Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial commitments that many of us will make in our lifetimes. Most home buyers elect to have a home inspector investigate the property for defects before finalizing the purchase. However, many people do not realize that most home inspectors do not inspect the chimney flue liners for defects. Additionally, many are not familiar with code compliance issues for fireplace inserts and freestanding wood burning stoves. Finally, few, if any, have the proper video inspection equipment that is necessary for close examination of the flue liner. In fact, very few chimney sweeps in the Rochester area use video inspection equipment when performing an inspection for a home buyer.
NFPA 211, 14.5.1 states: A Level II inspection shall be conducted under the following circumstances: (3) Upon sale or transfer of property. A Level II inspection is defined by the NFPA as: An examination of accessible areas of all chimney flues and the internal surfaces of all flue liners incorporated within the chimney with video scanning equipment or other means used as necessary to observe those areas(14.5.2.3).
When I conduct real estate chimney inspections, I use the Chim Scan video system. This is a high tech system that allows me to examine the interior of a chimney liner from top to bottom. The Chim Scan video camera allows me to view the liner from only inches away as I move it up the flue from the fireplace opening. This system also allows me to take digital still photographs of the liner which are then uploaded into my reports. These reports are very effective tools that can be utilized by the home buyer in order to gain concessions from the seller for any defects that may exist. Bear in mind that repair costs for defective clay tile chimney liners average in the neighborhood of $2500 on up. This is a very costly repair that should be factored in by a home buyer before finalizing the purchase.
In addition to the flue liner inspection, I also check the chimney top(crown), mortar joints, brickwork, firebox, ash pit, and damper operation. If the home has a fireplace insert or free standing stove, I check for proper clearances and code compliance. I also spend time reviewing the operation of the fireplace, insert, or wood stove with the homebuyer. My average inspection time ussually runs between 1 and 1&1/2 hours. I also generate a multi-page report that I guarantee will be completed and delivered electronically within 24 hours.
Please follow this link to view a sample real estate inspection report.
