What a Fireplace Inspection in Flower Mound Covers
A fireplace inspection from Flower Mound Chimney Sweep Professionals works through the appliance end of the system, the part the flue inspection does not cover in detail.
- Firebox. In a factory-built fireplace, the refractory panels on the back and sides are checked for cracks, crumbling and bowing. In a masonry fireplace, the firebrick and mortar joints are checked for loose brick and open joints.
- Damper. Opens fully, closes fully, seals, and shows no rust holes or warping. Top-sealing dampers are checked from the roof.
- Gas components. On gas log sets and gas fireplaces: burner ports, pilot, thermocouple or thermopile, valve, log placement, ember material, and the gas shutoff. Gas lines themselves are the work of a licensed plumber, as Texas law requires, and we coordinate when one is needed.
- Glass doors and screens. Hinges, latches, gaskets and cracks in the glass.
- Clearances. Distance from the opening to the mantel, side trim and any wood or drywall, and the size of the hearth extension in front.
- Smoke chamber and flue by camera. The flue is scanned from the firebox so the whole system is covered.
- Report. Photos of each part, a plain list of what needs attention, and a written price for any repair.
A fireplace inspection is part of every Level 1 chimney inspection and every sweep. On its own it takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
What We Check by Fireplace Type
Most Flower Mound homes built from the 1990s on have a factory-built fireplace, often with a gas starter or a gas log set added later. Older homes near Grapevine Lake and Lake Lewisville have masonry fireplaces. Each type has its own failure points.
| Fireplace type | What fails most | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Factory-built wood-burning | Cracked refractory panels, rusted damper, worn door gaskets | Panel cracks measured, damper operation, clearances from the manual |
| Masonry wood-burning | Loose firebrick, open mortar joints, throat damper rusted or stuck | Firebrick and joints probed, damper plate and frame, smoke chamber parging |
| Vented gas logs in a wood fireplace | Logs moved off their marks, dirty burner, damper clamp missing | Log placement, burner ports, pilot, damper clamp that keeps it open |
| Vent-free gas logs | Dust on the burner, oxygen sensor fouled, odor | Burner and sensor cleaned, flame pattern, room size against the rating |
| Direct-vent gas fireplace | Soot on glass, pilot outage, failed gasket on the glass | Glass gasket, burner, pilot assembly, vent termination outside |
| Wood stove or insert | Cracked baffle, worn door gasket, stovepipe joints loose | Baffle, gasket with a dollar-bill test, stovepipe and liner connection |
Signs Your Fireplace Needs an Inspection
- Cracks in the back or side panels that you can fit a coin edge into
- Crumbled or missing firebrick, or mortar you can scrape out with a finger
- A damper that sticks, will not seal, or has rust flakes falling from it
- Smoke coming into the room when the fire is lit
- Gas logs that light slowly, burn with a lot of yellow flame, or leave soot on the glass
- A pilot that keeps going out
- A gas smell near the fireplace, which means shut the valve and call the gas company first
- Glass doors that no longer latch or have a cracked pane
- Scorching or discoloring on the mantel or trim above the opening
- A fireplace that has not been used or inspected in more than a year
Fireplace Repair
Most fireplace inspections in Flower Mound turn up one of three things: cracked refractory panels, a damper that no longer works, or a gas burner that needs service. Each one has a page with what the repair involves. Our fireplace repair page covers the full list, from panels to smoking fireplaces.
Gas Fireplace Repair
Gas logs and gas fireplaces are in most Flower Mound homes, and the problems are predictable: a pilot that will not stay lit, a thermocouple that has failed, a burner clogged with dust after a summer, or a vent blocked by a nest. Our gas fireplace repair page explains what we service on gas units and what belongs to a licensed plumber.
Firebox Repair
Refractory panels in a factory-built fireplace are designed to be replaced. A common manufacturer rule is that a crack wider than about 1/16 inch, the thickness of a dime, means the panel is done. Cracked panels let fire reach the steel shell and the wood framing behind it. Our firebox repair page covers panel replacement and firebrick repointing in masonry fireplaces.
Chimney Damper Repair
A throat damper that has rusted, warped in a chimney fire, or lost its handle is a small repair, and a top-sealing damper is the upgrade for a fireplace that leaks air all summer. Our chimney damper repair page explains both.
Fireplace Cleaning
An inspection and a cleaning fit the same visit. The firebox is checked while it is empty, the gas logs are cleaned and reset, and the glass is cleaned with the doors off. Our fireplace cleaning page lists what is included for wood, gas and wood stove units.
Fireplace Safety Basics for Flower Mound Homes
The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources, fireplaces included, and to have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected once a year. A few more rules that matter here:
- Burn only dry wood. Post oak and cedar elm need at least six months of drying.
- Keep the damper fully open while a fire is burning, and on a gas log set keep the damper clamp in place so it cannot close.
- Put a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the house, and especially near bedrooms, if you have any gas appliance.
- Let ashes cool for days in a metal can with a lid, away from the house, before throwing them out.
- Do not burn trash, treated lumber or Christmas trees in the fireplace.
Book a Fireplace Inspection in Flower Mound
Flower Mound Chimney Sweep Professionals is veteran-owned and based on Long Prairie Rd in Flower Mound 75028. We inspect fireplaces in Flower Mound, Lewisville, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Fort Worth and Collin County, 7 days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM. Call (817) 518-6131 or send the form on this page. You get a firm price before we start, photos of every part, and a free written estimate for any repair. See what customers say on our reviews page.
