A clear chimney inspection for your home in Ives Estates

Questions to ask when booking an inspection

Asking a few questions when you book makes the inspection more useful. These help set the scope.

If the answer to any of these is unclear, ask us to explain before the visit. A clear scope at the start saves confusion at the end. It also means the written record answers the questions you actually asked.

• Which parts of the chimney will be looked at
• Whether the roof and attic will be accessed
• What happens if a part cannot be reached
• How the findings and estimate will be given

Questions to ask after the inspection

Before we leave, these questions help you use what the inspection found.

The written record covers the same ground. Standing at the fireplace while we answer usually makes the points clearer, so point to anything you want us to go over again. If something is unclear once we have gone, call and ask again.

• Is the fireplace safe to use as it stands
• Which finding matters most, and why
• What could not be seen, and does it matter
• Which repairs depend on others being done ahead of them

If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off

A carbon monoxide alarm that sounds is an emergency, not a reason to book an inspection. Do not look for the source. Get everyone out of the house and call 911 from outside. CPSC guidance says to stay out until responders say it is safe to return.

Once the emergency has been handled, the chimney and any connected appliances can be looked at. Keep any notes from the responders. The inspection then focuses on what caused the alarm and what must be fixed before the fireplace is used again.

The standard behind the chimney inspection

NFPA 211 is a national standard for chimneys, fireplaces and vents. It covers their installation, inspection and maintenance. We use it as a reference for what an inspection should look at and how far it should reach.

The standard works alongside the Florida Building Code and the manufacturer's instructions, not in place of them. When a finding relates to one of these documents, we tell you which, so you can see where the concern comes from. Ask us about any finding you want traced back to its source.