Hearth System Inspections
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The education, experience, and report quality of a Flue Season inspection is second to none.
Q. Why do you hire an inspector in the first place?
A. You want a system evaluated for its flaws, if any, by someone who is an expert in the area.
We have experience as professional Fire Investigator Consultants for structural fires related to hearth appliances. Flue Season also provides Expert Witness Testimony.
Real estate sale and insurance inspections are our specialty.
Avoid costly surprises or fire hazards due to damaged or improperly installed hearth systems before you buy or sell.
All of us at Flue Season are trained inspectors. Our reports provide detailed documentation of conditions in the correct legal language for your information and protection.
Repair options and an estimate are available in most cases.
Our inspections meet the standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Click here to see the INSPECTION video tutorial »
NFPA classifies inspections into three categories:
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Inspection Levels |
What Is Inspected |
When/How Often |
Other Reasons To Inspect |
Required Access |
Level 1 |
Basic condition of chimney & flue. Absence of blockage in flue. Accessible areas of appliance & connector. |
Annually. During routine chimney sweeping. Upon replacement of connected appliance with a similar unit. |
When verification of serviceability for continued use under present conditions is needed. |
Readily accessible areas of the chimney exterior, interior, chimney connector & appliance. |
Level 2 |
Same as Level 1 & accessible portions of the chimney structure & all enclosed flues, including size & suitability of flues. |
Adding, removing or replacing an appliance. After an event that likely caused damage (e.g. chimney fire). Property ownership transfer. |
Verification of chimney serviceability for continued service under changing conditions or when a level 1 inspection is inadequate. |
All accessible areas, interior, exterior, including parts of the chimney passing through crawlspaces & attics. |
Level 3 |
Includes Level 2 inspection plus concealed areas of chimney structure & enclosed flues. |
As needed to examine damage to the chimney or building. When a lower level inspection results in a detected or suspected hazard that can't be checked without access to concealed areas. |
When knowledge of the condition of the chimney is critical to the renewed or continued use of the chimney. |
Designated parts of the chimney structure & building, including concealed areas. |
