Before the development of central heating, people relied on fireplaces to heat their homes. These days, fireplaces are more of a novelty than an essential feature, but they are still beloved for the coziness they offer during cold winters. However, fireplaces carry some inherent risks, so it’s important to make sure your fireplace and chimney are safe to use.
If you are considering buying a home with a fireplace, we at Rocking T Home Inspections encourage you to schedule a fireplace & chimney inspection before you finalize the deal. In this article, we’ll go over some key information you need to know about these inspections and what they cover.
- Routine Inspection – The first thing you should know is that fireplace & chimney inspections come in different levels of scrutiny. At the most basic level, your fireplace inspector will examine the readily apparent parts of your fireplace and chimney, such as the fireplace structure, the interior and exterior of the chimney, and the level of creosote buildup inside the chimney. We recommend scheduling this kind of inspection every year to make sure your fireplace & chimney remain safe to use.
- Structural Inspection – This type of fireplace & chimney inspection examines the structure in more detail. During a structural inspection, our team will examine not just the fireplace & chimney themselves, but also the ventilation, crawl space, attic, and more. We recommend this type of inspection whenever you are looking to buy a home with a fireplace, or when you have made changes to your existing fireplace & chimney, such as switching to a new type of fuel.