In order to prevent any potential fire hazards, it is important to have your chimney inspected annually. Some people believe they can perform this service themselves, however, this is not the case. Certified technicians are trained to catch safety hazards, code violations and other potential future problems that your average homeowner simply doesn’t have the knowledge and expertise to recognize. A level 1 inspection, which is primarily a visual inspection of the exposed components of the chimney system. Should there be an issue after the level 1, then a level 2 inspection would be needed. This consists of sending a specialized camera down your chimney and taking video and still images of the interior, giving a more in depth look at any potential problems. Finally, if there is a major event such as an earthquake, tornado or chimney fire, a level 3 inspection is done. This basically consists of levels 1 and 2, in addition to an inspection of the interior venting components, which usually requires removing the chimney walls to access the damage.
Level 1 inspections are recommended annually, regardless of how frequently you use your chimney. Level 2 is recommended when there may be a problem after the level 1 inspection, in addition to when you are selling your home. Level 3, again, is only to be done if there was a major catastrophic event. If you haven’t had your annual level 1 inspection done, please be sure to contact a certified expert such as US Chimney to ensure the safety of your home and family.
