Chimney safety inspection for fireplaces in Melrose Park
Recommended work you approve no later than 72 hours after your free inspection comes with 10% off.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When a chimney inspection makes sense
- A rusted or stuck damper
- White deposits on the chimney brick
- Plans to add an insert
- Scorch marks near the fireplace opening
Jump to
From hearth to crown, the inspection explained
Checking the cap, screen and fasteners
A chimney cap keeps rain, debris and animals out of the flue, and its screen stops sparks. We check that the cap is secure, that the screen is intact and that soot or debris is not closing it. The code sets a minimum open area for a spark arrestor screen, so a clogged one matters.
Loose fasteners, rust and missing mesh are recorded with their location. A cap that is missing altogether is noted as well. Replacement or repair is quoted separately, and we explain what it would change.
Tracing water that enters the chimney
Water shows up in many forms. Stains on the firebox, rust on the damper, a damp smell, white deposits on brick and a wet ceiling are all examples. Each sign points to a different part of the path. The timing matters too, such as whether it appears during rain or a day later.
Tell us when you have seen water and where. We look at the crown, cap, flashing and masonry with that pattern in mind. The inspection names the most likely entry points and explains how confident we are in each.
Inspecting a cleanout door or ash dump
Some masonry chimneys have a cleanout door low on the flue or an ash dump below the firebox. These openings give access for cleaning. A door that no longer closes, or one that is rusted open, lets air, water or animals in.
We open the door if it moves freely and look at what has collected inside. A door that is stuck is not forced. Its condition is noted, and repair or replacement is listed separately if you want it.
Fireplace inspection and chimney inspection together
Some people ask for a fireplace inspection and some for a chimney inspection, but the two are hard to separate. The fireplace and the chimney above it work together, and a fault in one shows up in the other.
Our inspection covers both unless you ask us to focus on one part. The written record lists the fireplace findings and the chimney findings under their own headings, so you can see where each problem sits. A fault in the fireplace is not blamed on the chimney, or the reverse, without evidence.
Inspection points we record for you
- Flashing at the roof junction
- Listing label on a factory-built unit
- Findings ranked by effect on use
- Hose water test where the job needs it
Before you arrange a chimney inspection
Do I have to use you for the repairs?
No. The inspection and any repair are separate decisions. The estimate is yours to keep and compare. Should you book it with us inside 72 hours of your free inspection, a 10% discount applies.
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.
Can I watch while the chimney is inspected?
Yes. You are welcome to follow along, and we point out parts as we go. Seeing the crown or the smoke chamber once makes the findings much easier to understand.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
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