Flashing
The joint between the chimney and the roof is checked because failed flashing causes many chimney leaks.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Bryn Mawr, PA
A Bryn Mawr chimney sweep can inspect your chimney from the firebox to the cap, with the level of inspection matched to how the chimney is used. One call to (484) 380-7228 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
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.
Under the NFPA 211 standard, every chimney, fireplace and vent should be inspected once a year. There are three levels of inspection, and which one fits depends on what has happened to the chimney. A chimney used the same way year after year gets the basic level, while a sale, a fuel change, a new stove or a chimney fire calls for more.
Many chimney inspection calls in Bryn Mawr also turn up a need for chimney cleaning or chimney repair.
Need chimney inspection in Bryn Mawr? Call (484) 380-7228 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.
Check the firebox
Inside, the firebox, hearth extension, damper and smoke chamber are looked over for damaged brick, open mortar joints and buildup.
Video of the liner
A video scan shows cracked tiles, gaps at joints and missing mortar that a flashlight cannot reach and you can watch it on a screen.
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.
Attic check
Accessible areas around the chimney are checked for heat damage, leaks and proper clearance to combustibles as part of a level 2 inspection.
Explain the results
You get an explanation of what was found, what is safe and what needs repair so you can decide on repairs with the facts in hand.
What is included
What gets inspected
Chimney 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.
Flue liner
The liner is checked joint by joint for cracks, offsets and deposits because the liner protects the house from heat and gases.
Firebox
The firebox walls and floor are checked for loose brick, open joints and cracked panels and the damper is tested.
Exterior brick
Brick, stone and mortar joints are checked for spalling, cracks and erosion that point to water damage.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Bryn Mawr, 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.
A level 1 inspection is often part of a yearly sweep in Bryn Mawr. If the technician sees something that needs a closer look, the inspection can be stepped up to level 2.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Bryn Mawr, 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.
If you are buying a home in Bryn Mawr with a fireplace or stove, ask for a level 2 inspection before closing. It does not require removing any part of the building, just access and a camera.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Bryn Mawr, PA
Level 3 is reserved for situations where a level 1 or 2 inspection points to a hidden hazard. 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.
For a home in Bryn Mawr, it typically follows a chimney fire, structural damage or a level 2 finding that needs more access.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
Chimneys in Bryn Mawr see a mix of heat from inside and weather from outside. Homes in Bryn Mawr and places like Rosemont, Ardmore, Villanova and Narberth range from older brick chimneys to newer factory-built fireplaces, and each type has its own weak points that a yearly inspection catches early.
Searching for chimney inspection near me from Bryn Mawr or Rosemont, Ardmore, Villanova and Narberth? Call (484) 380-7228 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Bryn Mawr
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. 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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Bryn Mawr is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Bryn Mawr and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Inspection questions
Can I use my fireplace before the inspection?
What has happened since the last check decides it. 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?
A yearly inspection is the standard set by NFPA 211. Even a chimney you seldom use should be checked, because nests, leaks and weather do their damage whether or not you burn.
What does a chimney camera inspection show?
Video scanning lets the technician see the full length of the liner, which a flashlight from the firebox cannot reach. Cracks, gaps, deposits and anything blocking the flue show up on the screen.
Which chimney inspection level do I need?
Level 1 is the routine yearly check of a chimney that has not changed. A level 2 includes a video scan and is needed after changes, sales and events like chimney fires or storms. Level 3 adds removing parts of the building or chimney to reach concealed areas when a serious hazard is suspected.
Is a general home inspection enough for the chimney?
A standard home inspection is mostly visual, so cracks and gaps inside the flue tend to go unnoticed. A level 2 chimney inspection with a camera scan is the way to see the liner itself.
More questions? Call (484) 380-7228
Often needed together
Chimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Repairing cracked clay flue tiles, open joints and damaged liners with resurfacing, joint repair or partial replacement.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Bryn Mawr chimney sweep about chimney inspection
Call now for Bryn Mawr chimney inspection and help in the towns around it.
(484) 380-7228
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