Firebox
Firebrick, refractory panels and mortar joints are checked for cracks and gaps including the hearth and the damper above it.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Jenkintown, PA
A chimney inspection in Jenkintown tells you whether your fireplace or stove is safe to use, from a basic annual look to a camera scan of the full flue. One call to (267) 633-0240 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. 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 Jenkintown? Call (267) 633-0240 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Jenkintown.
Call nowThe process
The chimney inspection process
Here is how a sweep typically handles a chimney inspection.
Ask about use
The technician asks what burns in the chimney, how often and whether anything has changed which tells the technician where to focus.
Check the firebox
Inside, the firebox, hearth extension, damper and smoke chamber are looked over and notes any damage or heavy deposits.
Scan the flue
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.
Attic check
Where the chimney passes through accessible attics and basements, the technician looks for scorching, water stains and gaps before the inspection wraps up.
Review the findings
The technician walks through each problem, how serious it is and what fixes it so you can decide on repairs with the facts in hand.
What is included
Parts checked during an inspection
Flashing
The step and counter flashing where the chimney meets the roof is checked for gaps and lifted edges because failed flashing causes many chimney leaks.
Crown
The top of the chimney is checked for cracking that lets water in and the cap is checked for rust and a secure fit.
Masonry
Outside masonry is checked for freeze-thaw damage that point to water damage.
Liner condition
Clay tile, metal and cast liners are checked for cracks, gaps, missing mortar and heavy creosote since a damaged liner lets heat reach the house.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Jenkintown, PA
The level 1 inspection is the routine yearly check for a chimney in continued, unchanged use. The technician checks the readily accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, the appliance and its connection to the flue.
If nothing has changed in your Jenkintown home, a level 1 inspection is normally done at the same visit as the sweep. 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 Jenkintown, PA
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 Jenkintown 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 Jenkintown, PA
The level 3 inspection includes everything in levels 1 and 2 and adds access to concealed parts of the chimney. It may involve opening a wall, removing a crown or taking apart part of the chimney to reach concealed areas. It is not a routine inspection, and it is only done when a hidden problem is suspected.
For a home in Jenkintown, 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 Jenkintown see a mix of heat from inside and weather from outside. From Jenkintown out to neighboring towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, 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.
Need chimney inspection around Jenkintown? Call (267) 633-0240 for a Jenkintown chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
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. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Jenkintown, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Jenkintown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Inspection questions
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 does a chimney need an inspection?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection at least once a year, whether or not you use the fireplace much. Chimneys that are rarely used still need it, since animals, water and weather can damage a chimney that sits idle.
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. It shows cracked tiles, open joints, missing mortar, creosote buildup and obstructions.
What is the difference between level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
Each level builds on the one before, and level 1 is the routine yearly check. 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 is reserved for suspected hidden damage and may mean removing part of a wall or the chimney.
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. A level 2 chimney inspection with a camera scan is the way to see the liner itself.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0240
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out 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 after a camera scan shows where the damage is.
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?
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(267) 633-0240
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