The Complete Guide to a Level 1 Inspection [2020]
Introduction
There are three levels of chimney inspections. Simply put, a level 1 inspection is the most basic inspection and is required with each chimney swept. Level 2 and level 3 are progressively more detailed and comprehensive.
Chimney techs can perform portions of a higher level of inspection without doing a total inspection. For example, at Patriot Chimney, we always run a camera, which is usually part of a level 2 and 3 inspections, even with Level 1 Inspections.
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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — whose sole mission is to limit death, injury, and property damage from fire hazards — set the standard for chimney inspections in 2000 by providing the guidelines, procedures, and the three “levels” for chimney inspections in their Code 211.
NFPA 211 suggests you get an annual inspection if you continually used your chimney and you didn’t change anything with it.
It also requires that you have your chimney inspected by companies that are responsible for venting, installing, inspecting, repairing, and/or servicing heat-producing appliances. Not a roofer, or a home inspector, or HVAC technician, or your friend that’s not a chimney technician. The person should also meet the requirements set by the fire marshal, with regards to licenses, insurance, and certifications.
Important Definitions
To help you understand the inspection requirements, I thought it’d be helpful to share the terms: readily accessible, accessible, and non-accessible (concealed). These are a pretty big part in defining which type of inspection you need to have.
Readily Accessible
These are areas that can be reached for inspection or maintenance without the use of tools or ladders.
Accessible Areas
These are parts of your chimney that can be reached without destructive action to the building or building finish. Though, access may require the removal or opening of doors. Panels and the use of common hand tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrenches, or ladders may be required.
Non-Accessible (Concealed)
These are areas that cannot be reached without damage or destruction to the chimney building or building finish. It also includes areas requires special tools to reach.
When To Get Your Chimney Inspected
The most current edition of the NFPA 211 recommends annual inspections for all chimneys, fireplaces. But there are other times that would require an inspection to ensure your chimney can safely be used.
Malfunction
If your chimney faced some sort of operating malfunction, any unusual or sudden event, like a chimney fire, lightning strike, or earthquake, you should call a technician to check it out.
House Purchase
You should have a level 2 inspection of a chimney before purchasing a home with an existing chimney or vent.
Things Change
Whenever you make changes to your chimney or vent system you need to have a technician come inspect. This includes the replacement of connected appliances or installations of other appliances. This should also include if you relined or replaced your system.
What is a Level 1 Inspection?
As I mentioned before, a Level 1 inspection is the most basic inspection and is required with each chimney swept. You should have your chimney inspected once a year to ensure all the elements of your chimney are running safely and efficiently.
A Level 1 inspection is typically limited to readily accessible areas of the chimney, structure, and flue. Interestingly enough, ladders are not required, unless the inspection is in conjunction with a sweep or repair that requires your technician to go up on your roof.
NFPA 211 requires that we inspect all flues within the chimney and the appliances connected to them. This is a big reason we always inspect flues with a camera so that we can get a full top-to-bottom inspection, including everything in between.
Why Do You Need a Level 1 Inspection?
There are many reasons to get a Level 1 inspection, such as the reasons mentioned above: a malfunction or things changed with your chimney.
But you should at least get a Level 1 Inspection each year if your appliance or venting system has not changed and you plan to keep using it this year.
In other words, if your chimney is under continued service, under the same conditions, and used with the same appliance, you’ll be fine sticking with a Level 1 Inspection. Otherwise, you should consider a Level 2 or Level 3 inspection.
What to Expect During a Level 1 Inspection
It’s pretty hard to speak for all chimney companies. But I can tell you what you can expect with a Patriot Chimney inspection, though I do think that we do things a bit differently.
It all starts with seamless scheduling, then moves to the actual inspection, and a review of it all with your technician.
<<download our full inspection condition report>>
Scheduling
The first thing you’ll do is schedule your appointment. We use an online booking system, so you can schedule online. Once you do that, someone in our office will give you a call to coordinate some time on the calendar.
Or if you’d prefer you can call our office at 540-225-2626 to book your appointment.
Once you’re on the schedule, you’ll get periodic emails and texts reminding you that your appointment is coming up. Of course, if anything changes, just let us know!
50 Point Inspection
On inspection day, we’ll arrive at your home and introduce ourselves. Then we’ll get to work!
We go through a proprietary 50-point inspection to check everything that we can. Your safety is our priority and we sure don’t want to miss anything.
Here is our list of everything we check (Buckle up. It’s a lot):
- Level of the cleanliness of the venting system
- Verification that the flue is not blocked
- Verification that the flue is not significantly restricted
- Verification that the flue is not obstructed in any way
- Appliance Clearance
- The general condition of the appliance
- Chimney or vent and its connector for general suitability for appliance
- Chimney or vent and its connector type
- Chimney or vent and its material
- Chimney or vent and its condition
- Chimney or vent and its connector clearance
- Chimney or vent and its connector joint security
- Chimney or vent and its connector for support and stability
- Chimney or vent and its connector for offset
- Chimney or vent and its connector for rise
- Chimney or vent and its connector for slope
- Chimney or vent barometric damper
- Chimney or vent damper
- Chimney or vent draft hood
- Chimney or vent heat reclaimer
- Chimney liner for proper support
- Appropriateness of the chimney liner type for appliance
- That the chimney liner is present
- That the chimney liner is free of readily visible defects, distortion, and spalling
- That flue cleanouts are present
- That flue cleanouts are properly installed
- Condition of wash when readily accessible
- That the chimney cap exists
- That the chimney cap does not contribute to flue blockage/restriction
- That the spark arrester is present
- That the spark arrester is not obstructed
- That the top installed damper is present
- That the top installed damper does not obstruct the flue
- Wall pass-through general condition
- That the connector is secure where it meets the wall pass-through, chimney, or vent
- The general condition of the hearth
- The general condition of the hearth extension
- Hearth extension sizing
- The general condition of the fireplace facing
- The general condition of the fire chamber
- The general condition of the smoke chamber
- Type of fire chamber lining
- Condition of the fire chamber lining
- Clearance to combustible trim and mantels around the fireplace opening
- Operation and closure of damper assembly
- Smoke chamber accessibility
- Smoke chamber transition to the flue
- That the air circulation grilles (openings) around the factory-built fireplace are not blocked or restricted
- Freedom from rust or corrosion of readily accessible metal parts in factory-built fireplaces and chimneys
- That mechanical draft systems are operable and free from rust and corrosion.

Camera Inspection
As I mentioned before, a Level 1 Inspection is pretty limited to what is “readily accessible.”
I don’t like this because it’s not possible to get a full grasp of the safety and efficiency of your chimney without looking in the flue. I don’t know how many times you’ve looked in a flue, but it’s pretty dark and hard to see even with a flashlight.
That’s why we always try to run a camera to get a better view and understanding of inside your chimney with a camera.
Review
Once we have pictures, video, and filled out the condition report, we meet with you. This is to go over everything with you so that you can understand the full condition of your chimney.
If there is anything that you should be concerned about, your technician will discuss his or her recommendation to fix it. After the recommendation, we will send a proposal for the work via email within the next 24 hours.
It all starts with seamless scheduling, then moves to the actual inspection, and a review of it all with your technician.
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