Chimney Care Company's Blog
Chimney inspections for real estate
Summer is the home-buying season. For homebuyers, fireplaces are among the most sought-after amenities. A fireplace certainly adds warmth, comfort, and beauty to your home. However, if you are buying a home with a fireplace, there are a few things you need to beware of. A real estate chimney inspection should be part of your home-buying process, and there is a good reason for this. At Chimney Care Co, we offer this service to homebuyers to ensure you have a smooth home buying process.
How do chimney inspections fit in with home inspections?
Every homebuyer knows the importance of having a home inspection before they close the home to identify any safety issues or potential problems with the new home. While home inspectors are thorough, their inspections don’t include an in-depth look at fireplaces and chimney. They may ignite a gas fireplace and open and close a damper to see if they are functional, but they won’t perform an overall inspection to ensure that the fireplace and chimney are safe for use. That’s why it is recommended to have your chimneys and fireplaces inspected by certified chimney technicians as part of real estate transactions.
What does a real estate chimney entail?
For real estate transactions, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends having chimneys undergo a Level 2 chimney inspection. During a Level 2 chimney inspection, the chimney technician will inspect all visible portions of the chimney from above and below. They will inspect all accessible portions of the chimney by visiting crawl spaces and attic spaces and by removing any access panels to allow for a view of the chimney.
Finally, the chimney technician will insert a specialized closed-circuit camera up the chimney to inspect the health of the chimney liner and all chimney joints to ensure that the chimney is safe for use. Your chimney technician will inspect all seals and working components of your fireplace so you are sure that your new fireplace is safe and efficient to heat your new home.
Who can you call for a real estate chimney inspection?
When you are buying a new home, it’s important to have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a chimney sweep who is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. In and around the greater Cincinnati area, homebuyers can turn to the Chimney Care Co. for their real estate chimney inspections!
The Chimney Care Co. is CSIA certified to provide comprehensive chimney inspections to assure you of the safety of your new fireplace. A real estate chimney inspection from our team will include photos and videos and a complete written report noting any defects or problems of the chimney and fireplace. We also include recommendations for repairs for your fireplace and chimney so it can safely heat your home.
If you are buying a new home in southwestern Ohio or northeastern Kentucky — Congratulations! If your new home has a chimney, be sure to schedule your Level 2 chimney inspection with the Chimney Care Co. so you can be confident that the fireplace and chimney in your new home are up to par. Call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your Level 2 chimney inspection today!
We also offer chimney inspections for real estate!
Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! For many home buyers, their dream home includes a fireplace. When your new home include a fireplace or a hearth appliance, a chimney inspection is a must. If your new home has a fireplace or heating stove, the Chimney Care Co. is here to help — We offer chimney inspections for real estate!
Why you need a real estate chimney inspection
A typical home inspection is part of every real estate transaction. You’re wondering why an additional chimney inspection is necessary. While your home inspector will take a glance at the fireplace and chimney for obvious deterioration. They aren’t trained to identify anything more than superficial problems.
A certified chimney inspector knows what to look for in a chimney and fireplace such as hidden dangers and problems. Having your chimney inspected by someone who knows chimneys will give you peace of mind. This allows you to address any potential problems during your home-buying transaction. It also saves you from endangering your new home with potential fire hazards.
What a real estate chimney inspection involves
When real estate changes hands, the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends a Level 2 chimney inspection. A Level 2 chimney inspection involves a visual inspection of all accessible portions of the chimney. Your chimney sweep will access your chimney from your rooftop and firebox, and they will enter any attic, crawl spaces or utility rooms.
A Level 2 inspection also includes a video chimney inspection. This involves inserting a specialized, closed-circuit video camera up the flue of your chimney to look for signs of water damage, fire damage or other damages. Once inspection is complete, it should verify that your chimney is free of damage or deterioration, the fireplace or heating stove is operating efficiently, and the fireplace and chimney were installed properly and according to code.
Why your gas fireplace needs an inspection, too
Gas fireplaces have become the most popular option in the United States. While they might not have as many complications as traditional wood-burning fireplaces, a gas fireplace still needs a cleaning and real estate inspection, too. Gas fireplaces can malfunction, logs can deteriorate, and debris can clog burners and vents. As with other type of chimney inspection, a real estate inspection of gas fireplace ensure that it was properly installed, is fully functional and safe and efficient to use when you move into your new home.
If you’re purchasing a new home, let our team at Chimney Care Co. be the first to say congratulations! If your new home includes a fireplace, heating stove or chimney, call us to schedule your real estate chimney inspection today at 513-248-9600.
How to Know if You Have a Leaky Chimney
Spring rains, along with melting snow and ice, can lead to problems with your chimney — namely, chimney leaks. After a winter’s worth of freezing temperatures, high moisture, and high winds, your chimney can become weakened in a variety of ways that allow water to leak into your home through your chimney. If chimney leaks aren’t addressed quickly, they can lead to serious and expensive problems with your fireplace, your chimney, or even your home structure. To head off chimney leaks before they cause major problems, you should be looking out for the signs of a chimney leak this spring.
Water or rust in your firebox
After a major snow melt or heavy rain, you should take the time to inspect your firebox. Look for signs of moisture or puddles in the bottom of the firebox to be sure that water isn’t coming down the chimney flue. Also, keep your eye out for rust. Even if you don’t see water coming in through the chimney, check all of the metal chimney components, such as the fire grate, fireplace doors, and damper, for rust or warping that could indicate that water is seeping in through the chimney. Chunks of chimney tile at the bottom of the firebox also can indicate that a leak is damaging the interior of your chimney.
Water damage to interior walls or ceilings
When your walls and ceiling start to warp or stain, it’s obvious that water is getting into your home, but it can be difficult to pinpoint the damage. Many people fail to check the chimney for leaks, but the chimney is often to blame. Dark stains, peeling wallpaper, and wavy wallboard on the walls and ceilings near your chimney can indicate that water is leaking in and around the base of your chimney, or even through the chimney walls.
Discoloration on the exterior of the chimney
Staining on the outside of the chimney also can be a sign that your chimney is taking on water. If your chimney masonry shows black, white, or green staining, it’s an indication that the chimney masonry is absorbing and holding water. Rust stains down the side of a masonry or manufactured chimney can indicate that the chimney’s metal cap or chase cover is rusting away, which could allow water into your chimney.
Deterioration of the chimney masonry
After a winter of freezing and thawing temperatures, chimney masonry can begin to break down and let water into the chimney structure and your home. To keep your chimney and your home safe from water damage due to a leaking chimney, the exterior chimney structure should be examined each spring for crumbling mortar and cracked or deteriorating bricks or stone. Any signs of weakness should be inspected by a professional to ensure that water isn’t making its way into the chimney through cracks or holes in the chimney walls.
A leaky chimney is a serious issue that needs to be addressed before it jeopardizes the structure of your chimney or the structure of your home. Take the time this spring to look for the signs of a leaking chimney. If you notice signs that your chimney is leaking, be sure to call the Chimney Care Co. to have your chimney inspected by a professional before the problem gets worse.
The Importance of a Chimney Inspection
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to your home’s chimney, prevention begins with chimney inspections. A chimney inspection guarantees your chimney is free from leaks or 
weaknesses that can cause damage to the chimney structure and your home structure, or that can put your home at risk of a dangerous chimney fire. Chimney inspections are so important in keeping your chimney and your home safe from fire or damage that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that all chimneys are inspected annually.
Not all chimney inspections are the same. The CSIA breaks chimney inspections down into three levels. Your chimney’s unique situation will help determine which type of chimney inspection you need.
Level 1 inspection
A Level 1 inspection is a base-level chimney inspection. If you have a fireplace or heating stove that you have used for years, and you plan to continue to use it in the same manner, the CSIA recommends and annual Level 1 inspection. During a Level 1 inspection, a certified chimney sweep examines the easily accessible portions of your chimney on the inside and outside of your home, as well as the easily accessible portions of your heating appliance. If you have your chimney swept and inspected annually, a Level 1 inspection should be what your chimney sweep performs.
Level 2 inspection
A more detailed Level 2 inspection is recommended when a change is made to the chimney or the heating appliance. Some of those changes include chimney relining or changes in heating fuel types. Level 2 inspections also are recommended upon the sale of a property that includes a chimney, or when a chimney has been susceptible to structural damage, such as from an earthquake, severe storm or chimney or home fire. A Level 2 inspection should include a video scan of the chimney flue, all of the same checks as a Level 1 inspection and inspection of the portions of the chimney that can be accessed through attics, basements and crawl spaces.
Level 3 inspections
Level 3 inspections are performed when severe chimney damage that constitutes a hazard is suspected but can’t be observed with a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection. A Level 3 inspection involves all of the checks of Level 1 and Level 2 inspections, but the chimney technician will go further by removing parts of the chimney or building structure to better access and assess chimney damage.
If your chimney is overdue for an inspection, if you suspect your chimney is leaking or damaged, or if you are buying or selling a home with a chimney, call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your inspection today! We can help you determine which level of inspection is appropriate, and we can help you prevent any further damage or dangers from unchecked problems in your chimney.
Why a Chimney Inspection Matters When Buying and Selling a Home
Summer is peak real estate season, when eager sellers put their houses on the market, and anxious 
buyers hit the streets looking for their next homes. If you will be buying or selling a home with a chimney this summer, make sure a real estate chimney inspection is part of the process.
Real estate inspection for sellers
If you have a home with a chimney you are planning to sell, a real estate inspection can be an asset in marketing your home. Most buyers love fireplaces and list them as one of their top preferred features in a home. At the same time the chimney can be a source of anxiety for homebuyers. Potential buyers may worry that chimneys aren’t structurally sound, are overdue for a sweeping or require costly maintenance. When you have your chimney swept and inspected before you sell your house, your realtor can use the inspection and sweeping to assure buyers that the fireplace they admire doesn’t come with any hidden complications.
Real estate inspections for buyers
Real estate inspections protect buyers in several ways. First and foremost, they ensure that the fireplace and chimney are safe for use. A new homeowner should not use a fireplace and chimney without first have an inspection to protect against the risk of a chimney fire, home fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Secondly, real estate inspections protect a buyer’s investment in a new home. A new house is the largest investment most people will ever make. A real estate chimney inspection helps protect buyers from purchasing a home with a structurally unsound or otherwise damaged chimney, which could mean thousands of dollars in repair costs.
The real estate inspection difference
Most home sales include a home inspection, but that is not the same as a real estate chimney inspection! Home inspectors are not chimney experts, and while they may take a glance at the fireplace and chimney, they do not have the tools or the knowledge to prove that a chimney is sound and in good working order. At The Chimney Care Co., our real estate inspections include a video inspection of the chimney flue to reveal any cracks, evidence of past chimney fires or other deterioration that might jeopardize the safety of the chimney. We also inspect all chimney masonry, the firebox and the damper to make sure there are no other defects. When we’re finished, we provide you with the video, still photographs and written recommendations for any necessary repairs, so you have a full report to present to the sellers.
If you are buying or selling a home with a chimney this summer, call The Chimney Care Co. to schedule your real estate inspection today! As a seller, the inspection gives you a valuable marketing tool, and as a buyer, it protects your investment and leaves you confident in your decision to purchase a new home.