Inspect Your Chimney Before Lighting A Fire

Before you light a fire and enjoy the warmth it brings to your home, it’s important to make sure your chimney itself isn’t a tremendous fire hazard. A dirty chimney can send smoke back into your home, trap heat where it shouldn’t remain, and even potentially lead to a catastrophic disaster.

What Are The Levels Of Chimney Inspections?

The National Fire Protection Association has created a standard which they base their chimney inspections on, breaking it down into three levels. While most people only need a simple level two (this requires a camera) inspection, our team is equipped to handle even the more advanced chimney and fireplace inspection jobs.

Chimney Inspection Levels Are Broken Down & Summarized As Follows:

• Level one: Inspection of easily accessible portions of the chimney’s exterior and interior.
• Level two: Inspection of all areas of level one, plus inspection of the attic or crawlspace areas which your chimney may pass through to check for cracks in chimney joints or structure. A camera inspection of the flue is required. This level of inspection is advised after major work is done on a house or after natural disasters like earthquakes, and they are required in a real estate transaction.
• Level three: The most comprehensive inspection, which may include removing some portions of the chimney or “destructive testing” for the ultimate in-depth inspection.

How Often Should You Inspect Your Chimney?

If you ask the average homeowner how often they need to inspect their chimney, the majority don’t have any idea. To make matters worse, many don’t even know just how dangerous a clogged or damaged chimney can be! Here at Boston Brick & Stone, Inc., we recommend homeowners follow the NFPA guidelines and receive a level-two inspection once per year, generally before the weather starts to get cold and the temptation to light a fire starts to grow.

If you’ve had serious work done to your house or you’re planning on changing the fuel you use for your fireplace (such as going from wood-burning to a natural gas setup), then we strongly advise you schedule a level two inspection ASAP.