Chimney safety inspection for fireplaces in Edgewood
Water entry, deposits, clearances and damage are looked at in one visit, not one guess at a time.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Moments that call for a safety inspection
- A fireplace you have not used yet
- Water stains near the chimney
- White deposits on the chimney brick
- Scorch marks near the fireplace opening
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Chimney inspection findings you can act on
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.
How house air can affect the chimney
Exhaust fans, clothes dryers and closed interior doors change the air pressure in a house. A chimney can end up as the path air uses to get back in. Smoke and odor then come down the flue instead of going up.
If problems appear when fans run or doors close, tell us. The inspection considers the house as well as the chimney. The findings explain whether the cause is in the flue, in the house, or both. Some fixes are as simple as changing which window or door is open while a fire burns.
Heat reaching behind the firebox
Firebrick and panels are there to keep the heat of the fire inside the firebox. Cracks, missing pieces and open joints let heat reach the masonry or framing behind. Scorch marks or darkened wood near the fireplace are a warning sign.
We look closely at the firebox surface and at any nearby trim or framing we can see. If heat may be reaching combustible material, we explain the risk and suggest not using the fireplace until it is repaired. Heat damage behind a firebox is often hidden, so we explain what can and cannot be confirmed.
What the smoke shelf reveals during inspection
Behind the damper in many masonry fireplaces sits a flat smoke shelf. Whatever falls down the flue tends to land there: soot, bits of tile, mortar, leaves or nest material. It is one of the most useful places to look during an inspection.
We look at what has gathered on the shelf and match it to its likely source above. Tile fragments point to the lining, and leaves point to an open top. The findings link the debris to the part that needs attention, and clearing it is priced as cleaning.
Items on the chimney inspection list
- Visible clearances to combustible material
- Attic view of the chimney where reachable
- Lintel above the fireplace opening
- Flue size compared with the opening
Chimney inspection questions asked in Edgewood
Can you find where water is getting into the chimney?
Usually. We look at the crown, cap, flashing and masonry with the timing of the water in mind. When looking alone is not enough, a hose water test can narrow it down when the job calls for it.
Will you look at a fireplace that has an insert?
Yes. We look at the surround, the visible connection and the liner top. Some parts cannot be seen without moving the insert, and we tell you which. Moving it would be a separately agreed step.
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.
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