What type of chimney inspection do I need for my home?

The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, recognizes three different levels of chimney inspections in their NFPA 211 code.

A Level I inspection is for chimney or flue systems that have already been installed and that have not undergone changes since the last inspection. These are typical annual inspections performed year-to-year by qualified chimney sweeps. Level I inspections are also performed at the time of replacement of similar type appliances with similar specifications. They are not particularly thorough as they only require visualization of the readily accessible portions of the chimney and connected appliances.

A Level II inspection is more comprehensive. This level of inspection is necessary when changing (adding or removing) a heating appliance, before relining, when the property transfers, or after some kind of fire or other type of damage to the premises (for example, an earthquake). This type of inspection will also verify that you have the appropriate clearances between your heating system and any potentially combustible materials. It also includes examining the chimney from accessible attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Level II inspections typically include video examination of the interior of the chimney.

Finally, a Level III inspection is the most comprehensive chimney inspection available. This type of inspection includes all of the previous points with the addition of concealed areas of the chimney. This type of inspection may use sophisticated video inspection equipment and may even require the modification or removal of building components (such as walls), if necessary, to visualize an area not accessible by other means. A Level III inspection is typically only performed if a lower level inspection is deemed inappropriate.