Chimney Inspection

An annual inspection of your chimney and connected systems, along with regular maintenance, can ensure that homeowners:

  • Avoid dangerous and costly home fires
  • Prevent carbon monoxide build-up inside the home
  • Keep birds and wildlife from establishing a permanent residence
  • Identify small problems before they become costly chimney repairs
We’re Central Texas’ Trusted Chimney Inspectors
We’ve been inspecting chimneys for 25+ years with hundreds of happy customers.
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Whether it’s a routine annual chimney inspection, part of a real estate transaction, or you suspect something may be seriously wrong with your chimney, make sure you choose a trained and experienced chimney expert to thoroughly examine your chimney, fireplace, and venting system to make sure all parts and components are working properly.


How Often Should You Get Your Chimney Inspected?

Both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommend that you have your chimney inspected yearly. In addition to an annual examination, there are other circumstances when these organizations recommend having your chimney inspected by a trained professional:

  • If you suspect an issue with safety, efficiency, or functionality
  • When you’ve installed a new appliance
  • When you sell or transfer a home
  • If you notice any water leaking in the house by the chimney
  • When you’ve had your flue repaired or relined
  • If you’ve had a change in fuel or appliance type
  • If you’ve had a chimney fire
  • In the event of extreme weather

At Capitol Chimney, we understand that our customers are very busy people and that a chimney inspection may not be at the top of your “to-do” list right now. That’s okay, we’re happy to help remind you.


What Happens During a Chimney Inspection?

When performing chimney inspections, Capitol Chimney follows the standards of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), which specializes in preventing chimney fires, dryer fires, and other home heating disasters. The CSIA has specified the following three levels of chimney inspections:

  • Level 1 – No Changes or Problems Have Occurred 
    We recommend Level 1 inspections for chimneys under continued service that operate under the same conditions, with the continued use of the same appliance. In these instances, we’ll check the chimney and flue for basic structural soundness and examine the appliance installation and connections. We’ll also verify that your chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits.
  • Level 2 – System Changes, Suspected Issues, or Real Estate Sales
    These types of inspections are typically warranted if you suspect an issue with your system, if there has been an event that may have caused damage, or if you have made any changes to the system since your last inspection. Additionally, a Level 2 inspection is required for most real estate transactions. In these situations, we’ll thoroughly check all accessible parts of the chimney system, and we’ll examine the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners within the chimney for issues.
  • Level 3 – Hidden Hazards That Require Special Tools
    Whenever there is a suspected safety issue in a part of your system that cannot be viewed during a Level 1 or 2 inspection, a Level 3 inspection is recommended. These can be much more invasive and could require removing certain system components (chimney crown, interior chimney wall, etc.) where necessary. We work closely with our customers during these inspections to discuss all work thoroughly before we begin, so there are no surprises.

Regardless of the level of inspection, we will always be sure to leave your house clean and safe for you. We will vacuum up any loosened debris and dispose of any plastic cloths we may have laid out. If furniture has been rearranged and covered, we will not leave until everything is back in order.

Austin Chimney Inspection Experts

Our Satisfaction Guarantee

We want to exceed our customers’ expectations and provide high-quality service every time. If you don’t feel we have delivered what we promised, we want to make things right. Within a 12-month period, if you experience any problem related to your chimney cleaning or inspection, just get in touch with us, and we’ll work to address your concerns at no additional cost.

Pricing and Estimates

We want to be completely upfront and transparent about our pricing and fees. We can give you an estimate over the phone in some specific cases. However, since most situations are unique, we’ll usually need an in-person inspection to ensure we have the information needed for an accurate estimate.

Once we get your approval, we’ll schedule your service call as soon as possible. As you might expect, we are busiest during colder seasons, so you’ll have an easier time getting an appointment in the warmer months.


Why Capitol Chimney for Chimney Inspections?

We realize that you have several choices when selecting a chimney inspection company. First and foremost, please choose a company that employs experienced professionals and provides them with the tools and ongoing training to ensure your family’s safety. Here are some reasons why we think Capitol Chimney deserves your consideration:

  • We know what we’re doing—we have 25+ years of experience inspecting all types of chimneys in the Central Texas area, and we have the specialized tools and training to get the job done right and ensure your family’s safety.
  • We respect your time and property—we show up when we say we will and leave your house looking like we were never even there (or better).
  • We’re a safety-first company—chimney inspections are all about identifying safety issues and addressing them in the best possible way to ensure you have “peace of mind” when using your fireplace.  That’s what we’re all about.
  • We’re from here—after working in Central Texas for multiple decades, we fully understand the construction, wildlife, wood, and weather issues that can impact the safe operation of your chimney now and down the road.
  • We’re not happy unless you’re happy—we’ve built our business on our customers’ kind words and referrals, so we do everything we can to make sure our customers are happy.

Chimney Inspection FAQs

A: A safety check at least once a year is an absolute must for homes with chimneys. Even if your chimney appears to be functioning fine, you could still have deposits of dangerous byproducts or wildlife nests clogging your chimney. We recommend an inspection before the cold season starts because we know how excited our customers are to start enjoying their fireplace with their families. If we find that your chimney needs a good sweep or some repairs, we can do so in the fall so that you are all ready for winter.
A: Most inspections take around an hour, depending on the layout of the home and whether there is one story or two. We do our best to get in and out as quickly as possible, but we also do not rush through our inspection process. Inspections are done with safety in mind, so they do take some time.
A: The cost for a chimney inspection can vary quite a bit, based on several construction factors. If you give us a call, we can collect the information needed to provide you with an idea of how much the inspection will cost, before you decide. 

Areas We Serve

We provide chimney inspection services to the majority of Central Texas from our two area locations:

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