Our Company Blog

Time to Schedule a Chimney Inspection

Although it seems as though the new year has just begun, it’s already time to rip one page off the calendar and look to the Valentine’s Day holiday! Who can believe that we’re already a month into 2019? It seems as though we were just celebrating the new year, and now it’s time to break out the chocolate and roses and celebrate those you hold nearest to your heart. There’s nothing more romantic than an elegant dinner for two in front of a crackling fire. If you have a family, how about a special meal followed by roasting marshmallows over the snapping flames in your fireplace? There are so many special ways to celebrate and make precious memories! The quickly approaching holiday is just another reminder of how time flies, and that it’s never too early to schedule your annual chimney inspection! Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc is excited to get you on the calendar so that you can have your chimney cleaned early in the spring and get it crossed off your springtime to-do list.

Why A Yearly Inspection is Important

You may be wondering if it’s really so important to have your chimney inspected annually. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), it definitely is. If you have your chimney inspected annually, it’ll be an easy process for us to come in and look around, make sure that everything is running properly and that there is no obvious damage or obstructions, and get rid of any creosote buildup. If, however, you’ve not been as diligent about having your chimney cleaned annually, we may have to do a more thorough inspection. If this is the case, we’ll use our video equipment to take a closer look at the interior of your chimney, looking for cracks and chips in your flue liner, excessive creosote buildup, or even damage from an undetected chimney fire.

Flue Liner

Your flue liner is an important part of your chimney’s anatomy. It protects your chimney from the corrosive effects of wood smoke and also protects the combustibles in your home from the heat of your fire. If this liner has chips or cracks in it, your home is not as protected as it should be. This is just one of the things that the professionals from Chim Cheroo Chimney Service will be looking for when we come in to do your annual inspection.

Creosote Buildup

We’ll also check out the level of creosote that has built up in your chimney. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) states that as little as an eighth of an inch of creosote on the interior of your chimney is enough to catch a spark and cause a major chimney fire.

Call Today

These are just a few of the things that we’ll be looking for when we come in to do your annual inspection and cleaning. It’s not too early to make an appointment for your annual cleaning, so give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service a call today!

Which Level of Chimney Inspection is Right for You?

When you drive down a gravel road, you’ll want to run your car through the carwash. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need a complete wax job with an undercarriage cleaning. Sometimes your hair needs a good trimming, but that doesn’t mean you need a complete color and permanent wave. Sometimes just the basics are all you’re looking for. The same is true of chimney inspections. If you know that your chimney has been well-maintained and inspected on at least a yearly basis, you just need the basics. But there are some times that you need more than this, some conditions that need more immediate attention. That’s why there are three levels of inspection available for your chimney needs.

Level One

As stated above, there are times when all that’s needed is a basic inspection and cleaning. These inspections are necessary if your chimney was cleaned and inspected within the last year. They are also optimal if the level of creosote is normal and if you’ve had no major events within the last year. Major events include a chimney fire or other damage to your chimney. This is the least expensive option, and will just include an inspection of those parts of your chimney that are easily accessible on the outside of your chimney and accessible on the inside.

Level Two

If you decide that you are going to make some changes to your heating system, you’ll want to have a Level 2 inspection. This includes installing a different type of heating appliance or making a change in the flue lining. A Level 2 inspection is also required if you plan on changing ownership of the building.

A Level 2 inspection will be more in-depth than a Level 1. In a Level 2 inspection, we will do a visual inspection  of parts of your chimney that aren’t readily accessible; we’ll do this using special video equipment. We’ll be able to see any damage to the interior of your chimney that would be difficult to see without this equipment. We won’t need to dig into the actual structure of your chimney by taking off any panels at this stage, however. We will, however, be able to get into basements or crawlspaces or other spaces that are harder to get to.

Level Three

If you have had some sort of structural damage, you will want a Level 3 inspection. At this level, we’ll do all the things that you get in Level 1 and Level 2 inspections. In addition, we also tear down the structure for further examination and repairs.

Call Chim Cheroo today!

No matter which level of chimney inspection you may be looking for, the decision of which chimney sweep company to call doesn’t take much thought…call the best at Chim Cheroo Chimney Service! You’ll get expert advice and quality service when you call us in to take care of your inspection and cleaning needs!