Chimney safety inspection for fireplaces in Bay Harbor Islands
An inspection for a sale, a purchase or a change of use, with the scope agreed at the start.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What prompts a fireplace inspection
- A fireplace you have not used yet
- Smoke coming into the room
- A smell from the fireplace after rain
- A missing or loose chimney cap
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What happens during a chimney check
Inspecting the chimney top from the roof
Many of the most important findings sit at the top: the crown, cap, flashing and the flue opening. We reach the roof when it can be walked or reached safely. A wet, steep or fragile roof may limit what we can do on the day.
Tell us about roof coverings that crack underfoot and anything mounted near the chimney. If the top cannot be reached, we look from the ground or a ladder and say what that view could and could not show. A return visit for the top can be arranged.
When a hidden area needs more access
Sometimes the answer to your question lies behind a finished wall, under a hearth or above a bend in the flue. The free inspection cannot open those areas. We tell you what we suspect and why.
If more access is needed, we describe what it would involve, such as removing a panel or pulling an insert, and what it would cost. It becomes its own scope that you approve or decline. Nothing is opened up without your agreement. If the extra access turns up nothing, we say so and the record shows it.
Inspecting a metal chimney liner
A metal liner in a masonry chimney should be a listed product, and its instructions say how it must be sized, connected and capped. We look at the top plate, the cap and any visible part of the liner for damage, rust or separation.
We also ask what the liner serves, because a liner sized for one appliance may not suit another. If the listing label or paperwork is available, we check the liner against it. Where we cannot see the whole run, the record says so.
Chimney inspections in rented homes
In a rented home, the tenant and the owner may both have an interest in the inspection. Tell us who is arranging it, who should receive the findings and who approves repairs.
The tenant can often describe how the fireplace behaves, and the owner decides on work. We can share the written estimate with both if you ask. Clear roles avoid a repair being approved by someone who cannot authorize it. Access for the visit is usually easiest to arrange through the person living there.
Items on the chimney inspection list
- Cap, screen and fasteners
- Hearth and hearth extension
- Chimney height relative to the roof
- Findings ranked by effect on use
Chimney safety inspection questions
What happens if you find an animal in the chimney?
We stop before anything is disturbed. Some species and active nests are protected, so the next step may be a wait, a referral or an animal removal visit. The entry point is noted for repair once the flue is empty.
What can you tell about a chimney that was sealed shut?
We look at what can be reached from the opening and the top and explain what we found. If the seal has to come off to answer your question, that is agreed as a separate step with its own price.
Do you inspect the attic around the chimney?
When the chimney passes through an attic that can be entered safely, yes. It can show water stains on framing and clearances that cannot be seen from the roof or the room.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
- Firebox RepairRepair the damaged fireplace chamber using an approach suited to masonry or manufactured components.
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo