Chimney Inspections: What Gets Checked and Which Level You Need

The type of chimney inspection you need depends mostly on why you’re having it checked. A routine annual check is usually different from an inspection when buying a home, changing an appliance, or investigating possible damage.

Which inspection do I probably need?
Why you’re having it checked	Likely starting point
Routine annual check, with no major changes	Usually Level 1
Buying or selling a home	Level 2
Changing appliance type or fuel, or lining or relining the chimney	Usually Level 2
Possible chimney fire or other damage	Usually Level 2 first; further access may be needed
A suspected hidden hazard that Level 1 or 2 cannot fully assess	Level 3 may be needed

Use this as a starting point when booking. The inspector should explain which level fits your system and why. After a suspected chimney fire, stop using the system until a qualified professional has evaluated it.

What is a chimney inspection?

A chimney inspection checks for damage, buildup, blockages, and problems with how your fireplace or stove vents through the chimney. The inspector also checks relevant spaces between hot parts and materials that could burn. Inspection checks condition; cleaning removes deposits and obstructions. You may need both.

What they can check depends on the inspection level and what they can reach. An inspection does not automatically reveal everything behind a wall or chimney liner.

If you are deciding which service to book, use Cleaning vs. Inspection to compare likely starting points and clarify what a bundled quote includes.

When do you need a chimney inspection?

Plan on a professional inspection each year. Book sooner if something changes or you notice a problem.

Buying or selling a home? Ask about a Level 2 inspection during the transaction.
Changing your fireplace or stove? Mention a new appliance, different fuel, venting changes, or plans to line or reline the chimney.
Concerned about damage? Tell the inspector about a suspected chimney fire, building fire, impact, storm, or earthquake that may have damaged the chimney.
Noticing a problem? Describe leaks, smoke entering the room, poor draft, loose brick or mortar, or other deterioration. These clues help the inspector decide what to investigate.

Plan for annual inspection, with cleaning and repairs as needed. That also follows the U.S. Fire Administration’s annual maintenance advice. These recommendations do not mean the same law applies everywhere.

After a suspected chimney fire, stop using the system until a qualified professional has checked it and explained what needs to happen before reuse. CSIA advises sweeping and evaluation before using it again.

Which inspection level do you need?

The levels describe how much of the system is examined and how the inspector gets to it. Ask the inspector to recommend a level based on your situation.

Chimney inspection levels at a glanceScroll horizontally to compare all columns on a small screen.
Level	When it usually fits	What gets checked	Access and equipment	What it won’t show
Level 1	Routine use, with no major changes.	Easily reached chimney areas and appliance connections; damage, buildup, and blockages.	Visual checks of readily accessible areas.	Hidden construction or the full Level 2 examination.
Level 2	Home purchase or sale, certain system changes, relining, or possible damage.	Level 1 checks plus more of the chimney, flue, and surrounding spaces.	Relevant accessible attic, crawlspace, and basement areas; internal imaging.	Areas the inspector or equipment cannot reach or see.
Level 3	A suspected problem cannot be fully assessed at Level 1 or 2.	Earlier checks plus the hidden area causing concern.	Targeted removal of chimney or building parts to reach that area.	Every hidden part of the chimney or house.

You may see these written as Level I, II, and III. They come from NFPA 211. This guide uses published CSIA guidance; your inspector should confirm the standard edition and local requirements that apply.

For a situation-by-situation decision table, plain-language access definitions, and the questions to ask before concealed access, use the complete Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 guide.

Level 1: routine use, with no major changes

Level 1 generally fits a chimney you plan to keep using in much the same way. The inspector checks its condition, buildup, blockages, and appliance installation and connections. “Readily accessible” means easily reached without using tools to open or remove a covering. CSIA’s Level 1 procedure explains the access limits.

Choose the level for the job, not just the price. Some companies include a camera with Level 1, but that alone does not make it a Level 2 inspection.

Level 2: a home sale, system change, or possible damage

Level 2 adds a closer look at accessible chimney and liner areas, plus relevant attic, crawlspace, and basement spaces. It also considers whether the flue is suitable for the fireplace or appliance connected to it.

Common reasons include buying or selling a home, changing fuel or appliance type, relining, or an event likely to have caused damage. Replacing an appliance with a similar one is different from changing its type, heat output, or efficiency. Explain the change when booking. CSIA’s Level 2 procedure covers these situations and includes internal video scanning or a similar examination.

Level 3: reaching a hidden problem

Level 3 is for a suspected hazard that cannot be fully checked through Level 1 or 2. It may involve removing a specific chimney or building part to reach the area in question. CSIA’s Level 3 explanation describes when that extra access is needed.

It does not automatically mean taking down the chimney, and not every Level 2 finding needs Level 3. Ask what must be opened, why, and how it will be put back. The work should target the area that needs checking.

Does Level 2 include a camera?

Yes. Expect an internal examination using video scanning or suitable advanced viewing equipment as part of Level 2. A quick look up the fireplace is not the same thing.

The camera helps show damage inside the flue, but Level 2 also includes the wider chimney and appliance checks. CSIA’s guidance calls for documenting anything that prevents the internal examination.

A camera cannot see through a liner or wall. Bends, blockages, buildup, and narrow passages can limit the view. Ask which flues will be checked, what could not be seen, and whether you will receive photos or video.

What gets checked?

The checklist depends on your chimney, fireplace or stove, inspection level, and access. Here are the main areas an inspector may examine.

Cutaway illustration of a masonry chimney labeling the chimney cap, crown, flashing, masonry, flue liner, smoke chamber, damper, and firebox as inspection areas. — These are common inspection areas. What can actually be examined depends on the inspection level, system, access, and visibility.

Outside the chimney

On a brick chimney, this includes accessible brick and mortar, the crown covering the masonry at the top, the cap over the flue opening, and flashing where the chimney meets the roof. Cracks, loose parts, and water stains can point to a problem, but a stain alone does not tell you where a leak began.

The fireplace or connected appliance

Checks may include the firebox where the fire burns, the damper, the smoke chamber above the firebox, and appliance connections. The inspector looks for damage, loose connections, and concerns about nearby materials that could burn.

The passage inside the chimney

The flue carries smoke and combustion gases outside. Its liner forms the inside surface. The inspector looks for visible cracks, gaps, damaged joints, buildup, and blockages. Cleaning may be needed before the liner can be seen clearly.

Spaces around the chimney

Depending on the level, the inspector checks relevant chimney areas in accessible attics, crawlspaces, and basements for damage and spacing from combustible materials. Anything they could not reach should be noted in the findings.

These examples follow CSIA’s Level 1 and Level 2 procedures. Not every home has the same parts, and not every part can be seen during every inspection.

Is inspection the same as cleaning?

No. Inspection checks the chimney’s condition. Cleaning, or sweeping, removes soot, creosote, and other deposits or obstructions. They often happen during the same visit, but one is not automatically included with the other.

The inspector may recommend cleaning, or need the chimney cleaned to see the liner properly. A clean chimney can still have damage that needs attention.

Ask whether the quote includes both services. Our chimney cleaning and sweeping guide explains what to ask about the cleaning itself.

Buying a home: is the home inspection enough?

Do not assume your home inspection included a close look inside the chimney. Check what was actually included in the agreement and report.

For example, ASHI’s home-inspection standard includes fireplaces and chimneys, but does not require examining interiors that are not readily accessible, assessing draft, or moving stoves and inserts. Some home inspectors offer more detailed chimney services; ask whether yours did.

Was the inside of the flue examined with imaging?
Which parts of the chimney were checked, and which were left out?
Should I arrange a separate Level 2 inspection for this purchase?

A home purchase or sale is a common reason for Level 2. Discuss it early enough to review the findings and any need for more investigation during the transaction. If your home inspector also offers this service, confirm it was included. Use the home-buying chimney inspection guide for the full pre-closing checklist.

What if the inspector finds a problem?

Ask them to show you the problem, explain what it means, and tell you whether you should stop using the fireplace or appliance. A repair estimate alone is not an explanation of the inspection findings.

Buildup or a blockage may need cleaning, followed by another look at areas that were hard to see.
A damaged liner may need closer examination or liner repair or replacement.
Damaged brick or mortar may call for masonry repair. Water entry may need leak investigation before anyone chooses a repair.
A damaged cap, fireplace part, or appliance connection may need its own repair.
A hidden concern that remains unresolved may need Level 3 access.

Ask for written findings that identify what was checked, what could not be checked, and the recommended next steps, with photos or video where provided. The inspector should separate damage they saw from causes they only suspect.

If substantial repairs are recommended and the explanation is unclear, another qualified professional can review the findings. Confirm what report and images you will receive before booking.

What can an inspection miss?

An inspection cannot guarantee that every defect has been found. The level, access, and visibility limit what the inspector can assess. Parts behind a liner or wall may remain hidden.

The CSIA inspection procedures acknowledge these limits. If something could not be checked, ask: “Does that stop you from telling me whether I can keep using the system?”

An unseen area is not proof that something is wrong, but it is not proof that everything is sound either. Ask what, if anything, needs another look.

What should you ask before booking?

Tell the company what fireplace or stove you have, what has changed, and what concerns you. Share previous inspection or repair reports if you have them.

Which inspection level do I need, and why?
Will you use a camera or other internal imaging?
Which chimneys, flues, and appliances are included?
Are there areas you may not be able to reach? How will you record that?
Will I get written findings, photos, or video?
If you find a problem, will you explain whether I can keep using the system and what needs to happen next?
Is cleaning included or charged separately?
What experience and training do you have with my type of chimney and appliance?

Get the agreed work in writing so you can compare quotes on what is included, not just the price.

General information, not an inspection or diagnosis. Confirm your situation with a qualified professional.

Find professionals near you

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