Benefits of Having a Fireplace Chimney Scan (Safety Inspection)
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has three levels of chimney inspections, all with their own guidelines and requirements.
Level 1 involves a cleaning and an inspection, mainly visual, of the accessible portions of the chimney. Level 2 inspections involve specialized tools and equipment for a more thorough procedure, such as the chimney scan and the camera that threads through the interior of the flue. Level 3 inspections are conducted when a serious issue or hazard has been discovered through previous inspections and there’s a need for a chimney professional to remove portions of the chimney to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve the problem at hand. For the average homeowner, Level 1 and Level 2 inspections are normal and the chimney should be cleaned and examined once a year. You don’t have to have a Level 2 inspection conducted every year, but you should have one done if your technician advises it. A Level 2 must also be performed if you’re buying or selling the property or if there was a chimney fire. Homeowners may wonder why a Level 2 inspection would need to be conducted, but having a camera take a look at the interior of your chimney will benefit you in more ways than you may think.Safety First
On a Level 1 chimney inspection, your technician can’t see what’s going on with the inside of the chimney, and as a homeowner, there’s no way for you to tell if there’s something brewing inside, either. That’s why there’s the option of a Level 2 inspection with a video scan. This special camera allows for a high-resolution scan that technicians will live-view, keeping an eye out for warping, cracking, fire damage, and other indications of potential trouble. Your chimney is responsible for shuttling out the dangerous gasses produced by a burning fire. Problems with the interior flue liner can mean the combustion byproducts might leak back into your living spaces. These combustion byproducts, like carbon monoxide, are fatal to humans and animals. A camera scan of your chimney can prevent the worst from happening and put you and your family’s safety first.Protection & Savings
Chimney scans are an element of prevention, and for the homeowner, that means protection—and saving big on what could’ve been serious damage. By mitigating problems before they worsen or occur when they’re found on a camera scan, you can rest assured that there won’t be any dangerous chimney fires because of unseen issues. Chimney fires and neglected masonry issues are extremely costly to repair and only worsen over time. A Level 2 chimney scan can nip these problems in the bud, protecting your home-investment and your bank account.
