Chimney service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection
Everything in a Level 1 plus a video scan of the full flue and access to the attic and roof. The inspection a property sale calls for.
A home inspector looks at your fireplace. This looks up your flue, and that is where the expensive faults are.
NFPA 211 names three situations that require a Level 2 chimney inspection: a property changing hands, a change of appliance or fuel, and any event that could have damaged the chimney — a flue fire, a lightning strike, an earthquake, a serious storm. It adds two things to a Level 1: a video camera scan of the entire flue interior, and access to the attic, crawl space and roof where the chimney passes through. That is where cracked tiles, breached liners and scorched framing live, and none of them appear in a general home inspection report.
How it is done
Camera, attic and roof
The scan plus access to where the chimney passes through the structure. That combination is what a property sale calls for.
On this pageSigns you need this3 sections+2
Signs you need level 2 chimney inspection
You are buying or selling the house
The clearest trigger in the standard. A cracked liner is a multi-thousand-dollar item that will not show up in a general home inspection, and finding it before closing is a negotiation rather than a surprise.
You have had a chimney fire
Even a brief flue fire reaches temperatures clay was not made for. The standard requires this level afterwards, and insurers ask for it. It is not a judgement call.
Chunks of clay tile in the firebox
The liner is coming apart above. 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 stay unused.
You have fitted a new stove or insert
A change of appliance changes what the flue has to handle — different temperature, different volume, often a different required diameter. Changing the appliance is a named Level 2 trigger.
A stain on the ceiling near the chimney
Water in the structure. The attic access a Level 2 includes is how you find out whether the framing around the chimney has been getting wet as well.
A crack you have already been shown
If someone has shown you a crack and quoted a reline off the back of it, a documented second scan is the cheapest way to check a very expensive recommendation.
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
Pre-purchase or pre-sale inspection
Safety repairThe full scan plus attic and roof access, written up for a transaction: findings, footage, and what putting it right would cost. Usable by an agent, a buyer, or a solicitor.
On site: 1–2 hours
After a chimney fire
Safety repairLooking specifically for cracked tiles, breached joints and heat damage to the framing. This is what an insurer will want before settling, and what makes the difference to a claim.
On site: 1–2 hours
Before or after an appliance change
StructuralConfirming the flue suits the new appliance — diameter, condition and draw. Done beforehand it prevents an expensive discovery after the stove is in.
On site: 1–2 hours
After a storm, lightning or earthquake
StructuralExternal damage is visible; internal damage is not. Lightning in particular cracks liners without leaving much to see from the ground, and this is the documentation a claim depends on.
On site: 1–2 hours
Sweep first, then scan
PreventiveA sooty flue hides exactly what the camera is looking for. If the chimney has not been swept, cleaning has to happen first, and it is worth booking both together rather than paying for two visits.
On site: Add 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 level 2 chimney inspection quotes vary so much
- How many flues need scanning
- Whether the flue must be swept first, which it usually must
- Roof and attic access, and how straightforward both are
- Whether a formal written report with footage is required
- Turnaround, since transactions often need it inside a few days
A Level 2 costs several times a Level 1, and the difference is real work rather than markup: camera equipment, attic and roof access, and a written report with footage. Expect sweeping to be needed first on most chimneys. Against the cost of discovering a failed liner after closing, it is the cheapest part of a property transaction.
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
When is a Level 2 chimney inspection required?
NFPA 211 names three circumstances. On any transfer of property, so buying or selling. On any change to the system — a new appliance, a different fuel, a new liner. And after any event that could have caused damage, which includes a chimney fire, a lightning strike, an earthquake or a serious storm. Outside those, an annual Level 1 is the standard, and a Level 2 is what a Level 1 escalates to when it finds something it cannot assess.
Is a home inspection enough, or do I need a Level 2 as well?
A general home inspector will look at the fireplace and the visible chimney and note obvious defects. What they do not do is put a camera up the flue, and the expensive faults are all up there. A cracked liner runs into the thousands and does not appear in a standard home inspection report. That gap is the whole reason the standard names property transfer as a Level 2 trigger, and it is why a home inspection and a Level 2 are not alternatives.
How much does a Level 2 chimney inspection cost?
Several times what a Level 1 costs, and the level 2 difference is work rather than margin — camera equipment, one to two hours on site, attic and roof access, and a written report with footage attached. Budget for sweeping first as well, because a sooty flue hides what the camera is there to find. Against a property price, or against finding a failed liner after closing, it is not a large number.
What should a Level 2 inspection report contain?
Written findings, video or stills of anything called out, a clear statement of whether the system is safe to use as it stands, and what would need doing if it is not. If it is for a transaction, it should be in a form you can hand to an agent, a buyer or an insurer without translation. A verbal all-clear is the common outcome and it is worth nothing in a negotiation. Ask for the documented version when you book, not afterwards.
How long does a Level 2 chimney inspection take?
One to two hours for the inspection itself, longer if the flue needs sweeping first — and it usually does. Add time for the report, which good companies turn around in a day or two. If you are working to a closing date, say so when you book, because the scheduling constraint is usually the report rather than the visit.
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.