Get a Chimney Inspection Before Selling your House

Get a Chimney Inspection before You Sell Your HomeA mistake homeowners often make is to neglect the chimney when preparing to sell their home. Getting a chimney inspection is actually a requirement prior to the sale or transfer of property, anyway, per the National Fire Protection Association-211 Code Book. Perhaps most importantly, addressing needed chimney repairs could help you speed the process of selling your home.

Getting your chimney ready for a home sale is an important issue, when you consider that, in the process of doing an inspection, chimney professionals frequently find various problems that need to be repaired. If potential buyers are involved during the process of discovering that chimney repairs are required, it could cast doubt regarding what else about the house may be deteriorating. If a chimney has been neglected and has gone without maintenance, the potential problems are numerous, which is something that could definitely set off red flags for a potential buyer.

Chimney inspections are available at three levels, and Level 2 is the one required prior to selling a home. The following things are checked during a Level 2 inspection, which encompasses all requirements of Level 1:

  • All readily accessible components of the chimney are examined.
  • A check for any signs of damage is made of all exterior and interior parts of the chimney.
  • Chimney professionals access the attic and crawlspace to check normally unseen parts of the home for evidence of damage, such as moisture damage caused by leaky flashing.
  • Chimney obstructions can cause toxic fumes to go into the home, and checking for obstructions is an important part of a chimney inspection. There can be enough layers of creosote in an unmaintained chimney that the buildup of the flammable materials causes an obstruction and a serious fire hazard. A spark from a fireplace can easily cause creosote to ignite and start a dangerous chimney fire.
  • If deemed appropriate, a video camera will be used to carefully check the flue lining for deterioration.

Chimney professionals routinely discover the following types of problems during a Level 2 chimney inspection:

  • The chimney liner is the wrong size for the appliance it is connected to or it is not properly connected.
  • The distance between hot surfaces of heating systems and combustible materials is not sufficient.
  • Appliances such as wood stoves were incorrectly installed.
  • The flashing is damaged and causing a chimney leak. Damage caused by flashing leaks includes structural damage, ceiling damage, wood rot, and more.
  • Moisture is a chimney’s number one enemy, and there are numerous ways moisture can make its way into a chimney system and cause damage. Moisture damage can be caused by a cracked chimney crown, the absence of a chimney cap, and deteriorating mortar that can lead to the need for a complete chimney rebuild.

Chimney InspectionsProblems with chimneys must be addressed because when a chimney is not working properly, the result can be deadly carbon monoxide poisoning and/or hazardous chimney fires. When scheduling an inspection, it’s essential to hire a chimney technician who is licensed and has the experience to ensure that the chimney meets requirements of local building codes.

Contact our chimney professionals today to schedule your chimney inspection.
Chimney Solutions, Inc.

1155 McFarland 400 Drive, Alpharetta GA 30004
Office 770-255-1300

Chimney Sweep / Chimney Repairs / Chimney Liners / Fireplace & Stove Service
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Chimney Solutions
1155 McFarland 400 Drive AlpharettaGA30004 USA 
 • (770) 255-1300
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