Do Home Inspectors Look at Chimneys
If you are in the process of buying a home, you know that the home inspection is a “make it or break it” moment. The results of the inspection can either give you the green light to buy a home, or persuade you to walk away. If you are interested in a home that has a chimney, you may be asking, “Do home inspectors look at chimneys?” After all, although fireplaces add value to homes, you want to make sure that the home that you are considering is safe and that the purchase brings you the right value for the price you are paying. Today, we’ll discuss whether or not home inspectors look at chimneys and the steps that you should take if you are considering buying a home with a chimney.
Are you interested in having your potential new home’s chimney inspected? Best Chimney has been providing certified chimney inspections to homes in the greater Boston, MA area since 1989. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 to schedule an inspection, or contact our team with questions.
Now, we’ll discuss what to do if you are considering buying a home with a chimney.
Home Inspections and Chimneys
During a home inspection, the inspector will check everything from the roof to the electrical outlets and plumbing. When it comes to the chimney and fireplace, however, home inspectors usually only take a quick look.
Home inspectors typically do the following:
- Shine a flashlight up the chimney to do a quick visual inspection
- Open and close the dampers
- Check for clear signs of structural damage
- Ensure that there are not holes in the firebox
This type of inspection only scratches the surface of what a chimney company’s inspection will cover. If you are considering buying a home with a chimney, it is worth your time and money to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney company come to inspect your chimney.
Why Hire a Certified Chimney Company
There are many reasons why you should hire a CSIA certified chimney company, including the high level of training that these technicians undergo before gaining the certification and inspecting chimneys. Unlike home inspectors, chimney inspectors will perform a thorough chimney inspection and answer any of your questions regarding how chimneys work in the process.
Certified chimney companies typically use a high tech camera do the following:
- Check for gaps in the heating or fireplace flues
- Observe for different stages of creosote build up
- Make sure that appliances are properly installed
- Check for signs of water penetration in the chimney’s masonry
- Look for any obstructions within the structure
As you can see, a chimney inspection performed by a certified company covers significantly more than one performed by a home inspector. Furthermore, throughout all of these checks, certified inspectors will follow Section 13.2 of NFPA 211, which is a strict standard. If you are looking to avoid future chimney fires and ensure that you are not buying a house with many chimney problems, an inspection by a certified chimney company is the best route to take.
Call Boston’s Best for a Chimney Inspection
Best Chimney Services, Inc. is a locally owned, certified chimney company serving the Greater Boston, MA area. We’ve been helping homeowners for over 30 years and we would love to help you make a good home buying decision by inspecting your potential home’s chimney. Click here or call (781) 893-6611 if you’d like to book an appointment or if you have any questions for our team.
The post Do Home Inspectors Look at Chimneys appeared first on Boston's Best Chimney.
