Flashing
The joint between the chimney and the roof is checked because failed flashing causes many chimney leaks.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Elkridge, MD
A chimney inspection in Elkridge tells you whether your fireplace or stove is safe to use, checking the liner, damper, crown and flashing for cracks, blockages and leaks. One call to (443) 899-3078 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
A chimney can look fine from the yard and still have serious problems inside. Flue tiles crack from heat and age, mortar joints erode, water gets in at the crown and flashing, and nests or debris block the flue. Each one raises the risk of a house fire or of combustion gases leaking indoors.
Fire safety guidance from NFPA 211 is a yearly inspection for every chimney and vent, whatever the fuel. There are three levels of inspection, and which one fits depends on what has happened to the chimney. A chimney used the same way year after year gets the basic level, while a sale, a fuel change, a new stove or a chimney fire calls for more.
Chimney Inspection is often paired with chimney cleaning and chimney repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Elkridge chimney inspection? Call (443) 899-3078 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Elkridge.
Call nowThe process
The chimney inspection process
Here is how a sweep typically handles a chimney inspection.
Start with questions
Questions about fuel, use, past repairs and recent problems come first since a change in fuel or a recent fire calls for a deeper level.
Interior check
The firebox walls, hearth, damper and smoke chamber are checked with a bright light for cracks, gaps, rust and creosote.
Video of the liner
A camera on a flexible rod shows the inside of the liner, joint by joint and you can watch it on a screen.
Check the exterior
On the outside, the brick, mortar joints, crown, cap and flashing get a close look since that is where most leaks begin.
Check clearances
Accessible areas around the chimney are checked for heat damage, leaks and proper clearance to combustibles before the inspection wraps up.
Written report
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 a chimney inspection covers
Crown
The concrete or mortar slab on top is checked for cracks and poor slope and the cap is checked for rust and a secure fit.
Firebox
The inside of the fireplace is checked for damage from heat along with the hearth extension in front.
Exterior brick
The chimney exterior is checked for crumbling mortar, flaking brick and leaning so small repairs happen before big ones are needed.
Liner condition
The flue is checked for damage, blockages and correct sizing for the appliance because the liner protects the house from heat and gases.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Elkridge, MD
A level 1 inspection is the basic annual check for a chimney that is being used the same way it has been, with no changes and no known 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 Elkridge homes that burn the same way every year, a level 1 inspection paired with a cleaning is all that is needed. If the technician sees something that needs a closer look, the inspection can be stepped up to level 2.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Elkridge, MD
Level 2 adds a camera scan of the full flue and a check of accessible attics, basements and crawl spaces to everything in a level 1. It is called for when the system has changed, such as a new fuel, a relining or a different appliance, and when a home is sold or transferred. After a chimney fire, a lightning strike or storm damage, a level 2 inspection is the right call too.
If you are buying a home in Elkridge with a fireplace or stove, ask for a level 2 inspection before closing. The camera footage shows the liner joint by joint, and no permanent part of the building is removed.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Elkridge, MD
The level 3 inspection includes everything in levels 1 and 2 and adds access to concealed parts of the chimney. Reaching those areas can require removing drywall, paneling or part of the chimney itself. Because it involves removal and restoration, it is only recommended when there is real evidence of concealed damage.
A level 3 might follow a chimney fire that damaged parts hidden inside walls, or a camera scan that shows something needing a closer look.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
Around Elkridge, chimneys deal with winter fires on the inside and rain, snow and sun on the outside. Homes in Elkridge and places like Ilchester, Jessup, Arbutus and Linthicum range from older brick chimneys to newer factory-built fireplaces, and water working into the masonry is behind much of the damage an inspection finds.
Need chimney inspection around Elkridge? Call (443) 899-3078 for an Elkridge chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: 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 Elkridge is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Elkridge know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney inspection
What does a chimney camera inspection show?
A camera on a flexible rod travels up the flue and records the inside of the liner, joint by joint. It shows cracked tiles, open joints, missing mortar, creosote buildup and obstructions.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection at least once a year, whether or not you use the fireplace much. Chimneys that are rarely used still need it, since animals, water and weather can damage a chimney that sits idle.
Is it safe to use a fireplace that has not been inspected?
That comes down to the history of the chimney. After a suspected chimney fire, a storm hit, an animal problem or smoke spilling into the room, wait for an inspection before lighting a fire. If it was inspected within the year and nothing has changed, normal use until the next inspection is reasonable.
Does a home inspection include 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.
Which chimney inspection level do I need?
Each level builds on the one before, and level 1 is the routine yearly check. 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.
More questions? Call (443) 899-3078
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of masonry and factory-built chimneys, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Restoring a damaged chimney liner so smoke and gases stay sealed inside the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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(443) 899-3078
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