Columbus, OH & surrounding areas
Chimney Inspections
A documented look at the whole system, firebox to crown.
- NFPA 211 Level 1, 2 and 3 inspections
- Camera scan of the flue interior on Level 2
- Findings in writing, ready for a buyer, seller, or insurer
- 4.4 on Google
- Free in-home estimates
- Fully insured
- Warranty up to 1 year
- Free drone inspection
Get a call back
Tell us what's going on. We'll call you back to set a time.
An inspection is the difference between guessing and knowing. NFPA 211, the national standard, defines three levels, each for a specific situation. Part of our job is telling you which one you need — including when the answer is the cheapest one.
Signs you'd notice
- You're buying or selling a home with a fireplace
- There's been a chimney fire or a severe storm
- You're changing appliances or switching fuel types
- You've never had it looked at since you moved in
- Another contractor flagged something and you want a second opinion
What happens on the visit
- 1
Level 1 — the annual check
For a system that hasn't changed and is in continued service. We examine all readily accessible portions: firebox, damper, accessible flue, crown, cap, and the exterior masonry. This is what most homeowners need once a year.
- 2
Level 2 — when something changed or something happened
NFPA 211 calls for this whenever a property is sold or transferred, when you change the appliance or the fuel, before a flue is relined, or after an event that could have damaged the chimney — such as a chimney fire or a severe storm. It adds a video scan of the flue's interior plus the accessible attic, crawl space, and basement runs. Whether it's legally required where you live depends on whether your local authority has adopted the standard; your lender or a buyer's agent may ask for one regardless.
- 3
Level 3 — only when there's real reason to
The invasive one. It means opening up part of the chimney or the building, and there are two reasons to do it: a hazard found at Level 1 or 2 that can't be evaluated without getting behind concealed construction, or a serious chimney or house fire that has to be investigated to establish what it damaged.
- 4
You get it in writing
A written report with photographs, including aerial images if a drone was the safer way to see the top. If you're in a sale, that's the document the other side's agent will ask for.
Why it matters
Almost everything expensive about a chimney started as something cheap that nobody looked at. A cracked crown is a small repair; the water damage it lets in for three winters is not. And in a home sale, an unexamined chimney is the item that holds up closing while everybody scrambles.
Recent work
What the work looks like
Our own photos, from real Columbus-area jobs. Tap a project to see every photo.
Questions
Inspections: what people ask us
What are the chimney inspection levels I keep reading about?
They come from NFPA 211, the national standard. A Level 1 is the routine annual check of everything readily accessible, for a system that hasn't changed. A Level 2 adds a video scan of the flue's interior and the accessible attic, crawl space, and basement runs — the standard calls for one when a home is being sold or transferred, when you change the appliance or fuel, or after an event such as a chimney fire or severe storm. Whether that's a legal requirement depends on whether your local authority has adopted NFPA 211, but lenders and buyers' agents often ask for it either way. A Level 3 is the invasive one: it involves opening up part of the chimney or the building, and it's only done when there's good reason to believe there's a serious hidden hazard.
Do I still need an inspection if I never use my fireplace?
Yes. An unused chimney still takes weather, still shifts with the house, and is still a favorite nesting spot for birds and squirrels. Water gets into unused flues and takes the masonry apart. And if a furnace or water heater vents into that stack, it's carrying combustion gases whether you ever light a log or not.
Is a chimney fire always obvious?
No, and that's the danger. A big one is unmistakable — roaring, cracking, dense smoke. But a slow one can burn itself out without anyone noticing, while still cracking tiles and damaging the liner. If you suspect you had one, stop using the fireplace and get a Level 2 inspection, which includes a camera scan of the flue interior.
Can you help document damage for an insurance claim?
Ask the office what inspection documentation is available before booking. Whether a particular repair is covered is always a decision for your insurer, so confirm its evidence requirements directly with them.
Related
While we're up there
Chimney Sweeping
Creosote, soot, and blockages cleared out of your flue.
Chimney & Masonry Repair
Tuckpointing, brick replacement, and rebuilds — above and below the roofline.
Caps, Crowns & Chase Covers
The lid on your chimney. Keeps rain, leaves, and animals out.
Chimney Liners & Relining
A cracked or missing flue liner is a safety problem, not maintenance.
Get a free estimate on your chimney
Pick a day and a time window online, or call and talk to a person. The estimate is free, and the drone inspection is included.