Home Inspections vs. Chimney Inspections

If you are buying a home, scheduling a home inspection is a necessary step in the process. Yet, many home buyers mistakenly believe a home inspection includes a thorough and in-depth look at the fireplace and chimney. This is not the case! Home inspectors are not actually required to inspect various parts of your chimney. This means you could be missing out on important information regarding your potential home purchase.

What’s Not Included?

Some of things home inspectors are not required to inspect are seals, gaskets, doors, vents, and any interiors that are not easy to access. Their standard of practice states that anything not “readily accessible” does not need to be inspected. That means the interior of the chimney itself was likely not even looked at!

While home inspections are beneficial in many ways, hiring a certified chimney tech to inspect your fireplace and determine whether or not it is safe for regular use is necessary for making a smart decision when seeking out your new home.

Level I, II, & III Chimney Inspections

At Lords Chimney, we are CSIA certified, which means we can perform top quality inspections, no matter what your fireplace needs. When the technician comes to your home, they will perform either a level I, a level II, or a level III inspection. Learn more about these below!

Level One – A level one inspection occurs when you have had no major issues or changes with your fireplace throughout the past year. This inspection is a basic overview of all the parts. We check to ensure everything is running smoothly and that no obvious repairs are necessary. Also, we will determine whether or not a sweeping is in order and will make sure the venting systems are clear.

Level Two – Level two inspections are a bit more extensive. A camera will be used to check the interior systems. We will check for water damage, correct measurements, chimney caps, and more. These types of inspections are for buying and selling homes or for when a chimney has faced damage or recent renovations.

Level Three – Level three inspections are less common and are done when more widespread damage is discovered. Certain parts of the chimney may need to be removed for us to discover the issue and resolve it.

Any Questions?

Knowing what to expect from your chimney company can be tricky. If you have any questions at all, feel free to give the staff at Lords Chimney a call 281-497-4000. We will be more than happy to assist you. We will provide you with all of the answers and advice you are looking for.