Guides
Chimney inspection: what to expect
The three NFPA 211 levels, what the inspector checks, and where the chimney meets the roof.
Written by HyreRoof Research Desk Primary-source research and fact checking
The short answer
A chimney inspection checks that the chimney is sound, the flue is clear of blockages and creosote, and the system is safe to use.
Expect one of three NFPA 211 levels: Level 1 is the routine annual visit, Level 2 adds a camera scan of the flue and follows a sale, a new appliance or a chimney fire, and Level 3 opens concealed areas only when a hidden hazard is suspected.
Key takeaways
NFPA 211, as quoted by CSIA, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents shall be inspected at least once a year.
A look at the readily accessible parts of the chimney, inside and out, when nothing about its use has changed.
A new appliance, a fuel switch, a home sale, a chimney fire or a storm or earthquake that may have damaged it.
Only when a Level 1 or 2 points to a hidden hazard, and only as far as needed to reach it.
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What are the three levels of chimney inspection?
NFPA 211, the National Fire Protection Association standard on chimneys, fireplaces and vents, defines three inspection levels. NFPA adopted them in January 2000, and CSIA trains its certified sweeps to them.
| Level | When it is used | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Routine annual inspections and sweepings, when the chimney stays in the same service with the same appliance. | The readily accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, the appliance and the chimney connection. Checks the structure is sound and the flue is free of obstructions and combustible deposits. |
| Level 2 | Conditions of use change (a new or different appliance, or a different fuel), the property is sold, or after a chimney fire, a weather or seismic event, or a malfunction likely to have caused damage. | Everything in Level 1, plus accessible attics, crawl spaces and basements, and a video scan or other means of examining the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners. |
| Level 3 | A Level 1 or Level 2 inspection suggests a hidden hazard that cannot be evaluated without access to concealed areas. | Concealed areas of the building or chimney. Components such as the crown or an interior chimney wall are removed only where access to the area under inspection demands it. |
CSIA’s 2000 announcement described Level 2 as required on a sale or transfer; its 2019 operating procedures say it is recommended. Your local code and your purchase contract decide which applies to you.
What does a chimney inspector check?
A chimney inspection looks at the whole venting system, not just the flue. These are the areas a Level 1 and Level 2 report usually covers.
Creosote and soot build-up, blockages such as nests or debris, and cracks or gaps in the liner. At Level 2, a camera runs the full height of the flue.
Cracked firebrick or mortar joints, a damper that does not seal, and deposits in the smoke chamber.
For a stove, insert or furnace: the connector pipe, its joints and its clearance to anything that burns.
Distance between the chimney or connector and wood framing, trim and insulation, where it can be seen.
Cracks in the crown, a missing or damaged cap, spalling brick and failing mortar joints above the roof line.
The chimney flashing, the counterflashing cut into the mortar, and any cricket on the uphill side. Failed flashing is a common source of leaks around a chimney.
Water stains on framing near the chimney, heat marks, and the condition of the chimney where it passes through the house.
What to expect on inspection day
A chimney inspection visit runs in roughly this order. Ask your sweep what their own process is when you book.
Stop using the fireplace or stove ahead of the visit so the inspector can work inside it. Ask how long before.
Move furniture and rugs back from the hearth, and clear the way to the attic, basement or crawl space for a Level 2.
The inspector protects the room, checks the firebox, damper and flue from below, then the chimney exterior and top.
CSIA notes a chimney may need sweeping to expose all the areas being inspected, for example after a chimney fire.
Ask for the level performed, photos or the video, what was found, and what each repair is for. Keep it with your house records.
When a chimney problem is a roof problem
Chimney leaks often start at the roof line, not in the flue.
If the report points to the flashing, the cricket or the shingles around the chimney, that part of the job is roofing work.
Read chimney flashing for how it is built, and ask for a roof inspection if the leak shows up in a ceiling near the chimney.
Stay off the roof yourself. Chimney tops and the roof around them are steep, high and often slick.
What to ask when you book a chimney inspection
Ask for Level 1, 2 or 3 by name, and why that level fits your chimney.
CSIA certifies chimney sweeps. Ask for the credential and check it with the issuer.
A Level 2 includes a scan of the flue liners. Ask for the footage or stills.
Ask whether cleaning is part of the visit or separate, and whether it is needed before the inspection.
Ask whether flashing or crown repairs are done by the sweep or need a roofer or mason.
Your inquiry
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Questions
What should I expect at a chimney inspection?
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Do I need a Level 2 chimney inspection when buying a house?
What is a Level 3 chimney inspection?
Can a chimney inspection find roof leaks?
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Information on this page is general. It is not fire-safety or engineering advice. HyreRoof is not a chimney sweep or roofing contractor and does not inspect chimneys or roofs.