Safety Inspections

Exactly what does a chimney inspection entail?

Does a chimney inspection by A to Z differ than what I will find elsewhere?

Is your chimney safe for use?Cleaning the combustible creosote from the chimney is important, but probably even more important is the subsequent inspection to try to detect the presence of potential hazards, defects, or deterioration that may pose a threat to your family and property! 

Because it is such an important part of what a chimney sweep does, before hiring a company to clean your chimney, you should concern yourself with two questions:

• 1. "Exactly what is included in a typical inspection with this company?” And
• 2. “How can I be sure that the person coming out to sweep my chimney is qualified to perform a proper safety inspection?”

A “typical” Inspection?

What's in your chimney?

In the past, it was difficult for the consumer to distinguish exactly what an “Inspection” did and did not include. For years, even within the chimney industry, opinions and policies varied widely from one company to another on the exact parameters that a typical inspection should and should not cover.  Having your chimney inspected by different chimney sweeping companies was like a box of chocolates…. You never knew what you were gonna get!

When is the last time your chimney was swept and professionally inspected?

In response, the National Fire protection Association (NFPA) has helped set industry standards in this regard. Inspections come in many forms and you should be aware that not all inspections are alike. At A to Z, we follow the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommended inspection procedures, and as such, you know precisely the parameters of your inspection. Because we feel so strongly that an educated customer is a customer for life, we are one of the few companies in the Sacramento Area which adhere to these strict guidelines and procedures and give you the choice as to which inspection you desire to be performed on your home.

Three Inspection Choices:

Enjoy your fires with the peace of mind that only comes with a professional inspection by A to Z.

NFPA divides the inspection procedure into three categories, or levels. The circumstances which give rise to the inspection determine what level of inspection is to be conducted.

A Level I inspection is the most basic level of inspection while Level II and Level III inspections are progressively more detailed and comprehensive. A Level I inspection is completed during each chimney cleaning, or sweeping.

Level I Inspection

A Level 1 Inspection is included FREE with every chimney sweep that AtoZ performs.

A Level I inspection is the recommended level when an evaluation of the chimney system for continued service is needed and the conditions of use are not changing. This could include:

• Routine or annual evaluations of the venting system
• An appliance connected to the system is being replaced with a similar appliance
• During chimney cleaning or sweeping

A Level I inspection is limited to “readily accessible” portions of the venting system, and “readily accessible” portions of the connected appliance(s) and the chimney connection. “Readily Accessible” is defined as all areas exposed for inspection without the need for any tools. The inspector will check the readily accessible portions of the chimney, its enclosing structure, and the flue. A Level I inspection includes verification that the flue is not blocked or significantly restricted.

Level II Inspection

Cleaning the creosote out of the chimney is only HALF the job! The other half is professionally inspecting your system for potential safety hazards and maintenance issues.

A Level II inspection is more detailed and thorough than a Level I inspection and is the recommended inspection when conditions of use for the appliance or venting system are changing, or when a Level I inspection reveals the need for a more detailed inspection. Several instances where a Level II inspection is specifically recommended include:

• Replacement of an appliance with one of dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency (example, you’ve been burning with a regular fireplace, but now you wish to have a wood burning stove insert installed)
• Prior to a flue relining
• Upon sale or transfer of the property
• The Chim Scan Camera is attached to the top of the rods, and AtoZ's sweep technician and homeowner can view the images on the computer monitor from the comfort of the home.After an event likely to have caused damage to the chimney, such as a chimney fire, earthquake, tornado, lightning strike or some other sudden occurrence event

A Level II inspection includes all of the requirements of a Level I inspection as well as the following:

• Inspection of “accessible” areas of attics, basements, and crawlspaces. “Accessible” is defined as being exposed for inspection without damage to the chimney or building, but which may involve removing doors, panels, or coverings with commonly available tools.  In other words, if we can get in there to look at it, every square inch of your chimney/fireplace/stove system will be inspected meticulously. 
• A to Z inpsectes every open face fireplace flue with a Chim Scan Camera FREE with each chimney sweep.Accessible areas of the chimney exterior and interior
• Accessible portions of the appliance and chimney connection
• Video scanning, or other thorough inspection, of the flue interior
• Evaluation of the flue lining to determine that its material and sizing is appropriate for the appliances being served
• Proper clearance to combustibles in the accessible areas listed above
• Chase coverProper construction and condition of the chimney system in the accessible areas listed above

While the Level II inspection is a rather thorough inspection and requires access to many areas of the building, it does not require removal of permanent parts of the building, such as siding, drywall, chase covers or wall coverings.

Level III Inspection

A to Z's Technicians are trained and tested to very high standards.

A Level III inspection is the most detailed of all of the inspection types and includes inspection of concealed areas of the building. However, examination of concealed areas will be limited to areas reasonably suspected of containing hazards that cannot be evaluated otherwise.

A Level III inspection includes all areas covered in a Level I and Level II inspection, and inspection of concealed areas to investigate known or suspected problems. In as much as certain portions of a Level III inspection require destructive action to the building, the inspector will discuss these areas with the building owner prior to the inspection.

When a suspected problem area is not accessable for inspection, a Level 3 inspection must be performed. Oftentimes, drywall, siding, stucco, roofing, or some other permanant part of the structure must be removed to make an inspecton possible.

An example of a level III inspection would be if one of A to Z’s technicians noted smoke stains above your fireplace in the upper corner between where your wall and ceiling meet. Such smoke stains would suggest that 2X4 wood framing within he walls had reached a point of smoldering. Obviously, the drywall will need to be removed in order to inspect that otherwise inaccessible portion of your chimney.

Frequency of Inspection

NFPA recommends that all chimneys, fireplaces and vents be inspected annually. In addition to this requirement, there are other times when chimney and venting systems should be inspected, such as:

1. After any unusual, or sudden occurrence event, such as a chimney fire, lightning strike, or earthquake.
2. Prior to purchasing a home with an existing chimney
3. Whenever changes are made to a chimney or vent system, including replacement of connected appliances
4. Prior to major system repairs

Video Scanning

A to Z uses Chim Scan camera systems to inspect fireplace flues.

A video scan is where we use a camera system, which is lowered into the chimney (or pushed up from the bottom) to inspect the interior surfaces of the chimney’s flue to determine whether any potential safety hazards are present. The camera allows us to inspect the chimney from a range of just a few inches instead of just looking from the top or bottom with a flashlight like most sweeping companies. The camera image is viewed on a TV monitor (set up on the fireplace hearth) by the inspector, and oftentimes by the homeowner as well.

At no additional cost to the customer, A to Z includes Video inspections whenever we sweep a chimney serving an open face fireplace or an unlined/partially lined insert stove. Video inspections are often recommended after a chimney fire or some other form of damage to a chimney, and are a routine part of a Level II or Level III inspection, but is also included with all of our level I inspections as a part of our standard cleaning / inspection services.

To see if you have a broken rib, you'd expect your doctor to use an X-Ray machine, NOT a flashlight!

To put it simply, Video Scanning your chimney after cleaning is not simply a nice luxury, but an absolute necessity!  Hiring someone to inspect your chimney who only uses a flashlight is like using the services of a doctor who does not have an X-ray machine! Would you trust the opinion of a doctor who shines a flashlight down your throat to see if you have a cracked rib? Of course not! Shining a flashlight down a flue to spot potentially dangerous cracks or gaps in your chimney is just as impossible!

It's always nice to have guests over to enjoy your fire with you... unless it's these guys! Having your chimney swept and inspected by AtoZ will help you keep the fire you WANT from becoming the fire you DON'T WANT!

Why hire a chimney sweep who only uses a flashlight to inspect for hazardous conditions? Without reservation, we proclaim that simply using a flashlight is not an adequate means of inspecting the flue!!

When inspecting a flue with a flashlight from the top or bottom, Protruding Mortar Joints, Offset Flue Tiles, Acute Angles, and Sheer Distances make it impossible to Detect Most Potential Hazards in the Chimney’s Flue!

At this point, the only inspection this chimney will get is from the fire investigator and the insurance adjustor.

By hiring A to Z, should there be any conditions that need attention, our Chim Scan camera will record a digital picture of the situation. These pictures allow the homeowner to get a second opinion, and/or file a claim with an insurance company if necessary. In addition, the camera gives the customer peace of mind knowing that they don't have to take a stranger's word for it if something is wrong because seeing.

A to Z Chimney Sweeping scans every open-faced fireplace flue at no additional charge! It's included in the cleaning absolutely FREE! If keeping your family and home fire safe is truly important, make sure your chimney is swept and video inspected by a CSIA Certified Sweep from A to Z!

In Summary:

Enjoy your fires with peace of mind knowing your chimney was swept and inspected by one of A to Z's CSIA Certified chimney sweeps!

You should be aware that even the most thorough inspection may not reveal all problems. Some areas of a chimney simply are not accessible due to construction of the house. Be sure to discuss any specific concerns with your sweep. The recommended inspection technique will often be based on your comments and concerns.

This works similar to a visit to your doctor. Your doctor probably doesn't do an EKG and take a full set of X-rays during every visit. However, if you tell the doctor you have chest pains he will perform the tests related to that problem.