Chimney inspections are a must-have for any homeowner, but they can be particularly difficult and impossible to do by yourself. One way to get the best bang for your buck is by hiring a Level 1 and Level 2 certified chimney inspection company like CSIA.
What is a Level 1 and Level 2 certified inspection?
A Level 1 certified company has made it through the intense training program put together by CSIA, which includes class time and hands-on exercises. The program is a challenging and rigorous one. As a result, the company that has made it through the program will have a higher level of expertise, and their work product will reflect this. CSIA provides the level 1 program certification (and its optional Level 2 counterpart) to companies that it has independently verified to do these inspections properly.
What does a Level 1 and Level 2 certified inspection look like?
The two primary benefits of a level 1 and level 2 certified chimney inspection from a CSIA are as follows:
Increases the likelihood of discovering defects in your chimney, rather than later on when it's more difficult to determine
It helps protect your home in the event of a fire in the future (since it's more likely that you'll notice something in time to protect your family)
So, what exactly do these inspections involve?
The inspection process will begin by looking at the general appearance and structure of your chimney. Inspectors will also take pictures and document the current and previous state of your chimney before an inspector will begin inspecting your chimney from the inside.
The inside of the chimney will be inspected for cracks, damage, corrosion, loose mortar joints, loose caps, missing or damaged bricks or tile, improper joint construction, or pointing in the throat area. From this point on, an inspection process is designed to ferret out any possible deficiencies.
After the inside of your chimney has been inspected, the inspector will move on to the outside of your structure. The inspector will look at the top and sides of your chimney, checking for proper flashing and mortar joints, before moving on to check for any potential structural damage.
The inspector will then move on to the structure's exterior, looking for cracks, damage, or any dangerous signs of wear. Next, the area around the chimney will be checked for fire or water damage before the inspector moves on to inspect the fireplace itself.
The inside of the fireplace will be inspected for any damage or structural defects before the inspector moves on to inspect the fireplace's chimney. The chimney is inspected for deterioration, corrosion, improper mortar joints and/or adhesive, loose mortar joints, and brick damage.
After inspecting the fireplace, the inspector will then inspect the appliance that sits above the fireplace, checking its safety features. This is where a level 1 and level 2 certified company in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cal Duct Cleaning can make a difference. These companies can identify any deficiencies in the venting process, which will protect you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.
If severe damage or hazard exists in the existing chimney system, the inspector will recommend a solution to remedy the problem. The whole process will finish with a written report describing the findings of the inspection.