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.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Abington, PA
A Abington chimney sweep can inspect your chimney from the firebox to the cap, with the level of inspection matched to how the chimney is used. Call (267) 715-3132 to reach a local 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. Each one raises the risk of a house fire or of combustion gases leaking indoors.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year. Inspections come in three levels, each one going deeper than the last. Unchanged chimneys get the basic level, and changes or damage step it up.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, an Abington chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cleaning or chimney repair.
Looking for Abington chimney inspection? Call (267) 715-3132 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a chimney inspection
Here is how a sweep typically handles a chimney inspection.
Start with questions
Questions about fuel, use, past repairs and recent problems come first to decide which inspection level fits.
Interior check
Inside, the firebox, hearth extension, damper and smoke chamber are looked over for cracks, gaps, rust and creosote.
Video of the liner
For a level 2 inspection, a camera is run up the flue to record the liner from bottom to top which is the only way to see the full length of most flues.
Roof check
On the outside, the brick, mortar joints, crown, cap and flashing get a close look for cracks, spalling and gaps that let water in.
Check clearances
In the attic, basement or crawl space, the chimney is checked for clearance to wood framing and signs of heat or water damage as part of a level 2 inspection.
Written report
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
Parts checked during an inspection
Roof 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.
Crown
The concrete or mortar slab on top is checked for cracks and poor slope and the cap is checked for rust and a secure fit.
Firebox walls
Firebrick, refractory panels and mortar joints are checked for cracks and gaps and the damper is tested.
Masonry
The chimney exterior is checked for crumbling mortar, flaking brick and leaning which can mean repointing is due.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Abington, PA
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.
For most Abington homes that burn the same way every year, a level 1 inspection paired with a cleaning is all that is needed. When something looks wrong, the next step is a level 2 inspection with a camera.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Abington, PA
A level 2 inspection goes further than level 1, with video of the flue and a look at the chimney where it passes through accessible parts of the house. The standard calls for it after changes to the system, like adding an insert or changing fuels, and when property changes hands. After a chimney fire, a lightning strike or storm damage, a level 2 inspection is the right call too.
Home buyers in Abington benefit most from a level 2 inspection, since a general home inspection rarely looks inside the flue. It does not require removing any part of the building, just access and a camera.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Abington, PA
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. It can mean removing parts of the building or the chimney, such as a section of wall, paneling or the crown, to see what is behind them. It is not a routine inspection, and it is only done when a hidden problem is suspected.
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
Chimneys in Abington see a mix of heat from inside and weather from outside. Older homes in Abington and nearby towns such as Roslyn, Willow Grove, Jenkintown and Glenside often have clay tile flues and brick that has been through many winters, and each type has its own weak points that a yearly inspection catches early.
For chimney inspection in Abington, PA or nearby towns like Roslyn, Willow Grove, Jenkintown and Glenside, call (267) 715-3132 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Abington
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Abington is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Abington and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Inspection FAQ
Is a general home inspection enough for the chimney?
Most general home inspectors look at the chimney from the outside and the firebox, which leaves the length of the flue unseen. The level 2 inspection is built for this situation, since the sale of a home calls for one.
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 a camera scan of the flue and a look at accessible attics and basements, and it is called for after a change in the system, a home sale or a chimney fire. Level 3 adds removing parts of the building or chimney to reach concealed areas when a serious hazard is suspected.
Can I use my fireplace before the inspection?
The answer rests on what you know about the chimney. Smoke spilling into the room, signs of a past chimney fire or a known blockage are reasons to wait. If it was inspected within the year and nothing has changed, normal use until the next inspection is reasonable.
Why do sweeps use a camera to inspect the flue?
A camera on a flexible rod travels up the flue and records the inside of the liner, joint by joint. Cracks, gaps, deposits and anything blocking the flue show up on the screen.
How often does a chimney need an inspection?
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.
More questions? Call (267) 715-3132
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of masonry and factory-built chimneys, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Fixing gaps, cracks and missing mortar inside the flue liner after a camera scan shows where the damage is.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn more
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Call (267) 715-3132 for a local chimney sweep in Abington and nearby towns.
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