Chimney Inspections In Knoxville – The Most Important Chimney Maintenance Service
Thousands of chimney fires still occur every year here in the U.S., but organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) are making efforts to reduce those numbers. We’re doing our part, too, by providing our neighbors in Knoxville, TN and the surrounding areas with thorough, reliable level 1, 2, and 3 chimney inspections.
What Are Level 1, 2 & 3 Chimney Inspections & How Are They Helpful?
The truth is, there’s so much that goes into keeping your chimney and fireplace, insert, or stove working safely and efficiently. And there’s so much that can go wrong that’s out of sight. That’s the reason chimney inspections are so important.
There are three different levels, 1, 2, and 3, and each is designed for different situations and needs. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Level 1
Schedule a level 1 chimney inspection if you:
- Haven’t made any changes to your heating appliance or your venting system and you don’t plan to
- Have kept up with annual maintenance and just need to have everything looked over
These inspections are relatively simple and just include a look at readily accessible portions of the appliance, the chimney connection, and the basic structure. No special tools are needed.
Level 2
Schedule a level 2 chimney inspection if you:
- Have just moved in or are selling your home
- Are changing your heating appliance or venting system in some way (i.e. relining the flue, replacing the appliance)
- Have had recent problems with your heating appliance or chimney or a weather event that could have caused damage
These inspections include a look at readily accessible portions of the appliance, the chimney connection, and the basic structure, but they also include a video scan of the chimney flue.
Level 3
Schedule a level 3 chimney inspection if you:
- Have a hazard or issue that cannot be identified with a level 1 or level 2 inspection
These inspections can include the removal of some portions of the chimney or nearby areas of the building structure, and may require special tools.
My Chimney’s New, Do I Really Need To Schedule An Inspection Yearly?
If you have a new chimney, you’re probably thinking everything is good to go and you’ve nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. We’ve seen brand new homes burn to the ground because the chimney was improperly built and didn’t have proper clearance to combustibles. In other words, combustible materials in walls and ceilings surrounding the chimney and fireplace were placed too close to the chimney or the chimney system wasn’t properly insulated.
So even if you’re in a brand new home with a brand new chimney, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 211 standard makes no exceptions — all chimneys and venting systems should be inspected every single year, without fail.
Schedule Your Inspection With A CSIA-Certified Professional You Can Trust
If you haven’t had your chimney system inspected this year, please don’t wait. Call 865-470-6117 to schedule an inspection with a CSIA-certified chimney professional you can trust. We’re licensed, insured, and here to help make sure our neighbors in Knoxville and the neighboring areas get the reliable, thorough chimney care they need.
If you are in need of chimney repairs, you can count on our chimney and dryer vent service expertise to get the job done right.