Chimney service
Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection comes in three levels, for three different situations. Start here if you are not sure which one your house needs.
There are three levels, and the one you need is decided by your situation, not by your budget.
NFPA 211 defines three. Level 1 is the annual check when nothing has changed — a visual look at readily accessible parts, inside and out. Level 2 adds a video scan of the full flue and covers the attic, crawl space and roof, and it is required when a property changes hands, when the appliance changes, or after an event like a chimney fire or an earthquake. Level 3 involves opening up structure to reach something the first two could not, and nobody books it directly; it is what a Level 2 recommends when the findings demand it.
How it is done
A camera, not a torch
The camera is what separates a Level 2 from a Level 1. Everything expensive is inside the flue, where a visual check cannot reach.
On this pageSigns you need this3 sections+2
Signs you need chimney inspection
You are buying or selling the house
This is the clearest case in the whole standard. A property transfer calls for a Level 2, and a general home inspector's glance up the flue is not one.
Chunks of clay tile in the firebox
The liner is breaking up. A level 2 camera scan is the only way to see how far it has gone, and until it has been seen the fireplace should not be used.
A stain on the ceiling near the chimney
Water is getting in above and travelling down. The stain is almost never under the actual leak, which is why an inspection saves money over guessing at a repair.
You have had a chimney fire, or think you might have
A loud roar, a smell of burning, flakes on the roof. Even a small flue fire cracks tiles, and the standard calls for a Level 2 afterwards without exception.
You have fitted a new stove or insert
Changing the appliance changes what the flue has to handle. A new appliance on an old flue is a Level 2 situation, not a Level 1.
Nobody has looked at it in over a year
NFPA 211 asks for an annual inspection whether or not the fireplace has been used, because nests, water and masonry damage do not wait for you to light a fire.
How the visit works
The same four steps every time, whatever the repair turns out to be.
- 01
Inspection first, always
A look at the crown, cap, flashing and exterior masonry, then the flue, damper and firebox — with a camera where the job calls for a level 2 scan. Whatever needs work gets shown to you, not just described.
- 02
A written estimate before anything
Scope, price and what is not included, in writing. Nothing starts until you approve it, and an emergency is not a reason to skip this step.
- 03
The work itself
Matched materials and the manufacturer's spec, not whatever is on the van. Drop cloths down, and the room left as it was found.
- 04
Verification and a report
A second scan after the work, and written findings you can keep, hand to an inspector, or send to an insurer.
The jobs this actually includes
Not every job on this list is equally urgent, so they are ordered that way. A cracked liner stops you using the fireplace tonight; waterproofing can wait for a dry week.
The job — most urgent first
What it involves
On site
Level 2 — sale, appliance change, or after an event
Safety repairEverything in a Level 1 plus a video scan of the full flue interior, and access to the attic, crawl space and roof. Required at property transfer and after a chimney fire. This is the report a buyer's inspector or an insurer will ask for.
On site: 1–2 hours
Level 3 — when something has to be opened up
Safety repairRemoving masonry or part of the structure to reach a hazard the camera could see but not assess. Nobody books this directly. It is what a Level 2 recommends when the findings leave no other way to check.
On site: Varies
Level 1 — the annual check
Stops waterReadily accessible portions of the chimney, structure and appliance, inside and out. The right choice when nothing has changed and you are using the fireplace the way you always have.
On site: About an hour
Video scan on its own
Stops waterCamera documentation of the full flue without the rest of a Level 2. Useful when you already know the outside is sound and want to see the liner, or want footage for an insurance claim.
On site: About an hour
Pre-purchase inspection with report
PreventiveA Level 2 written for a transaction: findings, footage, and what it would cost to put right, in a form you can hand to an agent or use in a negotiation.
On site: 1–2 hours
Times are for the work itself, not for scheduling. Masonry needs roughly 40°F to cure properly, which is what limits this work in a northern winter rather than whether a crew is free.
Why chimney inspection quotes vary so much
- Which level the situation calls for — this is the biggest single factor
- How many flues the chimney serves
- Whether the flue needs sweeping first, since soot hides what a camera is looking for
- Roof access and pitch
- Whether a written report with footage is needed for a sale or a claim
A Level 1 is often included free with an annual cleaning, and any company charging separately for both should say why. A Level 2 costs meaningfully more because it takes longer, needs a camera and produces a documented report. Level 3 is quoted per job because it means opening up structure.
The people behind every visit
Founded by Ryan Carter in 2019. Every page you read here is reviewed by Ethan Miller, our chimney specialist. A written estimate before any work, and the findings in writing whether or not anything needs doing.
More about who we are →
The VIO Standard
- A written estimate first
- License and insurance checked
- Nothing starts without your OK
Common questions
What is the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 is a visual check of the parts that are readily accessible — the firebox, the damper, the visible flue, the exterior masonry and the roofline from the ground or the roof. A Level 2 adds two things: a video camera scan of the entire flue interior, and access to areas the chimney passes through, meaning the attic, the crawl space and the roof. The rule of thumb is that a Level 1 confirms nothing has changed, and a Level 2 is what you get when something has.
Do I need a chimney inspection when buying a house?
Yes, and specifically a Level 2. NFPA 211 names property transfer as a Level 2 trigger, and there is a practical reason: a general home inspector will look at the fireplace, not up the flue, and the expensive faults are all inside the flue. A cracked liner is a multi-thousand-dollar item that does not show in a home inspection report, and finding it before closing is the difference between a negotiation and a surprise.
How much does a chimney inspection cost?
A Level 1 is frequently included with an annual sweep, and if a company charges separately for both it is fair to ask what the inspection adds. A Level 2 costs several times a Level 1 because it takes longer, needs camera equipment and produces a written report with footage. Level 3 is quoted per job, because it involves removing part of the structure and no two are alike.
How long does a chimney inspection take?
A Level 1 is usually under an hour. A Level 2 runs one to two hours because of the camera work and the attic and roof access, and longer again if the flue needs sweeping first — a sooty flue hides exactly what the camera is looking for, so cleaning often has to happen before the scan is worth doing.
What should a chimney inspection report include?
Findings in writing, photographs or video of anything called out, a plain statement of whether the system is safe to use as it stands, and what would need doing if it is not. A verbal all-clear is not a report. If a sale or an insurance claim is involved, you need the documented version, which is one of the reasons a Level 2 exists.
let's get it on the calendar.
Tell us your ZIP code and what you need. The pro who covers it quotes the job in writing, and nothing starts until you approve the number.