Most Chimney Problems Hide Where You Cannot See Them
From your living room, a chimney is a dark hole above the firebox. You cannot see the flue tiles, the smoke chamber or the crown on the roof. That is where the trouble starts.
A cracked flue tile lets heat reach the wood framing of your house. A gap in the crown lets rain soak into the brick. A bird nest blocks the flue and pushes smoke and carbon monoxide back into the room. None of it is visible until someone looks with a light and a camera.
Dallas Chimney Care provides chimney inspection in Dallas, TX for homeowners, home buyers and sellers. We show you the inside of your own chimney, tell you what matters now and what can wait, and put the price in writing.
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Chimney Inspections
The National Fire Protection Association sets three levels of chimney inspection in its standard, NFPA 211. Here is what each one means for a Dallas home.
Level 1 chimney inspection
This is the yearly checkup. We inspect the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and the parts of the flue and chimney we can reach, inside and outside. It is the right inspection when you use the fireplace the same way you always have and nothing has changed.
Level 2 chimney inspection
A level 2 inspection adds a camera scan of the whole flue, plus a look at the attic, crawl space and other areas around the chimney. You need a level 2 inspection:
- When you buy or sell a home
- After a chimney fire
- After a big storm, hail or foundation movement
- When you change the fireplace, such as adding gas logs, an insert or a new liner
Level 3 chimney inspection
A level 3 inspection means opening part of the chimney or the wall around it to reach a hidden problem. It is rare, and we only recommend it when a level 2 inspection shows a serious hazard that cannot be checked any other way.
Chimney Inspections for Dallas Home Sales
If you are buying a house in Dallas, your option period is short. A general home inspector will note the fireplace and suggest a chimney specialist. That is where we come in.
We offer same-day and next-day appointments, so the fireplace inspection fits inside your option period. You get a photo report you can send to your agent, with a written repair price you can use when you negotiate. Sellers call us too, to find and fix problems before the house is listed.
What We Check During a Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspector from Dallas Chimney Care works from the firebox to the top of the stack:
- Firebox and hearth. Cracked firebrick, gaps in the mortar and damaged panels in prefab fireplaces.
- Damper. Does it open, close and seal?
- Smoke chamber. Gaps and rough surfaces where creosote collects.
- Flue liner. Cracked tiles, missing mortar and creosote buildup, seen on camera.
- Chimney cap and crown. Rust, cracks and missing pieces that let water and animals in.
- Flashing. The seal between chimney and roof, the most common source of leaks.
- Brick and mortar. Cracks from heat, hail and the clay soil that moves under Dallas homes.
What Happens After the Inspection
You get the photos and a plain explanation. If the chimney is in good shape, we tell you so, and you are done until next year. If it needs cleaning, we can do the chimney sweep during the same visit.
If something needs repair, you get a written price before any work starts. Our team handles chimney repair, liner installation and crown repair, so you do not have to find a second company. Estimates are free, and our work comes with a 5-year workmanship warranty.
Dallas Chimney Care is a small local chimney sweep company in Dallas. Our owner spent 20 years as a chimney technician and is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
Who Needs a Professional Chimney Inspection?
Every homeowner with a fireplace and chimney, including a gas fireplace, should have it checked once a year. Regular chimney maintenance is how you protect your home from the two big risks: chimney fires and chimney leaks. A flue coated with creosote is a fire hazard, and a small leak today is a masonry repair next year.
We are a local company serving Dallas and the wider DFW area, for residential and commercial properties. If the inspection shows the flue should be cleaned, our chimney sweep services can have your chimney cleaned during the same visit. We also handle leak repair, fireplace repair and dryer vent cleaning, so one call covers the whole house.