Chimney inspection that starts with your question in Miami Shores
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
Changes worth an inspection visit
- Pieces of tile in the firebox
- A house sale or purchase underway
- Plans to add an insert
- Flaking brick faces on the chimney
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How a chimney inspection in Miami Shores is carried out
When a hose water test helps
Some leaks do not show themselves on the day of the visit. When the job calls for it, we can run a hose water test. One part of the chimney is wetted at a time to see where water appears inside. It narrows the search when looking alone is not enough.
The test is not part of every inspection. We explain why it would help in your case, what it involves and whether it can be done on the same visit. If it is needed, it is agreed before we start, like any other step.
Inspecting a fireplace that has sat unused
A fireplace left unused for a long time can change without anyone noticing. Water may have entered through the top, animals may have nested in the flue and the damper may have rusted in place.
The inspection looks at each of these before the fireplace goes back into use. We check the top, the flue and the damper and explain what they need. You then know whether a cleaning, a repair or nothing at all comes before the next fire.
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.
Repairs after an inspection and our warranty
When the inspection leads to a repair you approve, that work is backed by our workmanship warranty. The written record of the inspection and the record of the repair together show what was found and what was done.
Keep both documents with the fireplace manual. Should a repaired part stop working the way it was meant to, let us know and we return to check it. The warranty covers the repair we carried out. Items the inspection noted that you chose to leave are outside it, which is why the findings list them apart.
What an inspection visit includes
- Smoke chamber shape and surface
- Chimney height relative to the roof
- Written record of what was inspected
- Findings ranked by effect on use
What people ask before an 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.
Does the inspection check clearances to wood and trim?
It checks the clearances we can see, such as trim around the opening and framing visible in an attic. Clearances inside finished walls are usually concealed, and the written record says so.
Do you look at the crown during the inspection?
Yes, when the roof can be reached safely. We look for cracks, failed sealant where the crown meets the flue and a top that holds water. Hairline cracks and wide splits call for different repairs, and we explain which applies.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
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