Flashing
The step and counter flashing where the chimney meets the roof is checked for gaps and lifted edges since it is a common leak point.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Inspection Severn, MD
A Severn chimney sweep can inspect your chimney from the firebox to the cap, from a basic annual look to a camera scan of the full flue. One call to (443) 899-3081 reaches a chimney sweep near you.
A chimney can look fine from the yard and still have serious problems inside. Flue tiles crack from heat and age, mortar joints erode, water gets in at the crown and flashing, and nests or debris block the flue. Those flaws can let heat reach nearby framing or push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year. Inspections come in three levels, each one going deeper than the last. A chimney that has not changed gets a basic look, but a home sale, a relining or a chimney fire calls for a camera scan and a closer check.
Many chimney inspection calls in Severn also turn up a need for chimney cleaning or chimney repair.
Dealing with this in Severn, MD right now? Call (443) 899-3081 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a chimney inspection
A good inspection works through the whole system and ends with a clear explanation.
Gather the history
Questions about fuel, use, past repairs and recent problems come first which tells the technician where to focus.
Interior check
The technician examines the firebox, damper operation and the walls above it for cracks, gaps, rust and creosote.
Camera inspection
A camera on a flexible rod shows the inside of the liner, joint by joint and the recording can be reviewed with you.
Check the exterior
On the outside, the brick, mortar joints, crown, cap and flashing get a close look for cracks, spalling and gaps that let water in.
Attic check
Accessible areas around the chimney are checked for heat damage, leaks and proper clearance to combustibles to make sure heat is not reaching the structure.
Review the findings
The technician walks through each problem, how serious it is and what fixes it so you can decide on repairs with the facts in hand.
What is included
Parts checked during an inspection
Chimney crown
The concrete or mortar slab on top is checked for cracks and poor slope along with the cap and its screen.
Firebox walls
The firebox walls and floor are checked for loose brick, open joints and cracked panels including the hearth and the damper above it.
Masonry
Brick, stone and mortar joints are checked for spalling, cracks and erosion so small repairs happen before big ones are needed.
Flue liner
Clay tile, metal and cast liners are checked for cracks, gaps, missing mortar and heavy creosote since a damaged liner lets heat reach the house.
Related service
Level 1 Chimney Inspection Severn, MD
A level 1 inspection is the basic annual check for a chimney that is being used the same way it has been, with no changes and no known problems. It covers the parts that can be reached without removing anything, such as the firebox, damper, visible flue and the exterior.
For most Severn homes that burn the same way every year, a level 1 inspection paired with a cleaning is all that is needed. If the technician sees something that needs a closer look, the inspection can be stepped up to level 2.
Related service
Level 2 Chimney Inspection Severn, MD
Level 2 adds a camera scan of the full flue and a check of accessible attics, basements and crawl spaces to everything in a level 1. It applies when something has changed, like a new stove or insert, a switch in fuel or a relining, and when the home is sold. An operating problem or an event like a chimney fire, a lightning strike or storm damage also calls for level 2.
Home buyers in Severn benefit most from a level 2 inspection, since a general home inspection rarely looks inside the flue. Nothing is torn out, but the camera lets you see the flue from the inside.
Related service
Level 3 Chimney Inspection Severn, MD
The level 3 inspection includes everything in levels 1 and 2 and adds access to concealed parts of the chimney. It may involve opening a wall, removing a crown or taking apart part of the chimney to reach concealed areas. It is never the starting point, only the next step when the evidence justifies it.
A level 3 might follow a chimney fire that damaged parts hidden inside walls, or a camera scan that shows something needing a closer look.
Local help
Chimney Inspection Near Me
Chimneys in Severn see a mix of heat from inside and weather from outside. Homes in Severn and places like Gambrills, Jessup, Odenton and Elkridge range from older brick chimneys to newer factory-built fireplaces, and each type has its own weak points that a yearly inspection catches early.
Need chimney inspection around Severn? Call (443) 899-3081 for a Severn chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Severn, MD schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Severn
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Severn and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Inspection questions
How often should a chimney be inspected?
A yearly inspection is the standard set by NFPA 211. Even a chimney you seldom use should be checked, because nests, leaks and weather do their damage whether or not you burn.
Can I use my fireplace before the inspection?
The answer rests on what you know about the chimney. Signs of a past chimney fire, water damage, heavy smoke or a blockage are all reasons to hold off until it is checked. A chimney inspected in the last year with no new problems is a much lower risk than one with an unknown history.
What is the difference between level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
Each level builds on the one before, and level 1 is the routine yearly check. Level 2 adds a camera scan of the flue and a look at accessible attics and basements, and it is called for after a change in the system, a home sale or a chimney fire. Level 3 is reserved for suspected hidden damage and may mean removing part of a wall or the chimney.
Why do sweeps use a camera to inspect the flue?
Video scanning lets the technician see the full length of the liner, which a flashlight from the firebox cannot reach. Cracks, gaps, deposits and anything blocking the flue show up on the screen.
Does a home inspection include the chimney?
A general home inspection normally covers what is visible from the roof and the firebox, without looking inside the full flue. A level 2 chimney inspection with a camera scan is the way to see the liner itself.
More questions? Call (443) 899-3081
Other services that may help
Chimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn moreChimney Liner Repair
Fixing gaps, cracks and missing mortar inside the flue liner after a camera scan shows where the damage is.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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(443) 899-3081
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