Chimneys are notoriously a dark and hidden part of a home. Most homeowners have never seen inside their chimney. Do you know if you have water leaking or if animals have moved in? Do you have a fireplace, stove or insert that doesn’t work and you don’t know why? How long has it been since you’ve had your chimney professionally inspected and serviced? Protect your family and the investment in your home.

The Three Levels of Chimney Inspection

Mountain Hearth & Patio will help you make sure your fireplace and chimney system is safe. We offer a variety of chimney inspections and services. We will perform the right service to solve your problem. There are three parts to our inspection services: 1) We teach you what kind of fireplace and chimney you have, 2) What condition it’s in, 3) What we recommend for safe operation. Our expert team at Mountain Man Fireplace & Chimney, Inc and Mountain Hearth & Patio is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fireplace Institute (NFI). We offer these inspections and services:

A Level I Inspection is conducted by a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep and is performed as part of the sweeping process. This inspection evaluates “readily accessible” areas such as the firebox, damper, chimney connection, and the cap. This inspection also verifies that the chimney is free of obstructions or combustible deposits such as creosote.

A Level II Inspection is more detailed than a Level I inspection. It includes the same evaluation but also inspects the inside of the chimney or flue using video scanning equipment or other means. It also includes the attic and crawl space. Most commonly, a Level II inspection is warranted when an appliance is being upgraded, damage is suspected, or the property is being sold or transferred.

A Level III Inspection includes all the points of assessment of a Level II but goes even further. In this inspection, sometimes removal of parts of the wall or façade material is required to evaluate for damage and measure clearances to combustibles. Level III inspections are performed when serious hidden hazards are suspected.

If water is leaking into your home from around your chimney, we can perform our 20-point Leaky Chimney Inspection. In this inspection, we evaluate your entire system from your cap all the way down to the interior of your home, inspecting anything that could be a source of leaks. A degraded crown, chase cover, flashing, or mortar joints can easily be identified and repaired.

If your hearth appliance is acting funny or not working at all, we will complete an Operations & Functions check. Our certified technicians will inspect all the components of your unit to find exactly what’s wrong. Sometimes, we can even replace faulty parts on the spot!

Why Have Your Chimney Inspected?

So why are chimney inspections important? Did you catch the part in the Level II inspection that says it’s required for the sale or transfer of property? We want you to be educated before listing or buying a home.

If you’re thinking about selling your home, keep in mind that in some places it is common for sellers to get a “Pre-Listing Inspection” on parts of their home like the fireplace and chimney. A pre-listing inspection prevents surprises from being found during the closing process that can make the sale fall through. It also protects the seller from non-disclosure lawsuits and additional negotiations after an accepted offer. A pre-listing inspection that verifies the safety of the fireplace and chimney can become a marketing tool showing you’ve cared for your home.

Chimneys and fireplaces are like wells and septic systems; you can see that they’re there, but you can’t tell what condition they’re in or how well they’ve been maintained. They can often hide expensive problems. Home buyers usually do special testing on well water and scope the septic system, so why not professionally evaluate the fireplace and chimney?

If you’re in the process of buying a home, make sure you get a thorough inspection of the fireplace and chimney. If we identify problems, we can help you navigate the repair process so you have one less thing to worry about. Don’t count solely on your home inspector regarding your fireplace and chimney. Home inspectors are great at evaluating so many parts of the home, but they do not have the expertise like our certified technicians do.

Schedule Your Inspection Today!

Did you just buy your home? Are you sure your fireplace is safe, your chimney is in good shape, your flashing isn’t leaking? Are you certain that the chimney was swept and inspected prior to your purchase?

Protect your investment. If you’re new to your home, about to sell your home, or it’s been a few years since you’ve had your chimney evaluated for safety, call us today. We’re your local experts for all things fireplace and chimney! You can reach us at 303-679-1601 or by email at Office@MtnHP.com. You can also learn more about our services at www.mtnmanchimney.com or ask the staff in our showroom at 7001 Highway 73 in Marshdale. Semper Fi!