How to Get a Chimney Inspected Before the First Fire

The first cold night arrives, the fireplace sat unused since spring, and it looks fine from the hearth. What you cannot see from the hearth is the flue: creosote left from last winter, a nest built over the summer, or a crack in the liner. The national fire standard calls for an inspection every year, and the time to book it is before the first fire, not after the smoke comes back into the room.

Book the inspection before the weather turns

NFPA 211, the standard for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents, says they should be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. The U.S. Fire Administration gives the same advice for homeowners: have the chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional. Sweeps book up once the first cold spell hits, so call now and do not light a fire until the visit is done.

Find a certified sweep and check the credential

Open the CSIA Find a Certified Pro search and enter your city, state, or ZIP code and a search radius. The results list people who hold CSIA credentials such as Certified Chimney Sweep. If a company calls you first or advertises a certification, look the name up here before you let anyone on the roof.

Ask for the right inspection level

Tell the sweep which situation you are in, because it decides the level of inspection:

• Level I fits a chimney whose parts are readily accessible and that you plan to keep using the same way.
• Level II applies when the home was just sold or transferred, after a chimney fire, malfunction, or other event likely to have caused damage, and when you add a new heating appliance or switch fuel types.
• Level III comes only when a Level I or II inspection points to a hidden hazard that cannot be checked without opening concealed areas.

Ask for the findings in writing, with photos of anything that needs repair, before agreeing to repair work.

Set up the fireplace for the season

Once the chimney is cleared, keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from the fireplace or wood stove. Put a glass or metal screen in front of the opening to stop sparks. Do not burn paper, and put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave the house.

Dispose of ashes outside in a metal can

Let ashes cool, then put them in a metal container with a lid and set it outside at least 10 feet from the house. Never tip them into the household trash can.

If you just bought the house. A sale or transfer is one of the triggers for a Level II inspection, so ask for that level even if the previous owner says the chimney was swept last year.

If you are adding a wood stove or insert. A new appliance or a change in fuel also calls for Level II. Book the inspection as part of the installation, not after.

Sources. CSIA homeowner resources and the NFPA 211 annual inspection rule, CSIA Find a Certified Pro, CSIA on inspection levels, U.S. Fire Administration heating fire safety, U.S. Fire Administration fireplace and wood stove safety card.