We Perform Thorough Chimney Inspections You Can Trust

When you sit down to enjoy a nice warm fire in your home, you want to be confident that your chimney and heating appliance are in great condition and working the way they were designed to. Unfortunately, many things can alter the safety and efficiency of the chimney system – and many of the dangers and damages lie hidden out of sight.

That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that every chimney system should be professionally inspected every year. If you’ve yet to schedule yours, don’t wait to reach out to our certified team of techs. Call or book online now.

How Many Levels of Inspection Does the NFPA Have?

There are 3 levels of inspections as defined by the NFPA in code 211. Each level is more involved than the previous, and the level that you need will depend upon your chimney’s condition, how frequently you use it, if any recent changes were made, and more. Here’s the lowdown on each:

  • Level 1: A Level 1 inspection is pretty standard across the industry, and does not involve the use of any tools other than a flashlight and the naked eye. If you aren’t experiencing any problems, you haven’t made any changes, and you aren’t planning on making any changes to your system and how you use it, a Level 1 inspection may suffice.
  • Level 2: A Level 2 inspection is a bit more involved and is the standard for us here at Old Smokey’s. During a Level 2 inspection, we’ll snake a camera through your chimney system, so that we can get an up-close-and-personal look from top to bottom, recording footage and photos of any areas of concern along the way.
  • Level 3: A Level 3 inspection is really only suggested when there is no other way to determine or identify a problem within the chimney system. This level of inspection will involve some demolition, as we will have to check areas of the chimney system – or potentially the surrounding wall – that are not readily accessible.

When is a level two inspection required?

Well, here at Old Smokey’s we perform a level 2 inspection each and every time we inspect a chimney. We believe in maintaining a higher standard, and by offering a camera chimney inspection, we can achieve just that, ensuring nothing is missed or overlooked. This ensures a safer household and better-working appliance with every burn season.

This level is also recommended when:

  • the appliance or fuel type has been changed/is being changed
  • when the flue has been relined/is being relined
  • when a problem has been noticed
  • when weather may have affected the system
  • when the property is changing hands
  • after a chimney fire or other major event
Smoke stained chimney

How Often Should I Have My Chimney Inspected?

We’ve said it before, but this is an answer worth repeating. Chimney inspections should occur annually, sometime before the start of your burn season.

Now, for many, this means booking in fall, right as the temps drop, but we recommend crossing this home maintenance off of your to-do list early. Why? Because fall is an especially busy time throughout the entire chimney sweep industry – especially when you try and book with a team of quality techs like us.

Booking early also ensures ample time to get repairs completed or replacement parts installed, so you aren’t left delaying the first fire of the year any longer than necessary. So, don’t wait – book your maintenance in spring or summer to save yourself some time and hassle.

Call Old Smokey’s for Your Annual Chimney Inspection

Regardless of how you plan to use your system this upcoming season, it’s important that you make annual chimney inspections a priority in your home. Give us a call today at 260-587-9691 and we’ll help you determine what level of inspection you need. We also offer online scheduling.

 

Need help with your gas heating appliance? Our chimney services include everything you could need for gas fireplace service and repair, so call on us anytime.