Chimney inspection that starts with your question in Chula Vista Isles

Inspecting after roof work or a strong storm

NFPA 211 calls for a chimney to be looked at after an event likely to have damaged it. A strong storm or a tree limb striking the top are examples, and roof work around the chimney deserves the same care. Damage from these can be hard to see from the ground.

Tell us what happened and when. We look at the cap, crown, flashing and masonry first, then the flue for anything that fell inside. The findings separate new damage from earlier wear, which helps when you decide what to repair.

Chimney inspection terms worth knowing

An inspection names parts you may not have heard of. Knowing a few makes the findings easier to follow.

We are glad to show you where each part sits while we are there. Once you have seen the crown or the smoke chamber, later conversations about them are much simpler.

• The crown is the sloped top surface of a masonry chimney
• Flashing seals the joint between chimney and roof
• The liner is the inner surface of the flue
• The smoke chamber sits between the damper and the flue

A fireplace that was sealed by someone else

A fireplace closed with a board, panel or masonry may have been sealed for a reason. It may have failed, leaked or simply fallen out of use. The reason is often not recorded.

Before reopening it, have the chimney inspected. We look at what can be reached from the opening and the top and explain what we found. If the seal must come off to answer the question, that is agreed as a separate step. We also check the top, because a sealed fireplace below does not stop water or animals entering above.

Using the inspection to plan maintenance visits

An inspection gives a baseline. It records the condition of the lining, the top, the damper and the masonry on one date. Later maintenance visits can compare against it, which makes gradual changes easier to spot.

Ask us what the findings suggest for upkeep. Some chimneys need cleaning more than repair, and some need the top watched more than the flue. We suggest a maintenance visit pattern based on what we saw and how you use the fireplace, and we write it down.