CHIMNEY SWEEP & INSPECTION

We’re Chimney Works. Since 2001 we have provided chimney sweep & chimney inspection services to the Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky areas.

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CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS PREVENT FIRES

Both the Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend an annual chimney inspection for a reason: They prevent fires from occurring. According to a landmark study completed in 2013, over 20,000 fires related to Fireplace & Chimneys occur annually. According to the CSIA, many of these fires are preventable by a chimney inspection and a chimney cleaning. Chimney inspections are best performed by individuals who carry the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential, as they are trained and certified in what to look for. At Chimney Works, our technicians are certified, and we follow the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommended inspection procedures. Contrary to popular belief, it is not enough to have someone come out and clean your chimney once per year. Your sweep should be doing an inspection while they are cleaning, and based on what they see, take further action.

At Chimney Works, we have to talk about fire prevention on a regular basis. We pride ourselves on giving an accurate depiction of risks so that customers are informed. We would like to point out that fireplaces and stoves are safe when properly inspected and maintained. A 2019 study by the NFPA reveals that more fires are started by cooking equipment than by chimneys. And even when discussing fires caused by heating equipment, space heaters are the leading cause of house fires.

Every Wednesday the entire staff gathers for a training session. Learning never stops if you are a Chimney Works employee.

Cody demonstrates a new tool to the team. This sprayer is for parging smoke chambers.

Jeremy, one of our CSIA Certified Technicians, sweeps a multi-flue chimney from the roof.

Steve inspects a chimney with multiple problems while training a new technician.

A Level 1 inspection of a chimney flue ensures it is not blocked or restricted. An experienced chimney sweep can ‘read’ a chimney and guess what quality fuel you have been burning.

Some damage like these cracked bricks and missing mortar are obvious, but only when you are on the rooftop.

Frequency Of INSPECTION

NFPA recommends that all chimneys, fireplaces, and vents be inspected annually. In addition to this requirement, there are other times when chimney and venting systems should be inspected, such as:

After any unusual, or sudden occurrence event, such as a chimney fire, lightning strike, or earthquake
Prior to purchasing a home with an existing chimney
Whenever changes are made to a chimney or vent system, including replacement of connected appliances
Prior to major chimney repairs

Damage to a chimney is not always obvious. This cracked liner was in the middle of the chimney and was only visible when we ran a camera down the flue.

The mortar joints between these two flue tiles have fallen out. This gap defeats the purpose of a chimney liner and needs to be repaired.

INSPECTION LEVELS

NFPA divides the inspection procedure into three categories, or levels. A Level I inspection is the most basic level of inspection while Level II and Level III inspections are progressively more detailed and comprehensive. A Level I inspection is completed during each chimney cleaning or sweeping that Chimney Works provides.

LEVEL I INSPECTION

A Level I inspection is the recommended level when an evaluation of the chimney system for continued service is needed and the conditions of use are not changing. This could include:

Routine or annual evaluations of the venting system
An appliance connected to the system is being replaced with a similar appliance
During chimney cleaning or sweeping

A Level I inspection is limited to readily accessible portions of the venting system, and accessible portions of the connected appliance(s) and the chimney connection. The inspector will check the readily accessible portions of the chimney, its enclosing structure, and the flue. A Level I inspection includes verification that the flue is not blocked or significantly restricted.

LEVEL II INSPECTION

A Level II inspection is more detailed and thorough than a Level I inspection and is the recommended inspection when conditions of use for the appliance or venting system are changing, or when a Level I inspection reveals the need for a more detailed inspection. Several instances where a Level II inspection is specifically recommended include:

Replacement of an appliance with one of dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency
Prior to a flue relining
Upon sale or transfer of the property
After an event likely to have caused damage to the chimney, such as a chimney fire or other sudden occurrence event

A Level II inspection includes all of the requirements of a Level I inspection as well as the following:

Inspection of accessible areas of attics, basements, and crawlspaces
Accessible areas of the chimney exterior and interior
Accessible portions of the appliance and chimney connection
Video scanning, or other thorough inspection, of the flue interior
Evaluation of the flue lining to determine that its material and sizing is appropriate for the appliances being served
Proper clearance to combustibles in the accessible areas listed above
Proper construction and condition of the chimney system in the accessible areas listed above

While the Level II inspection is a rather thorough inspection and requires access to many areas of the building, it does not require removal of permanent parts of the building, such as siding, chase covers or wall coverings.

LEVEL III INSPECTION

A Level III inspection is the most detailed of all of the inspection types and includes inspection of concealed areas of the building. However, an examination of concealed areas will be limited to areas reasonably suspected of containing hazards that cannot be evaluated otherwise.

A Level III inspection includes all areas covered in a Level I and Level II inspection, and inspection of concealed areas to investigate known or suspected problems. In as much as certain portions of a Level III inspection require destructive action to the building, the inspector will discuss these areas with the building owner prior to the inspection.

HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS

It used to be that a chimney inspection would involve someone shining a light in the chimney and doing a visual inspection. While sometimes problems can still be spotted in this fashion, technology has evolved to allow a high definition camera be placed in a chimney to reveal problems that would otherwise be hidden. These are sometimes referred to as a chim-scan or a video scan. The specialized camera allows a chimney technician to inspect a chimney with a much better visual, allowing problems to be spotted (or sometimes eliminated). Video inspections are often recommended after a chimney fire or some other form of damage to a chimney and are a routine part of a Level II or Level III inspection.