Chimney inspection
A chimney inspection with a camera.
We go up on the roof and inside the flue, photograph every side, and send you the report with the pictures.
Every flue that vents into the chimney gets looked at. Call Kari for the price and a time.
The inspection
What we look at
Inside and out, top to bottom.
- The flue liner, with a camera, the whole way up. Cracks, gaps, missing tiles and buildup show up on the screen.
- The crown, the cap and the flashing, from the roof
- The brick and mortar above the roofline, where the weather hits it hardest
- The firebox, damper and smoke chamber
- The attic and basement where the chimney passes through, if we need to
- Every flue venting into the chimney: fireplace, wood stove, furnace, boiler, water heater
Three levels of inspection
Most homes need a Level 1 every year. The other two are for when something changed or something looks wrong.
The yearly one
For a chimney that's been in regular use with nothing changed. We check the parts you can get to for damage, blockage and buildup.
When something changed
After a chimney fire, a new stove or insert, a sale, or storm damage. Covers the flue liner, the outside, and the attic or crawl space.
When something's hidden
Only when a Level 1 or 2 finds a serious problem we can't see. It can mean opening up part of the chimney to get at it.
Why once a year
Creosote builds up a little every fire. Mortar washes out a little every winter. A crown that cracked last spring has let in a summer's worth of rain. An inspection finds it while it's still a small fix.
Why before the heating season
Anything we find can get fixed before the first fire.
What it costs
Call Kari. She'll give you the price.
Kari answers our phone. She'll ask how many flues you have and what you're seeing, give you the price for your chimney, and get you on the schedule. Masonry depends on what's actually up there, so we price it from the pictures.
Inside and out, every flue that vents into the chimney, with pictures and a written report by email.
Part of your yearly inspection. When it finds more than an eighth of an inch of buildup, that flue gets swept the same visit. We don't sweep without inspecting.
Crowns, tuckpointing and rebuilds are priced from photos of your chimney. You get the pictures and the number before anything starts.
Google reviews
What people wrote after we left.
“We thought initially we just needed to fix the flashing, but when Jason dug into the problem, we found the chimney extension that was done 25 years ago had an improperly installed vapor barrier... It is so nice to not worry about drip-drip-drip every rain storm.”
“We bought an old house and the chimney was in need of urgent repair... we not only got something functional but also beautifully designed and crafted. We knew exactly what it'd cost and what we were paying for.”
“I got a call back right away the next business day and was scheduled. Jason called and let us know when he would be on his way to our house. He inspected it, showed us pictures of our chimney, and explained the process.”
“The team who worked on our new chimney liner and damper left things super clean and we love that we can have a fire in our fireplace for the first time in a lonnnnnnnnnng time.”
“Returned call same day and scheduled inspection... I was given estimate the next day. They demoed old chimney, installed new liners, and built an awesome new chimney. Wow! Totally satisfied!”
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How it goes
What happens after you call.
You call, we set a time.
We call you back and give you a time, then call again when we're on our way.
We get up on the roof.
Every crack, open joint and flashing seam gets photographed, inside and out.
You get the pictures and a number.
In writing. Nothing starts until you say go.
Chimney inspection questions
How much does a chimney inspection cost?
It depends on how many flues vent into your chimney. Call Kari at 320.414.0191 and she'll give you the price for yours and a time.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Once a year, and before the heating season if you can. Anything you burn in, and anything venting into the chimney, should be looked at every year.
Why do you inspect my furnace flue too?
NFPA 211 says every flue venting into the chimney gets inspected, whether it's the fireplace, a wood stove, the furnace, the boiler or the water heater. A furnace flue that's cracked or blocked puts exhaust in the house.
What's a Level 2 inspection?
It's the one you get after something changes: a chimney fire, a new stove or insert, a house sale, or damage from weather. It covers the flue liner, the outside, and the attic or crawl space.
What do I get at the end?
A report by email with the pictures, what we found, and anything we'd fix and what it costs.
Where we inspect
The north metro, town by town. Tap yours.
When was it last looked at?
If you don't know, call and we'll set up the inspection, and you'll get the pictures either way.
Got pictures of your chimney? Email them to info@elementhearthandhome.com with your name and number, and Kari will get them to Jason.