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WHEN SHOULD YOU RECOMMEND A CHIMNEY INSPECTION?

The short answer is that you should recommend a chimney inspection every time.However, there are a few specific items you can look for that should prompt a chimney inspection:

A missing spark arrester. This is needed for fire safety and may be indicative of other issues. If a proper spark arrester is present it may be seen at the very top of the chimney.

Exterior cracking. This can mean need for minor repairs or possibly a more serious condition could exist.

Gaps where the chimney meets the house means the chimney structure has shifted and may need to be stabilized or it may be damaged.

If the chimney looks short or odd in relation to the house an evaluation is needed. A chimney should rise significantly above the roof & should have straight lines.

THIS CHIMNEY IS QUITE DAMAGED AND LOOKS VISIBLY ODD.

Staining above the fireplace opening can indicate building too large of a fire or indicate that the chimney is improperly venting smoke.

Cracking inside or around the fireplace opening can be a matter of minor patching or can be an indication of earthquake or settlement damage.

If the fireplace has never been used it may not function properly. Deterioration and damage can occur regardless of use.

Has the Chimney been repaired? Many chimney repairs performed from the 1994 Earthquake to the present have not been properly executed and may present a fire hazard.

Newer fireplace systems may be improperly constructed. Only an unbiased inspection can determine whether a new system has been properly constructed. We have found in some cases that even systems that were approved by the city were not functioning properly. A city inspector is not the same thing as a chimney inspector.

THIS IS A BRAND NEW SYSTEM THAT WAS INSPECTED AND THE FIREPLACE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED WHICH VOIDED THE WARRANTY.

A neglected, dirty fireplace system can have hidden fire safety issues that can only be discovered with a video camera inspection.

-John LeBaron, Chimney Check Professionals

Call us for a complete fireplace & Chimney Inspection to protect your cleints and yourself! (818) 951-7550

www.ChimneyCheck.com

Posted by John LeBaron on 02/03/2009 01:31 PM

Comments (11)

chimney, inspection, fireplace, system, stain, structure, crack safety, repair, dirty, spark arrestor

Post is included in group: Southern California Real Estate Forum
Post is included in group: Services for Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: LA Connection
Post is included in group: Ask the Home Inspector
Post is included in group: Ask the Chimney Inspector

11 Comments on WHEN SHOULD YOU RECOMMEND A CHIMNEY INSPECTION?

FEB

Hi John,

Do you inspect chimneys in Whittier?

Hi Bob,

Yes I do inspect chimneys in the Whittier area.

I am a professional chimney inspector that does not perform or Sell repairs

I give an honest and thorough evaluation of the system. My report can be relied upon in that it is based on codes and fire safety standards. You can call my office to schedule an inspection or ask questions (818) 951-7550.

Best,

John LeBaron

Great blog John, I plan on reblogging it. Your items are spot on. I think that a realtor should always recommend a video chimney inspection if there is a chimney on the property because you can't see inside of the flue with the naked eye.

FEB

Thanks Mr. LaRocca

You must havea lot of experience as a General Inspector.

Considering John, who is a very well respected inspector, said the information was great I am very impressed. Keep up the infomative posts.

Hello John,

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that I had a client that used your services approximately 3 years ago in the Lakeview Terrace are. If I remember right it was a condo and you did find tiny pinhole sized holes with your camera. We wouldn't of expected it due to it being a townhome and everything else was well maintained. Good to see you are well.

Thank you for the great information.

Hi Dawn,

Your memory is excellent. Yes, that was about the time that I first discovered those particular holes which are fairly common for that brand, Temco. It is a defect in the product and I alerted the manufacturer (or actually the company that purcahased the name) and they require replacement of the component or repair.

I have seen quite a few of those since them.

Good to hear from you.

John LeBaron

Chimney Check Pros 818-951-7550

FEB

Good post John! Thank you for inviting me into the group.

I think I used you about 1 1/2 years ago on a Burbank property?

AUG

Could you help me. The great thing about a computer notebook is that no matter how much you stuff into it, it doesn't get bigger or heavier. I am from Vanuatu and bad know English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: "These handsome clocks, feature reproductions of original watercolor." Thanks :-D. Affrica.

Hello everyone. Only some people get what they want. Those are the people who show up to get it. I am from Bahamas and learning to speak English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "I not sure exactly why I have this love affair with this simple timekeeping." Thanks :-D. Shelby.

SEP

Sorry. What other dungeon is so dark as one's own heart! What jailer so inexorable as one's self! I am from Malawi and learning to speak English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: "The step of culture insect in henchmen retains from infected role shampoo." THX :-), Telma.

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