Firebox walls
The firebox walls and floor are checked for loose brick, open joints and cracked panels and the damper is tested.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Stroudsburg, PA
Before you light another fire, a Stroudsburg chimney inspection shows what condition the flue is in, from a basic annual look to a camera scan of the full flue. Call (272) 271-1491 to reach a local chimney sweep.
The parts of a chimney that fail first are rarely visible from the living room. Heat cracks the liner, weather breaks down the crown and mortar, and animals or debris can block the flue entirely. Any of these can let heat reach the wood framing around the chimney, or let carbon monoxide back into the home.
Under the NFPA 211 standard, every chimney, fireplace and vent should be inspected once a year. There are three levels of inspection, and which one fits depends on what has happened to the chimney. A chimney that has not changed gets a basic look, but a home sale, a relining or a chimney fire calls for a camera scan and a closer check.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Stroudsburg chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cleaning or chimney repair.
Dealing with this in Stroudsburg, PA right now? Call (272) 271-1491 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How a chimney inspection works
Here is how a sweep typically handles a chimney inspection.
Ask about use
Knowing the fuel, the appliances and any recent smoke or leak problems shapes the visit which tells the technician where to focus.
Interior check
Inside, the firebox, hearth extension, damper and smoke chamber are looked over for damaged brick, open mortar joints and buildup.
Camera inspection
For a level 2 inspection, a camera is run up the flue to record the liner from bottom to top which is the only way to see the full length of most flues.
Outside the chimney
The technician looks at the cap and screen, the crown and the flashing where the chimney meets the roof since that is where most leaks begin.
Accessible spaces
Accessible areas around the chimney are checked for heat damage, leaks and proper clearance to combustibles before the inspection wraps up.
Written report
Expect a clear rundown of the condition of each part with the camera footage when a scan was done.
What is included
What gets inspected
Flue liner
Clay tile, metal and cast liners are checked for cracks, gaps, missing mortar and heavy creosote because the liner protects the house from heat and gases.
Crown
The crown is checked for cracks, shrinkage and gaps around the flue tile along with the cap and its screen.
Exterior brick
Brick, stone and mortar joints are checked for spalling, cracks and erosion which can mean repointing is due.
Roof flashing
The joint between the chimney and the roof is checked because failed flashing causes many chimney leaks.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Stroudsburg, PA
Level 1 is the standard inspection for a chimney that has not changed and has no suspected problems. The technician checks the readily accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, the appliance and its connection to the flue.
A level 1 inspection is often part of a yearly sweep in Stroudsburg. When something looks wrong, the next step is a level 2 inspection with a camera.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Stroudsburg, PA
A level 2 inspection includes everything in level 1, plus accessible attic, basement and crawl space areas and a video scan of the inside of the flue. It is called for when the system has changed, such as a new fuel, a relining or a different appliance, and when a home is sold or transferred. It is also the right inspection after a chimney fire, a lightning strike, a severe storm or any malfunction that could have damaged the chimney.
If you are buying a home in Stroudsburg with a fireplace or stove, ask for a level 2 inspection before closing. It does not require removing any part of the building, just access and a camera.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Stroudsburg, PA
The level 3 inspection includes everything in levels 1 and 2 and adds access to concealed parts of the chimney. It may involve opening a wall, removing a crown or taking apart part of the chimney to reach concealed areas. It is not a routine inspection, and it is only done when a hidden problem is suspected.
For a home in Stroudsburg, it typically follows a chimney fire, structural damage or a level 2 finding that needs more access.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
Around Stroudsburg, chimneys deal with winter fires on the inside and rain, snow and sun on the outside. Older homes in Stroudsburg and nearby towns such as Arlington Heights, East Stroudsburg, Penn Estates and Bangor often have clay tile flues and brick that has been through many winters, and each type has its own weak points that a yearly inspection catches early.
Searching for chimney inspection near me from Stroudsburg or Arlington Heights, East Stroudsburg, Penn Estates and Bangor? Call (272) 271-1491 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Stroudsburg is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Stroudsburg
Chimney sweeps in Stroudsburg know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Inspection questions
Does a home inspection include the chimney?
A general home inspection normally covers what is visible from the roof and the firebox, without looking inside the full flue. A level 2 chimney inspection with a camera scan is the way to see the liner itself.
What does a chimney camera inspection show?
The camera shows the inside of the flue from the smoke chamber to the top. It shows cracked tiles, open joints, missing mortar, creosote buildup and obstructions.
Can I use my fireplace before the inspection?
The answer rests on what you know about the chimney. After a suspected chimney fire, a storm hit, an animal problem or smoke spilling into the room, wait for an inspection before lighting a fire. Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the house either way.
What is the difference between level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
The three levels go from a routine check to a full investigation, starting with level 1 for an unchanged chimney. Level 2 adds video of the flue and is the one for home sales, relining, new appliances and chimney fires. Level 3 adds removing parts of the building or chimney to reach concealed areas when a serious hazard is suspected.
How often does a chimney need an inspection?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection at least once a year, whether or not you use the fireplace much. Low use does not mean low risk, since nests and water damage happen in idle chimneys too.
More questions? Call (272) 271-1491
Related services
Chimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Fixing gaps, cracks and missing mortar inside the flue liner so smoke and gases stay sealed inside the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney inspection in Stroudsburg, PA?
Call (272) 271-1491 for a local chimney sweep in Stroudsburg and nearby towns.
(272) 271-1491
Free to call. No forms to fill out.