.  There are numerous things that can go wrong.  If you fail to catch some of these problems in time, they can lead to a very destructive house fire.  Sometimes, gasses will not be routed out of the chimney properly which can certainly be a significant health risk as well.

Chimney inspections are designed to catch many of these problems before they become too serious.  A professional chimney sweep can check things such as the condition of the liner or existence of obstructions.

Soot, creosote, and other debris building up over time is a common problem chimney inspections can catch.  Whenever these substances build up, they will prevent hazardous gases from escaping into the outside.  In the case of creosote, the substance is quite flammable and can easily start a fire because of all the sparks that are flying around.

Every chimney inspection is not the same.  There are three different levels of inspection the average homeowner can get.  The most common type of inspection is the Level One inspection.  This type of inspection focuses on checking the flue for obstructions or other damage as well as examining different structures of the chimney that can be accessed with ease.

Sometimes, people will upgrade their chimney and start using a different type of fuel.  In this case, a Level Two inspection is called for.  The chimney will need to be checked out thoroughly for various defects.  Video or digital photography will be used to achieve this.  Every part of the chimney from the top down will need to be checked out, including the areas that are not easy to access.

If a professional thinks something is wrong with your chimney, then a Level Three inspection may be called for.  During this type of inspection, parts of your chimney may need to be removed to ensure it is checked out thoroughly.  Obviously, this will be the most expensive type of inspection.  Therefore, it is usually reserved for finding problems which are particularly dangerous for the occupants of the home.

It is best for you to have a chimney inspection on an annual basis.  You should have it inspected even if you do not use it on a regular basis.  Although byproducts of combustion would not be much of a problem because of the decreased use, animals may have caused obstructions which need to be cleared out.