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Check the inside of your flue with a Chim-Scan video chimney inspection!

When you light a fire in your fireplace, you want to be confident that your chimney is clean, sound and ready to protect your home from the heat and smoke from your fireplace. It can be difficult to do that without seeing inside your chimney. With Your Chimney Sweep’s Chim-Scan video inspection technology, we can give you a close-up look of your chimney’s flue.

When do you need the use of video technology for a chimney inspection?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends video inspections when a Level 2 or Level 3 chimney inspection is called for.

Level 2 inspections are recommended when:

• A property transfers ownership.
• When a building or chimney suffers damage from a fire, storm or earthquake.
• A heating appliance or heating fuel type changes.
• When a chimney flue is relined or changed in some way; or when the fireplace or chimney malfunctions in some way.

In addition to the video chimney scan, a Level 2 inspection includes a visual inspection of all portions of the chimney that can be reached. These include those that must be accessed through wall panels, crawl spaces and attics.

A Level 3 inspection is ordered when serious chimney damage that could pose a significant danger is suspected. In addition to all of the criteria of a Level 2 inspection, a Level 3 inspection can include the dismantling of portions of the chimney as needed to reach portions of the chimney that are believed to be damaged.

How is a Chim-Scan inspection performed?

To perform a video inspection, we insert a specialized Chim-Scan camera, mounted to a pole, up your chimney. The camera provides a live feed of the inside of your chimney flue. This enables us to see any signs of damage, blockages, past chimney fires or chimney leaks. Major benefits of the Chim-Scan inspection is that we can show you any problems within your chimney. Easing your concerns that your chimney is free from debris, damage or structural weaknesses. With the Chim-Scan camera, we also can provide you with documentation of your chimney’s flue. That means you can have pictures or footage of problems within your chimney flue. If there is a small spot that needs to be monitored, we can maintain pictures of videos of the inspection to compare changes in your chimney from year to year.

When does Your Chimney Sweep perform video chimney inspection?

At Your Chimney Sweep, we adhere to the CSIA’s recommendations for chimney inspections in all cases. However, we do go above and beyond these recommendations by providing inspections with Chim-Scan technology of all open fireplaces. This means you can be confident you are getting a thorough inspection when you hire the professionals at Your Chimney Sweep.

If your chimney is due for its annual inspection, if you are purchasing a new home with a chimney or if you suspect your chimney has suffered damage, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule your Chim-Scan inspection today!

Choosing a stainless steel chimney liner

If you have been told you need a new chimney liner, you could be left feeling a little overwhelmed. It sounds like a big job, but a chimney liner is crucial for keeping your home safe from the dangers of a chimney liner. Fortunately, when it comes to chimney liners, there’s a safe, durable and easy-to-install option that’s right for nearly ever chimney: the stainless steel chimney liner.

Why you might need a new chimney liner

It can be hard to justify relining your chimney. After all, the liner is out of site and out of mind. A chimney liner, however, is what protects your home from the heat and flames of your fireplace. Without it, heat and smoke can damage your home’s structure or, even worse, spark a home fire. Following a chimney inspection, your chimney sweep may tell you that your chimney needs a new liner because the existing liner is cracked or damaged. In some cases, especially old homes, the liner is missing altogether. A new liner also may be recommended if the existing chimney liner is improperly sized for your heating appliance or incompatible with your fireplace’s fuel type.

Why you should choose a stainless steel chimney liner

If you have been told your chimney liner needs to be replaced, you should be talking to your chimney sweep about installing a stainless steel chimney liner. In nearly every case, a stainless steel chimney liner is a good and viable option for chimney relining. There are several reasons stainless steel chimney liners are the industry gold standards.

• Versatility. Stainless steel chimney liners work for virtually every chimney relining project. They work with all types of heating fuels, including gas, wood, pellet and oil. They come in all sizes, and can be flexible or rigid, which means a stainless steel chimney liner can be found to fit any chimney shape or size.
• Ease of installation. Stainless steel chimney liners are easy to install into an existing chimney. Where replacing a tile liner can involve dismantling and rebuilding a chimney, a stainless steel liner can be easily inserted into most existing chimneys.
• Durability. Your new stainless steel chimney liner will last for decades. They are rust resistant, so they won’t degrade because of exposure to moisture or the corrosive byproducts of a fireplace. They also can contain the extreme heat of a chimney fire, which keeps your home safer should your chimney ignite.

Why you should call Your Chimney Sweep if you need a new liner

If you are in need of a new chimney liner, or if you are due for a chimney sweeping and inspection, call Your Chimney Sweep to schedule an appointment today! Our chimney experts understand the importance of a durable, high-quality chimney liner That’s why we install top-of-the-line stainless steel chimney liners from Ventinox and HomeSaver. Our certified chimney technicians can recommend the right liner for your chimney and have your chimney relined and ready for this winter’s fires.