Video Scans and Chimney Inspections

Do you know if your chimney system is healthy?

Visually assessing the outside of your chimney regularly for signs of water or weather damage is smart. Unfortunately, many chimney issues only become obvious from the outside once the internal damage is significant. In some cases, you may not be able to see the damage at all if the venting system for your heating appliance runs through the interior of your home. This is why both the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that all heating appliances with a venting system—including furnaces, fireplaces and stoves that burn gas, wood, or pellets—have an annual, professional inspection to prevent house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

When a CSIA-certified chimney specialist inspects the inside of the chimney or venting system he/she will look for creosote buildup, animal infestation, and damage. Catching any one of these problems early can save you hundreds of dollars in property damage or protect the safety of you and loved ones from personal injury and even death. Along with preventing the risks of a house fire, a chimney inspection can also prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by removing chimney obstructions or repairing gas fireplace or stove components that have worn out.

Even if you rarely use your fireplace, an annual chimney inspection is a wise investment. Extreme weather can damage your chimney system and leave you with a leaking chimney that is the perfect environment for toxic mold to grow in. Or, it could cause expensive water damage to the structural beams, insulation and drywall around the chimney.

We encourage anyone buying a home in the Richmond area to have the chimney or venting system of the house’s fireplace or stove inspected before the final sale. Accepting the chimney “as is” could leave you footing a large repair bill or put your family at risk. Investing in a thorough inspection by a CSIA-certified chimney technician will eliminate the risk of unwelcome surprises in the future.

What are video scan inspections?

Video scans are a valuable tool that many professional chimney sweeps use to assess the healthy of a chimney system during an inspection. With the use of specialized video equipment, a CSIA-certified chimney technician can scan every inch of the chimney system’s interior including parts that are impossible to reach manually.

During the video inspection, a camera is either lowered down the chimney or pushed up through it to scan the full length of the chimney. The footage can be viewed on a tablet, iPad or TV monitor. You can watch the footage along with the technician. Afterward, you will receive a copy of the footage and a written report. If you need to file a claim with your insurance company after a chimney fire or severe weather event, you will appreciate having both the footage and written report as evidence.

The best times to schedule a chimney inspection:

– before the purchase of a new home is finalized

– after a severe weather event

– at the beginning of spring or end of fireplace season

Hiring a chimney service that you can trust is as important as scheduling the inspection. Chimney Saver Solutions is the most respected full-service chimney company in the Richmond area because of our commitment to protecting the safety of homeowners from home heating appliance risks. All of our technicians have personally been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and our company has been certified by the National Fireplace Institute, and the Fireplace Investigation Research and Education Service. When you hire us, you can trust that your inspection will be completed in accordance with the highest standards set by the National Fire Protection Association.

If you need an inspection, set up an appointment online today! We serve residents throughout Richmond, VA and the surrounding area.