Inspection Process

Routine baseline evaluations recommended by NFPA for all active fuel-burning systems to verify basic operational safety between seasons.

• General System Check: Visually inspecting readily accessible portions of the fireplace, hearth, and chimney connector.

• Basic Obstruction Verification: Checking for obvious flue blockages, bird nests, or heavy soot accumulation.

• Appliance & Component Assessment: Examining dampers, doors, and basic hardware for proper operation and wear.

• Maintenance Recommendations: Determining if routine sweeping, minor repairs, or further advanced testing are required.

Standard visual check for continuous, unchanged chimney use under identical operating conditions.

• Readily Accessible Inspection: Examining interior and exterior readily accessible portions of the chimney structure and flue without tools or opening access panels.

• System Integrity Verification: Confirming the chimney structure, flue, and appliance connection remain sound and free of major obstructions.

• Combustible Clearance Check: Verifying proper clearances between accessible heating equipment and surrounding combustible materials.

• Standard Use Approval: Ideal for annual maintenance when using the same fuel type, appliance, and chimney setup without any performance changes.

Comprehensive evaluation required during property sales, system changes, or following chimney fires and severe weather events.

• Internal Flue Video Scanning: Utilizing specialized camera systems (like camera rods) to inspect internal flue tile joints, cracks, and concealed voids.

• Attic, Crawlspace & Roofline Access: Inspecting accessible attics, basements, crawlspaces, and rooftop structures to evaluate clearances and masonry conditions.

• Property Transfer & Real Estate Standard: Meeting code requirements for home sales, home purchases, and insurance verification.

• System & Fuel Changes: Required when changing fuel types, installing new inserts/appliances, or after operating mishaps like chimney fires or direct storm damage.

Advanced, invasive structural evaluation when serious hidden hazards or concealed structural damage are suspected.

• Concealed Area Examination: Accessing hidden spaces to inspect internal components, structural clearances, and enclosed flue sections.

• Specialized Demolition Access: Removing drywall, masonry trim, siding, or chimney crowns only as necessary to gain direct access to suspected hazards.

• Major Structural Hazard Investigation: Investigating severe structural failures, major fire damage, or critical safety defects discovered during a Level II inspection.

• Comprehensive Safety Verification: Providing full diagnostic confirmation of concealed system safety before rebuilding or restoring the chimney to service.

Note: Level III inspections require destructive access (such as cutting access openings or removing surrounding trim/drywall) to expose hidden components. While we may create minimal opening cuts to perform the inspection, we are not responsible for the reconstruction, framing, drywall patching, or finishing repairs needed to build everything back in. All structural framing, drywall, and cosmetic restoration work must be performed by a qualified trade professional or general contractor.

At Chimnerds™, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive chimney sweep services that prioritize safety and precision. Our meticulous inspection process is designed to ensure the highest standards of care and fairness for all parties involved.

We adhere strictly to industry standards and guidelines from reputable sources such as IRC, NFPA 211, UL, ANSI, ASTM, CSIA, NCSG, and NFI. Our expert team is dedicated to upholding these standards, guaranteeing you peace of mind and a chimney that operates safely and efficiently. Choose us for a thorough and professional service you can trust.

All defects discovered during inspection are promptly reported to the homeowner once completed. Most minor repairs can be performed at the time of service, while moderate and severe repairs will require an estimate to be created for service to be performed at a later dedicated date.

All reports are digitally edited and formatted at our home office. The inspection report will be delivered to the client’s provided e-mail by 8:00pm the day of full payment for services rendered, is received.

While physical estimates and invoicing can be requested and provided in certain circumstances, we prefer to provide these digitally along with the inspection report for better in-house tracking and formatting. We appreciate our client’s cooperation.