Exterior brick
The chimney exterior is checked for crumbling mortar, flaking brick and leaning that point to water damage.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Palos Heights, IL
Before you light another fire, a Palos Heights chimney inspection shows what condition the flue is in, checking the liner, damper, crown and flashing for cracks, blockages and leaks. Dial (708) 708-7262 to be connected with a nearby chimney sweep.
A chimney can look fine from the yard and still have serious problems inside. Heat cracks the liner, weather breaks down the crown and mortar, and animals or debris can block the flue entirely. Those flaws can let heat reach nearby framing or push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house.
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. Unchanged chimneys get the basic level, and changes or damage step it up.
Chimney Inspection is often paired with chimney cleaning and chimney repair, depending on the cause.
Need chimney inspection in Palos Heights? Call (708) 708-7262 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney inspection process
Here is how a sweep typically handles a chimney inspection.
Start with questions
The technician asks what burns in the chimney, how often and whether anything has changed 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 and notes any damage or heavy deposits.
Video of the liner
A camera on a flexible rod shows the inside of the liner, joint by joint which is the only way to see the full length of most flues.
Outside the chimney
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.
Review the findings
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
Flue liner
Clay tile, metal and cast liners are checked for cracks, gaps, missing mortar and heavy creosote because the liner protects the house from heat and gases.
Crown
The concrete or mortar slab on top is checked for cracks and poor slope along with the cap and its screen.
Flashing
The step and counter flashing where the chimney meets the roof is checked for gaps and lifted edges since it is a common leak point.
Firebox walls
The inside of the fireplace is checked for damage from heat and the damper is tested.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Palos Heights, IL
Level 1 is the standard inspection for a chimney that has not changed and has no suspected problems. It covers the parts that can be reached without removing anything, such as the firebox, damper, visible flue and the exterior.
If nothing has changed in your Palos Heights home, a level 1 inspection is normally done at the same visit as the sweep. When something looks wrong, the next step is a level 2 inspection with a camera.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Palos Heights, IL
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 Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights, IL
A level 3 inspection is the deepest level, used when a serious hazard is suspected in a part of the chimney that cannot be reached any other way. 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.
Common reasons include suspected damage after a chimney fire or building fire, structural damage, or a level 2 scan that shows a problem the camera cannot fully explain.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
Around Palos Heights, chimneys deal with winter fires on the inside and rain, snow and sun on the outside. From Palos Heights out to neighboring towns like Worth, Palos Park, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, many chimneys are decades old, with original liners and crowns, and freeze-thaw cycles, wind and water slowly open cracks in the crown, mortar and flue.
For chimney inspection in Palos Heights, IL or nearby towns like Worth, Palos Park, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, call (708) 708-7262 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
Chimneys in this climate
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Palos Heights chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Palos Heights know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Inspection FAQ
Can I use my fireplace before the inspection?
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. Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the house either way.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Fire safety guidance says once a year, every year, for every chimney and vent in the home. Even a chimney you seldom use should be checked, because nests, leaks and weather do their damage whether or not you burn.
Why do sweeps use a camera to inspect the flue?
Video scanning lets the technician see the full length of the liner, which a flashlight from the firebox cannot reach. It reveals cracked or shifted flue tiles, gaps in mortar joints, heavy or glazed creosote and blockages.
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?
The three levels go from a routine check to a full investigation, starting with level 1 for an unchanged chimney. Level 2 adds video of the flue and is the one for home sales, relining, new appliances and chimney fires. Level 3 is reserved for suspected hidden damage and may mean removing part of a wall or the chimney.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7262
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Restoring a damaged chimney liner with resurfacing, joint repair or partial replacement.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Palos Heights chimney sweep about chimney inspection
Call now for Palos Heights chimney inspection and help in the towns around it.
(708) 708-7262
Free to call. No forms to fill out.