Chimney inspection in Shorewood, IL
Buying a house, lighting a long-idle fireplace or chasing a leak? An inspection looks at every part of the chimney and tells you what it found, in words you can use.
- The firebox and the damper
- The flue and the smoke shelf
- The top of the stack
Know the chimney before you trust it
Most chimney trouble starts out of sight, in a cracked liner, a rotted damper or a gap in the flashing. An inspection is how you find it before a fire or a storm does.
It also gives you something to act on. Instead of a vague worry, you get a short list: what is sound, what to keep an eye on, and what to fix.
- You are buying or selling a house with a fireplace
- A fireplace that has not been lit in years
- A new stove or insert about to go in
- A damp patch or stain near the chimney
- A change in how the fire draws
- Rust, cracks or loose bricks at the top
What you get with Chimney inspection
Surprises found early
A small crack costs little to deal with. The same crack after a hard winter costs more.
A clear picture
You hear which parts are sound, which are wearing and which need work now.
Backing for a decision
A written account of the chimney helps when a sale, a new appliance or an insurance question is on the table.
Confidence before the first fire
You light the season's first fire knowing what is above it.
What we look at
The check follows the smoke from the hearth to the open air.
- The firebox walls and floor
- The damper and its movement
- The flue liner, as far as it can be seen
- The smoke chamber and smoke shelf
- The cap, the crown and the flashing
- The brick and mortar of the stack
What an inspection cannot do
A visual check shows what can be reached and seen. A flue that cannot be viewed along its whole length, or that needs a camera run, is a different level of inspection. We say so when your chimney is one of those, and we explain what the next step would be.
Chimney inspection questions
Do I need an inspection every year?
Fire-safety codes from the National Fire Protection Association recommend one at least yearly for chimneys in use, and again after a chimney fire or whenever the appliance it serves is changed.
Is an inspection the same as a sweep?
No. A sweep cleans the flue, while an inspection judges its condition. The two often happen in one visit, and we are always clear with you about which is which.
Can you inspect before I buy a house?
Yes. Tell us it is for a purchase and we focus the report on the condition of each part, so that you can weigh what you learn before you close on the house.
Will you fix what you find?
Only if you ask us to. We explain the options first, with what each one involves, and the decision stays with you from start to finish.
Other services we provide
Chimney sweep
The flue brushed and the firebox cleared for a fireplace, stove or insert, with a short report afterward.
Chimney repair
Caps, crowns, flashing, flue pipe and masonry repaired, so water and sparks stay where they belong.
Chimney cleaning
The heavier job for a neglected flue: hardened creosote, nests and debris cleared out of the whole smoke path.
Ready to book your chimney inspection?
Fireplace, stove or insert? Tell us which, leave your number, and we call to set up a visit.