With so much attention paid to the importance of chimney sweeping, it can be easy to forget the importance of your annual chimney inspection. While your annual chimney sweeping is a crucial part of reducing your home’s fire and carbon monoxide safety risks, the inspection that accompanies it is a vital part of our services that lowers your home fire risk and helps protect your home from structural damage,carbon monoxide poisoning as well as maintaining the optimal performance of your chimney.
Why chimney inspections matter
Just like your annual chimney sweeping, a chimney inspection helps keep your home safe from the dangers of a chimney fire and carbon monoxide leaks. Chimneys face extreme conditions, including the heat from your fireplace fires and the acidic byproducts of from gas,oil and wood. Those conditions can cause clay flue tiles to crack and crumble and cause stainless steel liners to fail and corrode. Additionally, it is possible to experience a smoldering chimney fire and not realize it. Both the regular wear to your chimney and an undetected chimney fire can compromise your chimney’s ability to contain the heat and smoke from your fireplace. That can mean smoke or heat damage to your home’s structure or, even more seriously, a house fire.
Types of chimney inspections
Now that you know how important annual chimney inspections are, you also should know what types of inspections are available to you. Based on criteria from the National Fire Protection Association, there are three levels of chimney inspections. Generally, your licensed chimney technician professional will perform a Level I inspection during your annual chimney sweeping. During a Level I inspection, your technician will make sure that your chimney is structurally sound and free of obstructions and creosote.
A Level II inspection is recommended after a new appliance is installed, when a home is being sold or when a malfunction of the fireplace, appliance and chimney occurs. A Level II inspection includes a Level I inspection, plus an inspection of accessible adjoining attic or crawl spaces and digital inspection of the chimney flue. Your licensed chimney technician would recommend a Level III inspection if any hazard has been indicated in concealed parts of the chimney flue during a Level I or Level II Inspection. A Level III inspection is an in depth inspection that involves removal and possibly destruction of parts of the chimney as needed.
When scheduling an inspection make sure that the individual is a licensed CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Technician.
If you have foregone your chimney inspection in the past, call Clean Sweep Anne Arundel County to schedule an appointment today to maintain a healthy chimney in your home.