Chimney crown
The crown is checked for cracks, shrinkage and gaps around the flue tile since water entering here damages the whole chimney.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Apollo, PA
A Apollo chimney sweep can inspect your chimney from the firebox to the cap, checking the liner, damper, crown and flashing for cracks, blockages and leaks. Call (724) 412-9254 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Most chimney damage happens where you cannot see it. Cracked liner tiles, eroded mortar, a split crown and loose flashing are common, along with blockages from nests and fallen debris. Any of these can let heat reach the wood framing around the chimney, or let carbon monoxide back into the home.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year. Inspections come in three levels, each one going deeper than the last. Unchanged chimneys get the basic level, and changes or damage step it up.
Chimney Inspection is often paired with chimney cleaning and chimney repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Apollo chimney inspection? Call (724) 412-9254 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney inspection process
An inspection follows the path of the smoke, from the firebox to the top of the chimney.
Gather the history
Knowing the fuel, the appliances and any recent smoke or leak problems shapes the visit since a change in fuel or a recent fire calls for a deeper level.
Inside the fireplace
Inside, the firebox, hearth extension, damper and smoke chamber are looked over for damaged brick, open mortar joints and buildup.
Video of the liner
A video scan shows cracked tiles, gaps at joints and missing mortar that a flashlight cannot reach which is the only way to see the full length of most flues.
Outside the chimney
On the outside, the brick, mortar joints, crown, cap and flashing get a close look for cracks, spalling and gaps that let water in.
Attic check
Where the chimney passes through accessible attics and basements, the technician looks for scorching, water stains and gaps to make sure heat is not reaching the structure.
Explain the results
You get an explanation of what was found, what is safe and what needs repair with the camera footage when a scan was done.
What is included
What gets inspected
Flue liner
The liner is checked joint by joint for cracks, offsets and deposits since a damaged liner lets heat reach the house.
Roof flashing
The step and counter flashing where the chimney meets the roof is checked for gaps and lifted edges for signs of water getting in.
Firebox
Firebrick, refractory panels and mortar joints are checked for cracks and gaps and the damper is tested.
Exterior brick
Brick, stone and mortar joints are checked for spalling, cracks and erosion which can mean repointing is due.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Apollo, PA
Level 1 is the standard inspection for a chimney that has not changed and has no suspected problems. It looks at the easily reached parts of the system inside and out, including the appliance and how it connects to the chimney.
For most Apollo homes that burn the same way every year, a level 1 inspection paired with a cleaning is all that is needed. When something looks wrong, the next step is a level 2 inspection with a camera.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Apollo, PA
A level 2 inspection goes further than level 1, with video of the flue and a look at the chimney where it passes through accessible parts of the house. It applies when something has changed, like a new stove or insert, a switch in fuel or a relining, and when the home is sold. It is also the right inspection after a chimney fire, a lightning strike, a severe storm or any malfunction that could have damaged the chimney.
Home buyers in Apollo benefit most from a level 2 inspection, since a general home inspection rarely looks inside the flue. The camera footage shows the liner joint by joint, and no permanent part of the building is removed.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Apollo, PA
The level 3 inspection includes everything in levels 1 and 2 and adds access to concealed parts of the chimney. It can mean removing parts of the building or the chimney, such as a section of wall, paneling or the crown, to see what is behind them. Because it involves removal and restoration, it is only recommended when there is real evidence of concealed damage.
Common reasons include suspected damage after a chimney fire or building fire, structural damage, or a level 2 scan that shows a problem the camera cannot fully explain.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
In Apollo, a chimney works hard during the heating season and takes the weather the rest of the year. Older homes in Apollo and nearby towns such as Vandergrift, Hyde Park, Lower Burrell and Clinton often have clay tile flues and brick that has been through many winters, and water working into the masonry is behind much of the damage an inspection finds.
Need chimney inspection around Apollo? Call (724) 412-9254 for an Apollo chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Apollo
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Apollo is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Apollo know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Inspection questions
Is a general home inspection enough for the chimney?
Most general home inspectors look at the chimney from the outside and the firebox, which leaves the length of the flue unseen. For a home with a fireplace or stove, a level 2 chimney inspection fills that gap.
What is the difference between level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
Level 1 is the routine yearly check of a chimney that has not changed. Level 2 adds a camera scan of the flue and a look at accessible attics and basements, and it is called for after a change in the system, a home sale or a chimney fire. Level 3 involves opening up concealed areas and is only used when a hidden hazard is suspected.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Fire safety guidance says once a year, every year, for every chimney and vent in the home. Even a chimney you seldom use should be checked, because nests, leaks and weather do their damage whether or not you burn.
What does a chimney camera inspection show?
Video scanning lets the technician see the full length of the liner, which a flashlight from the firebox cannot reach. It shows cracked tiles, open joints, missing mortar, creosote buildup and obstructions.
Is it safe to use a fireplace that has not been inspected?
What has happened since the last check decides it. Signs of a past chimney fire, water damage, heavy smoke or a blockage are all reasons to hold off until it is checked. If it was inspected within the year and nothing has changed, normal use until the next inspection is reasonable.
More questions? Call (724) 412-9254
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from masonry and factory-built chimneys, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Repairing cracked clay flue tiles, open joints and damaged liners so smoke and gases stay sealed inside the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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