Chimney inspection in Chanhassen, MN so you know what is inside the flue
A chimney inspection checks the fireplace, flue and chimney exterior for damage that can cause fire, smoke or leaks. We offer Level 1 and Level 2 inspections at your home in Chanhassen and the surrounding towns.
How do Level 1 and Level 2 inspections compare?
NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys and vents, describes three levels. Most homeowners need one of the first two.
Level 1
A look at everything easily reachable: the firebox, damper, visible flue and the chimney exterior. It fits a chimney that is used the same way year after year and has no known problems.
Level 2
Level 1 plus a camera run through the whole flue and a check of the attic, crawl space and any framing the chimney passes. It is the level for a home sale, a new appliance or a change in fuel.
Level 3
Reserved for suspected hidden damage, and it may involve opening parts of the chimney or building. It follows from what a Level 2 turns up.
When should I have my chimney inspected?
Once a year for chimneys in regular use is the guidance from the Chimney Safety Institute of America, whether or not you sweep that year. Beyond the annual check, these moments call for a closer look:
- You are buying or selling a house with a fireplace
- A chimney fire, lightning strike or serious storm has hit the house
- You plan to add or swap a stove, insert or gas appliance
- You notice smoke in the room, odd smells or water stains near the chimney
- The fireplace has been unused for years and you want to light it again
Level 2 is the one a home buyer wants. Sellers use it too, since a clear picture of the chimney helps a sale move forward.
What does the inspector check, step by step?
We work from the hearth up to the roof, so each part is checked in the order smoke travels through it.
Firebox and damper
We look for cracked firebrick, open mortar joints, and a damper that moves and seals as it should.
The flue
We examine the liner for cracks, gaps and creosote. On a Level 2 a camera travels the whole length.
Attic and clearances
Where the chimney passes through the house, we check for scorch marks, gaps and the distance to nearby wood framing.
Roofline
We check the crown, cap, flashing and brick or stone for cracks, spalling and gaps where water could enter.
When we are done, we walk you through what we saw in plain language. If the chimney is in good shape, you hear that. If a part needs attention, you hear which part and why it matters.
Why use a camera inside the flue?
A flue is a dark, narrow tube, and many of its problems are invisible from the firebox. A cracked clay tile, a gap between liner sections or a heavy glaze of creosote shows up on video where a flashlight misses it.
A flue with a gap lets heat and sparks reach the wood framing around the chimney. The camera finds those gaps before a fire does. If you are buying a house, it also gives you something concrete to bring to the negotiation.
Chimney inspections for Chanhassen homeowners and buyers
Chanhassen has houses from several eras. Older neighborhoods include ramblers and split-levels from the late 1960s and 1970s, and a big wave of building followed in the 1990s. A house of that age may have a masonry chimney that has seen decades of weather.
Newer homes more often have gas fireplaces vented through a metal pipe. Those get checked differently, with attention to the vent, termination and burner area. If yours is gas, see gas fireplace repair.
Buying in Chanhassen, Victoria, Chaska or the lake towns? Call with the address and your inspection deadline, and we will set a time for a Level 2 inspection.
What affects the price of an inspection?
The level of inspection is the biggest factor, since Level 2 includes a camera scan and more time. Beyond that:
- The number of flues and fireplaces in the house
- How hard the roof and attic are to reach
- Whether the chimney needs sweeping first so the camera can see
Call with the details and we will tell you which level suits your situation.
Chimney inspection questions
Do I need an inspection if I never use the fireplace?
Yes, if you plan to use it again or sell the house. Cracks, animal nests and water damage build up in a chimney that sits idle.
Is an inspection the same as a sweeping?
They are different jobs. A sweep cleans the flue, and an inspection examines its condition. Often they happen on the same visit, since a clean flue is easier to inspect. See chimney sweeping for the cleaning side.
Will a home inspector's look at the fireplace be enough?
A general home inspector checks what is visible and may recommend a specialist for the flue. A chimney inspection goes further and looks inside it.
What if the inspection finds damage?
We explain what we found, what it affects and the options for fixing it. Repairs are covered on our chimney repair page. Until a damaged flue is fixed, we advise holding off on fires in it.
Can you inspect a wood stove or insert?
Yes. We check the appliance, its connection to the flue and the liner it runs through.
Do you inspect after a chimney fire?
Yes. A chimney fire can crack liners and damage masonry in ways that are hard to see. A Level 2 inspection is the right step before the next fire.
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below. Each page covers what is different about the homes and chimneys there.
Chanhassen and Carver County
South Lake Minnetonka
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below. Each page covers what is different about the homes and chimneys there.
Chanhassen and Carver County
South Lake Minnetonka
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time