Arlington Virginia Chimney Pros

Chimney Inspections

In addition to cleaning, chimney inspections are our most sought-after service. Inspections are important when you are buying or selling a home. But they’re also critical on an annual basis for safe chimney operation. We highly recommend you have your chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep every year – even if you’re not using it consistently – or at all. There are a few reasons why. For one, whenever you burn any type of wood in your chimney, the smoke generates creosote deposits on the inside of your chimney. While a little buildup is fine, after years and years of deposits, creosote can block your smoke’s escape from the chimney, or could ultimately ignite causing a chimney fire. This could in turn significantly damage your structure. Don’t burn wood often? Creosote might not be a concern. But animals living in your chimney could be. Better to have one of our inspectors identify a bird nest and infestation than you lighting a fire only to discover animals in your chimney or flue. Then there’s chimney damage. Chimney damage can occur anytime during the year – especially during the winter as freezing temperatures can freeze any moisture that may have infiltrated your chimney’s brick work. This expansion can cause cracking within your masonry, which can degrade the overall integrity of your chimney. It’s much better to pay the money, get a simple inspection, and identify issues before the become problems. We offer three levels of chimney inspection:

• Level I Chimney Inspection: Level I chimney inspections are the most common, and are ordered when the chimney is known to be in working condition, has been minimally used, and does not shows signs of wear, damage, or issue. A Level I Chimney inspection entails a brief top to bottom review of the chimney, the chimney cap, the firebox, and fireplace itself. If no issues are identified, the chimney sweep will complete a report, and leave it with the homeowner.
• Level II Chimney Inspection: A Level II Chimney Inspection is generally required under two circumstances: either a Level I Chimney Inspection yielded issues that must be further examined, or a homeowner intends on making a change to their chimney, fireplace, firebox, or flue – or when conditions change in some other capacity. Level II Chimney Inspections are more thorough than Level I Chimney Inspections, and focus on all components of the chimney in more detail.
• Level III Chimney Inspections: Level III Chimney inspections are the most detailed type of inspections, and spend a considerable amount of time analyzing potentially hazardous aspects of your chimney. These inspections spend time reviewing each component of the fireplace and chimney system, and identifying any potential hazards. Level III Inspections are only ordered if an issue is suspected or confirmed (and must be found) or if serious renovation work or changes have occurred.

 
Not sure which level of chimney inspection you need? That’s ok. Give our team a call today and we’ll walk you through a couple of basic questions. That will help our team identify the appropriate level of inspection, and provide the best possible service to you to keep your chimney functioning perfectly.