How to Prepare Your Home for a Chimney Visit

Why preparation helps

CSIA’s inspection procedures separate what is readily accessible (reachable quickly, without tools, panels or ladders) from what is accessible with some effort, such as moving a panel or using a ladder. Clear access means the technician can see and reach more of the system. Anything that could not be reached is supposed to be recorded in the report, so a blocked area can mean a less complete inspection. See what a cleaning visit includes.

A simple checklist

Before the day

• Stop using the fireplace or stove ahead of time. Let it go fully cold and remove any previous ash only if it is completely cool, or leave it for the technician to handle. Do not light a fire on the morning of the visit.
• Write down what you have noticed. Smoke smells, smoke coming into the room, noises in the flue, water stains, or anything you saw at the top of the chimney. Note when it happens (for example, after rain).
• Find the paperwork. If you have an appliance manual, past inspection reports or repair invoices, set them aside. CSIA’s Level 2 procedure for factory-built fireplaces includes asking for the installation manual, or noting that it is unavailable.
• Tell us what is connected. Fireplace, insert, stove, gas logs, or a furnace or boiler sharing the flue. This affects what is checked.

On the day: inside

• Clear the hearth area. Move furniture, rugs, decor, firewood and toys away from the fireplace so there is room to work.
• Take down or remove screens and decorations in front of the firebox if you can do so easily. Leave anything fixed or heavy for the technician.
• Clear a path. From the entrance to the fireplace, and to the basement, attic or crawl space if it needs to be accessed. CSIA’s Level 2 procedure includes accessible attics, basements and crawl spaces.
• Know where the clean-out is. Some masonry chimneys have a clean-out door at the base. Keep that area reachable.
• Secure pets and children. Keep them in another room. Open doors and tools are a trip hazard, and soot is best kept off paws.
• Cover or move valuables near the hearth. Ask the technician how the area will be protected.

On the day: outside

• Clear access to the house and the chimney’s location. Move cars from the driveway or the area near the house if a ladder may be needed, and secure gates.
• Do not go on the roof. Roof inspection is for the professional. If you want to point something out, take photos from the ground.

Questions to have ready

• Which inspection level is being done, and why? See the three inspection levels.
• Will photos or a written report be provided?
• What happens if something is found that needs repair?
• When is the next visit due? See how often to inspect and clean.

If you are buying or selling

CSIA lists a property sale or transfer as a reason for a Level 2 inspection. If a visit is part of a sale, make sure the technician has access to every part of the system. See chimney inspection when buying or selling a home.

What not to do before a visit

Do not use a chemical cleaning product or cleaning log in the days before, hoping to make the chimney “ready.” CSIA says chemical cleaners are not a substitute for mechanical cleaning and inspection. See cleaning logs vs professional cleaning. And if you see signs the fireplace should not be used, do not use it while you wait; see signs to stop using your fireplace.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

Request a visit or call (862) 225-6529. We are a registered (NJ HIC #13VH14312300) and insured New Jersey home improvement contractor.