Keep Your Milwaukee Home Free of Preventable Damage & Fire Risk With Annual Chimney Inspections
What one thing can reduce your fire risk, keep costly chimney and fireplace repairs at bay, and give you peace of mind every time you light a fire in your fireplace? An annual chimney inspection.
Annual chimney inspections allow you to get the eyes of a pro on your chimney system – inside and out – every year. Which means, if fire risks, damage, or other issues or concerns are present, you’ll know about them early. And when you know about them, you can proactively do something about them.
That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend that every chimney system be inspected once a year, regardless of use. The NFPA also provides guidance on what should be included in each inspection, so nothing gets missed. As CSIA- certified sweeps, we follow NFPA codes and standards to the letter – including those around level 1, 2, and 3 inspections. We’re happy to offer all three to our clients throughout the Milwaukee area. Here’s a little bit about each and when you might need one level over another:
Level 1 Chimney Inspections
Level 1 chimney inspections are overall health assessments for well-maintained chimney systems that haven’t undergone any changes. If you never miss a chimney inspection, you haven’t upgraded your heating appliance or made any changes to your liner, and you’re using your system exactly as you always have, a level 1 should be adequate.
During a level 1 chimney inspection, we’ll assess all readily accessible portions of the fireplace and chimney connection, as well as the overall structure. This inspection does not require any specialized tools or dismantling of the system.
Level 2 Chimney Inspections
Level 2 chimney inspections are more in-depth assessments designed for chimneys that have undergone changes. This is the type of inspection you’d want to schedule if you were buying or selling a home, upgrading your heating appliance, relining your flue, or changing fuels – or if you’d experienced possible damage from a severe weather event.
During a level 2 chimney inspection, we’ll do everything we do in a level 1, adding a video scan of the chimney flue to get a good, up-close look at the inside of the system.
Level 3 Chimney Inspections
Level 3 chimney inspections are typically reserved for when there’s a serious problem or hazard that we’re unable to get to the bottom of with a level 1 or 2 inspection. Because this inspection may require some dismantling of the system and the use of specialized tools, we will only conduct a level 3 after discussing it in detail with the homeowner first.
Don’t Skip a Year – Call Ashbusters Chimney Today
It may be tempting to skip a year if your home is brand new or you didn’t use your chimney much this past year. But don’t give in. A lot can go wrong behind the scenes, and even new chimneys can have issues – especially if corners were cut during installation. It’s not worth the risk. Chimney inspections are affordable, fast, and the benefits are numerous. So invest in a chimney inspection every year, regardless of age or use.
To schedule your chimney inspection, call 414-626-5636 or request an appointment right here on our website. We’ll make sure your chimney is in good shape and ready for the next burn season.
When you call on our chimney and dryer services experts, you never have to worry whether your chimney repairs will be done right, because they will be!