Published 31 Jan 2023
What is a Chimney Inspection?
A chimney inspection is a process of assessing a chimney and fireplace performance if it complies with the National Codes of Standards as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This process helps prevent the occurrence of chimney fires, carbon monoxide intrusion and other chimney-related incidents. It is conducted by chimney professionals to ensure fire safety and prepare the household for the winter season.
Chimney Inspection Checklist
A chimney inspection checklist is used by certified chimney professionals to evaluate chimney systems and ensure that they are safe and operational. This checklist has been made to guide inspectors to do the following:
- Provide the system information;
- Inspect the chimney and fireplace systems and its structure;
- Capture photo of defects and damages;
- Provide overall recommendations; and
- Affix digital signature to validate the inspection.
Importance of a Chimney Inspection
In 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported an average of 23,000 chimney fires and over 20 deaths in the United States alone. To avoid such incidents, it is necessary to conduct proper chimney inspections to:
- Prevent water from seeping through or smoke from pouring in the property;
- Keep the air quality inside the property to its safe level;
- Check potential hazards such as animal nests, cracks, distorted rain cap, and deterioration due to weather change;
- Secure the operation of the heating systems; and
- Comply with regulatory standards.
In this article
- Importance of a Chimney Inspection
- Different Levels of Chimney Inspection
- Vital Points of Chimney Maintenance
- Mobile-ready Inspection App for Hassle-free Chimney Inspection
- Featured Chimney Inspection Checklists
Different Levels of Chimney Inspection
It is recommended to perform an annual chimney inspection to thoroughly check blockages and obstruction and help improve fireplace performance. The following are the different levels of chimney inspections depending on its parameter:
Level 1
This level of inspection is recommended for easy-access chimneys and fireplace. It is performed if the chimney is in continued services, usage, and under the same conditions. It is usually conducted without using any equipment or devices.
Level 1 chimney inspection checks the readily accessible portions of the chimney including appliance installation and connections, exterior, interior, chimney connectors, and flue. This helps ensure fireplace and chimney structures are sound, free of obstructions, and no combustible deposits.
Level 2
This level of inspection is significant for newly-bought houses that have experienced an earthquake or extreme weather event, and made major changes to the chimney such as fuel type, form, dimension, or replacement and addition of an appliance.
Level 2 chimney inspection is a combination of visual assessment and performance tests including smoke and pressure tests. It usually requires a video camera to assess the flue, attic, crawlspace, and other inaccessible areas. It helps to identify cracks and damages to the joints in the chimney’s structure.
Level 3
This level of inspection is vital when investigating an incident that caused severe damage to chimney systems such as fire or demolition. It may involve the removal of certain chimney parts when necessary to gain access to subject areas.
Level 3 chimney inspection is required to determine the condition of the chimney systems where a hazard is detected in the concealed area. It helps to easily evaluate and reconstruct the damages including broken pieces of tile, chimney structure, and flue relining.
Vital Points of Chimney Maintenance
Conducting a chimney inspection helps ensure the safety of the property and operational condition of the chimney systems prior to its usage. Performing regular maintenance prevents costly chimney repairs and unexpected incidents. The following are the vital points of chimney maintenance that can help improve your chimney systems:
- Visual Damage
Do not use the chimney if there are visible cracks on walls or broken pieces of tile from the liner. This may cause chimney liners to collapse from high heat. - Intact Chimney Parts
Check the chimney cap and flashing if they are intact and damage-free. A loose fit can build moisture inside the chimney where it could cause leaks and deterioration. Also, it could increase the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. - Chimney Noise
Do not use the fireplace if there is a buzzing sound emanating from it. It is safe to call chimney professionals for diagnosis and repair. - Deposits of Creosote
Call a certified chimney sweep to perform chimney cleaning to remove combustible materials and measurable deposits of creosote. - Proper Clearance
Keep the chimney unobstructed and provide enough clearance space to prevent contact with the walls. - Installation Issues
Chimneys should be suitable and fit according to standards set by the NFPA to ensure fire safety.
Mobile-ready Inspection App for Hassle-free Chimney Inspection
Performing chimney inspection with the use of traditional pen and paper is an onerous task to chimney professionals. The hassle of attaching photo evidence to chimney inspection reports and paper loss consumes a lot of time and effort which causes job delays. These hassles can be avoided with SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor), a digital and mobile-ready inspection app. With SafetyCulture you can:
- Perform chimney inspections on your handheld device anytime, anywhere, even if you’re offline. All inspections will automatically sync to the cloud once you get connected to the internet.
- Capture unlimited photo evidence and attach detailed notes of damages or repair needs.
- Spot issues and assign immediate rectifications to other teams within the organization.
- Generate chimney inspection reports in real-time after completing your inspection.
- Instantly share and access data within your organization that is securely saved in a cloud.
- Schedule recurring inspections to keep the team accountable.
- Gain visibility to your online dashboard to review gathered data and monitor the effectiveness of controls being implemented.
Featured Chimney Inspection Checklists
Chimney Level 2 Inspection Checklist
This level 2 inspection checklist is used to evaluate the exterior and interior chamber to identify cracks, defects, and damages to the joints of the chimney structures.
Gas Fireplace Estimate Checklist
This gas fireplace estimate checklist is used to inspect the installation of firebox, gas connection and chimney roofline to ensure fireplace safety.
SafetyCulture Content Specialist
Jona Tarlengco
