Does your vision of Christmas morning include a crackling hearth to cozy up next to? This seems to be the ideal picture for most homeowners, which is why now is the time to set up your annual chimney inspection if you have yet to do so. This maintenance ensures you stay as safe as possible, and it guarantees more efficiency from your system, too. If you want to get your schedule on the books with our CSIA certified team, please reach out today!

holiday chimney graphicAvoiding House Fires, Chimney Damage, Carbon Monoxide Exposure & More

What hazards might one face if they neglect this recommended care? Let’s start with chimney fires. If you have too much creosote in your flue, there’s a good chance it will ignite and send flames throughout your masonry. Your brickwork and mortar weren’t designed to handle this intense heat, so you’ll be looking at a long list of costly and time-consuming repairs, all of which must be addressed before lighting any fires.

The scariest part about chimney fires is their tendency to occur slowly and quietly. This means you could have experienced one without even knowing it! If you put your system to use after an event of this nature, you’ll likely have smoke and other fumes enter your home, and it will create easy pathways for flames and heat to enter, too – not good.

Another threat comes in the form of water damage. When your masonry and metal components are left vulnerable, you could face a lot of decay, rot, and deterioration. Your brickwork is very absorbent, so it can easily soak in excess moisture and break down, and here in Southern Maryland, this will surely lead to the freeze/thaw process, which puts a lot of extra strain and pressure on your structure, as a whole.

We’re trained to spot and repair any water-related issues, and we can talk to you about preventative maintenance (such as waterproofing, chimney installation, flashing repair, and more), too, giving you the ability to rest easier when lighting any fires in the months ahead.

All in all, a damaged or weakened structure will leave you more prone to have carbon monoxide leak into your home, and you could be left experiencing structural damage due to fires or chimney collapses. It’s not worth putting your home and family at risk when a simple inspection is just a phone call away. Reach out now!

All About The Three Levels Of Inspections

So, what can you expect from your sweep once they arrive? Well, it depends on the level of inspection you are requiring. There are three levels of chimney inspections, and our team of experts is qualified to perform them all! The first and most basic inspection is a level one. If you haven’t made any major changes to your appliance recently and if you regularly invest in yearly inspections and maintenance, this should be all you require.

In a level one inspection, the sweep will check all readily accessible parts of your chimney. They’ll look for any obvious damages, creosote accumulation, and obstructions. If you system is free and clear, you’ll be good to light fires right away!

A level two inspection requires the use of camera equipment to get a thorough overview. The technician will snake video equipment up the flue to ensure every nook and cranny can be viewed and assessed. When are these required? Well, if you have recently bought or sold property, then scheduling one is a must! They are also recommended after experiencing a chimney fire, natural disaster (such as a flood, tornado, earthquake, etc.), change in fuel type, or major repair or restoration work.

Finally, there are level three inspections, which are less common, but sometimes necessary. If you are experiencing complications with your chimney or fireplace, and a level one or two inspection does not reveal the issue, we may need to remove or demo certain areas to find the source of the problem.

Whatever type of inspection you require, our CSIA and NFI certified team is equipped and ready to handle it. Not sure where you stand? Let us look things over, and we can determine the best route to take from there. We’ll always have you covered, no matter what, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us now.

About Our Qualifications

So, what makes us the best choice for all of your chimney-related needs? First is our dedication to training and education. We push ourselves to be the very best by earning certifications with the CSIA, the NFI, and the IRC, and we staff CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians, too.

Along with this, we are members of the NCSG, which guarantees we stay informed and up-to-date on any new technologies or advancements. All of these organizations contribute a significant amount of knowledge to the industry, and you can bet that having access to them makes us better than ever.

On top of all this, we have been family-owned and operated since our start back in 1978, so we have the experience to handle it all. There isn’t much we haven’t seen! Join our long list of satisfied customers by scheduling an appointment with us now.