People contact Chimney Champions® every day looking for a service to their fireplace/chimney. But not everybody realizes that there are different levels of service that we offer! To help provide a better understanding of what takes place during some of our services, we’re going to provide you with an inside look at a Level II Inspection and Sweep.
During our inspections, our CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweeps® perform a visual assessment of every safely accessible area of your chimney system (in your attic, crawlspace, roof, etc). In the first picture (below), you can see lead technician Michael Wood assessing the chimney flue for ‘clearance to combustibles’ – very important for fire-prevention! When accessible, we also look for proper installation and clearances around the firestop in the attic – an area that is often overlooked, but can be a serious hazard. The flue liner often comes with a label that can be found on the outer flue in the attic. Clearances of Pre-fabricated fireplace flue systems can vary depending on brand and age of the system, but the label gives a definitive for what the technician should be looking for.
We will inspect and measure the exterior components of your chimney system to ensure parts are present, in good working condition, and fitted properly. If our technician observes any components are missing or damaged, we may also be able to provide you with a repair/replacement quote following your inspection.
If you have an insert in your fireplace, our technician will measure the dimensions of the firebox opening to ensure it has been fitted to properly coincide with the flue diameter. We also check ‘clearance to combustible’ measurements for the hearth extension, as well as combustibles above the fireplace – such as mantel placement.
Our technicians perform an Infrared Survey with each of our inspections to scan for potential moisture issues/leaks. A smoke pencil is used to help identify potential draft issues/leaks.
Our technicians provide a full cleaning of the chimney system from bottom-to-top, using our state-of-the-art Nikro cleaning system with HEPA filtration to ensure your home remains clean and safe (removes soot, debris, inactive nests, etc). This ensures the system is free of obstructions and combustible deposits (because we can’t properly inspect what we can’t see!).
Our technician performs an examination of the interior surfaces and joints of the flue liner with a state-of-the-art Chim-Scan system. Through the use of this video/camera scanner, we are able to check for any potential hidden damage which may otherwise go unnoticed. *The Chim-Scan system is only used during the Level II Inspection.
“A picture can say a thousand words, but the right picture taken in the right place can be worth thousands of dollars.”
No harmful chemicals are ever used during Chimney Champions® services. Our CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweeps® are polite, professional, and always take great care to not leave a mess behind! We also include a written report of inspection findings and color photos with all of our inspection services.
The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Chimney Champions® are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today, and schedule your Level II Inspection & Sweep for your peace of mind!