Chimney inspections are vital to the health of your chimney system and without them, you may be putting your home at risk. When you get your chimney inspected, a chimney sweep will make sure your chimney is clean and free of any maintenance issues. However, a question we get asked a lot here at Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions “when is the best time for a chimney inspection?” The answer to that question is situational because some times are better than others.
Annual inspection
Annual inspections are the most common inspection that we perform here at Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions. These types of inspections are called “Level 1” inspections and they entail that a chimney sweep inspects all the readily accessible parts of your chimney and fireplace interior and exterior, as well as make sure that it is free from obstructions. Basically, your chimney sweep will make sure that your fireplace is in good operational condition. The best time to schedule an annual inspection is during the “off-season” when your fireplace isn’t being used late spring to early fall. At Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions, we suggest trying to schedule an inspection in the spring or summer. Once temperatures begin to drop in the fall, it gets very busy for a chimney sweep and oftentimes it gets a little tricky to schedule your inspection at your preferred time.
Other Inspections
There are two other levels of inspections that we do here at Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions. A “Level 2” inspection entails everything that is included in a Level 1 inspection. The only difference between the two is that we will perform a video scan of the inside of your chimney during a Level 2 inspection. This type of inspection is required during a real estate inspection for home purchase and also if there has been a severe natural event such as an earthquake or a tornado. The best time to schedule this type of inspection is before you buy a home with a chimney system and after your home has been affected by a natural disaster.
The final type of inspection is called a “Level 3” inspection. This type of inspection is required when we know that there is an issue with your chimney system. It allows us to deconstruct sections of your chimney and fireplace to inspect the known issue. If you suspect that there is an issue with your chimney, you should call Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions for an inspection before you try to operate your fireplace. Operating a fireplace that might have an issue could be hazardous.
If you haven’t had an annual inspection performed on your chimney this year, you are overdue! We are still pretty flexible with our scheduling times, so now would be a great time to call Hale’s Chimney & Fireplace Solutions at 972-562-6851 to set up an inspection time. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our chimney professionals online today.