When you use chimney inspection services from Ace Chimney, you will get technicians fully certified by the National Chimney Institute.
We are experts in Level 2 chimney inspections, which is a type of inspection highly recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for specific circumstances: when a new chimney liner or fireplace is installed, or when a home is being bought or sold.
A Level 2 inspection involves both visual and video inspection of your chimney, going above and beyond a Level 1 inspection, which involves checking accessible chimney and fireplace parts by eye and is used primarily for chimney usage that has not and is not expected to change from one year to the next.
Video inspection is a vital part of chimney inspection, allowing our technicians to uncover issues that might be missed by the naked eye. Extensive water damage, chimney liner cracks, flue damage, and tiny areas of deterioration such as storm damage or rust can all be detected and repaired before they become greater issues down the road.
Ace Chimney can also perform Level 3 inspections. These are more heavily involved inspections that result from a chimney fire or other incident that might have damaged the operation of the chimney itself. Such an inspection is performed if problems have not been uncovered in previous levels of inspection and could involve removing parts of the chimney for a more thorough examination.
It’s important to have a chimney inspection Seattle conducted annually, most especially if you have used your fireplace on a regular basis. Both the NFPA and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend annual chimney inspections for safety reasons.
Why is a yearly inspection of your chimney so important? Regular usage of your chimney could lead to soot and creosote buildup, which might block venting and cause health and fire risk issues. Any rain or snow leakage into your chimney could corrode the inside of the chimney, leading to a deterioration of the liner and masonry and causing cracks that allow harmful and potentially deadly gases and carbon monoxide to leak into your home. Algae growth and debris buildup, such as that from animal nests, are also hazardous for the healthy operation of your chimney.
All of these issues can be detected and corrected with an annual chimney inspection. So, for the safety of you and your family, and especially if you enjoy the usage of particularly a wood-burning fireplace during the season, be sure to call Ace Chimney if you are in the Seattle area and schedule your annual chimney inspection today.
