Chimney inspection is an important part of chimney maintenance. With time, it’s common for the chimney to get damaged by chemicals, high temperatures, lightning, wide loading, and excursions. By regularly inspecting the chimney you are able to pick the problems before they become a health or safety hazard. There are many types of inspections that you can undertake on your chimney. They include:

Visual chimney inspections

These are the very first inspections done by the chimney contractor. They are aimed at helping the contractor know the areas of the chimney that need attention. The inspections are of two types: class I and class II.  Class I inspections involve the chimney technician using binoculars from the ground and getting a close-up look of the chimney. To keep the chimney in great shape you should undertake these inspections at least once a year.

Class II inspections involve the chimney technician using ropes to get a closer look at both the inside and outside of the chimney. The professional will go up the chimney and if possible get inside the flue. With the current technology, the professional may use a camera to get a better and closer look of the chimney. During the inspection the professional makes detailed notes of the abnormalities, safety hazards and the types of chimney repair required.

Nondestructive chimney inspection

This is a type of inspection that is aimed at identifying the integrity of the chimney without affecting its performance and usefulness. The cool thing with this type of inspection is that it’s cost effective. There are many inspection methods that can be used using this method: laser surveys, ultrasonic testing, hot camera inspection, Schmidt hammer testing and many others. Since specialized tools are used, it’s wise that you hire an experienced professional to inspect your chimney.

Material sampling chimney inspection

If the initial inspection processes shows that the chimney has some defects, the inspection professional may undertake material sampling in order to get a better understanding of the condition of the chimney. The material sampling inspection involves a number of things including: inspection of the concrete sample, inspection of the fiberglass reinforced plastic and any other test that will give the inspection professional a better understanding of the nature of your chimney.

Conclusion

For your chimney to be in great shape for a long time you need to regularly inspect it. For ideal results, ensure that the inspection is done by a certified chimney company.