Chimney safety inspection for fireplaces in Hillsboro Pines

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

Debris that keeps falling into the firebox

Pieces of tile, mortar, brick or rusted metal in the firebox come from somewhere above. Their material tells us where to look. Tile points to the lining, mortar to joints or the smoke chamber, and rust flakes to the damper or cap.

Keep a few pieces for us to see. We match them to their source during the inspection and explain what is failing and why. The repair estimate then addresses the cause, not only the debris. Until then, keep the fireplace unused, because falling pieces mean something above is failing.

Inspecting a fireplace that is used often

Regular fires wear a chimney steadily. Heat works on the lining and the firebox, deposits build in the flue and the cap screen can clog. Small problems show up sooner when the fireplace is used a lot.

An inspection for a heavily used fireplace pays closest attention to those wear points. We explain what we see and suggest a sensible time for the next look, based on your use and the condition rather than a general rule. The written record then gives the next visit something to compare against.

How an inspection visit is organized

An inspection follows a set order. We confirm your reason for the visit and look at the room, the hearth and the firebox. Then we check the damper and smoke chamber, the flue from below, the attic if there is one and the top from the roof.

The length of the visit varies with how many flues there are, how easy the access is and what turns up. We tell you at the start what to expect. You are welcome to follow along, and we point things out as we go.