Safety inspections of chimneys are an important service we offer. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends annual inspections of all fireplaces, chimneys and vents.
Not all safety inspections are alike. During the course of the chimney sweeping, the service technician will be looking out for any visible problems and will discuss with you anything they encounter.
The Chimney Department follows inspection guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
"Level I" Inspection
A "Level I" inspection is performed on all sweep service calls and is a visual inspection limited to anything the service technician (Certified Chimney Sweep & Professional Firefighter) can see with the naked eye. The NFPA does not require "Level I" inspections be performed from the roof. However, at the Chimney Department, we do roof top inspections on all service calls.
"Level II" Inspection (below is a picture of our President performing a Level II Inspection)
A Level II inspection is performed with a closed circuit camera (video inspection) inserted down the chimney. The camera allows us to inspect the chimney from a range of a few inches instead of just looking from the top or bottom and creates a video history of the inside of the chimney. An inspection form is used for documentation of findings and a DVD is presented to the homeowner upon completion.
This type of inspection is not included (or needed) with every chimney sweeping.
Video inspections are often recommended after a chimney fire or some other form of chimney damage. We make this determination, but it's rarely done.
"Level III" Inspection
A "Level III" inspection includes the same procedures as "I" and "II" as well as, cutting away walls, ceilings and floors. This is mostly done for insurance company or fire investigation purposes.
Smoke Test
Another type of inspection is a smoke test. A smoke test is used to determine the "tightness" of the chimney. During a smoke test, the top and bottom of the chimney are sealed and then smoke is introduced to the chimney under slight pressure. If any smoke is seen escaping from the chimney, those areas are examined closely.