Cleaning & Inspection
For a change in the system or a property transfer — a closer look, including the concealed flue a Level 1 cannot reach.
Why does a home sale or a system change call for a camera scan of the flue?
A Level 2 inspection exists because the most important part of a chimney — the inside of the flue — is the part you cannot see from the room or the roof. Using a camera, the technician examines the concealed length of the flue for cracks, gaps, deterioration and blockages that a visual check of accessible areas would miss.
It is the appropriate depth whenever the stakes or the uncertainty rise: a property being bought or sold, an appliance being added or changed, a chimney fire, a significant weather or structural event, or a symptom that suggests a hidden defect.
The flue liner is what keeps combustion products inside the chimney and away from the surrounding structure. A crack or gap there is not cosmetic — it changes how the system should be used. But those defects are invisible from the firebox and from the top of the chimney. A camera is the practical way to see them.
This is why a Level 2 is not simply “a more expensive Level 1.” It answers a different question: is the concealed flue sound?
The clearest case is a real-estate transfer. A buyer inheriting a fireplace deserves to know the condition of the flue before closing, which is exactly what a home-buyer inspection provides. A Level 2 is also appropriate after a chimney fire, after a major storm, when a new insert or appliance is installed, or when a symptom — a leak, an odour, a draft problem — hints at something the accessible areas do not explain.
If a Level 1 raised a question it could not answer, moving to a Level 2 is the logical next step rather than guessing.
A camera scan can reveal cracks, gaps, offsets, blockages, buildup and general liner condition along the flue. It gives an honest, documented basis for any recommendation — for example, whether a liner repair or replacement should be discussed.
What it cannot do is predict the future or certify that nothing will ever go wrong. It reports the condition at the time of inspection, which is precisely the information a buyer, seller or homeowner needs to make a decision.
Because a Level 2 is often tied to a decision — a sale, a major repair, a change of appliance — the record it produces has real value. Notes and images of the flue’s condition give you something concrete to weigh, to share with another party, or to compare against later. That is very different from a verbal “it looked fine.”
It is also why the honest limits belong in writing. If a section could not be assessed, saying so protects you from false certainty and tells you exactly what remains open.
We don’t quote prices online because the right scope depends on the system. These are the factors that usually move an estimate:
If the Level 2 is prompted by a chimney fire or a suspected flue defect, do not use the fireplace until the scan is complete and the flue condition is understood.
For a deeper look, have ready:
Whether it is required depends on your transaction, but it is the appropriate depth when a fireplace changes hands, because it documents the concealed flue rather than only the accessible areas.
A Level 1 covers readily accessible areas for routine use. A Level 2 adds a camera scan of the concealed flue and is used for sales, changes and specific concerns.
No. The camera is a diagnostic tool that travels the flue to record its condition. It is a look, not a repair.
We show you what we found and explain the options, which may include a liner repair or replacement. A finding is information for a decision, not an automatic upsell.
Talk to a technician
You don’t need to know the name of every chimney part. Tell us what you notice, whether the system burns wood or gas, and your ZIP code. If a system shows signs it may be unsafe to use, stop using it until it has been evaluated.
Available 24/7 954-408-2734
