What a Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Flower Mound Includes
NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, fireplaces and venting, defines three inspection levels. Level 2 is the one for a chimney where something has changed: the owner, the fuel, the appliance, or the chimney itself after a fire or a storm. Flower Mound Chimney Sweep Professionals does Level 2 inspections in this order.
- Everything in a Level 1. Firebox, damper, smoke chamber and smoke shelf checked by eye and camera. Cap, crown, flashing and chase cover checked from the roof.
- Video scan of the flue. A camera on a rod travels the full length of the flue, from the smoke chamber to the top, recording the interior. We look at every tile joint, every section of metal pipe, and every inch of the walls for cracks, gaps, shifted tiles, rust, holes and glazed creosote.
- Accessible attics, crawl spaces and chases. Where the chimney passes through an attic or a sided chase we can get into, we check the clearance to wood framing, the condition of the pipe sections or masonry, and signs of heat, water or animals.
- Exterior. Masonry condition, lean, cracks, spalling, and the chase siding and framing on factory-built units.
- Report. A written report with photos and video stills, a plain list of findings, and a free written estimate for any repair.
The visit takes one to two hours for one flue.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is checked | Accessible parts: firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue by camera from below, roof parts | Level 1 plus a video scan of the full flue and accessible attics, crawl spaces and chases | Level 2 plus removal of chase covers, walls, ceilings or chimney parts |
| Tools | Flashlight, camera, hand tools | Video scanning equipment | Demolition tools |
| When NFPA 211 calls for it | Yearly, and with every sweep | Sale or transfer, after a fire or storm, fuel change, new appliance, relining | Only when a Level 2 finds a hazard that cannot be reached any other way |
| Time | 30 to 45 minutes | 1 to 2 hours | Half a day or more |
| HomeGuide range | $100 to $250 | $250 to $600 | $900 to $5,000 |
A yearly chimney inspection is a Level 1. The NFPA 211 standard page describes the standard that defines all three.
When You Need a Level 2 Chimney Inspection
- Buying or selling a home. NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 at every sale or transfer. Most Flower Mound home inspection reports recommend it in writing.
- After a chimney fire. A fire in the flue cracks clay tiles and warps metal pipe without leaving a mark on the hearth. The scan finds the damage.
- After a storm. Lightning strikes, a tree limb, or a hail storm that damaged the roof can crack the chimney structure.
- Changing fuel. Switching from wood to gas logs, or from gas logs back to wood, changes the heat and the venting the flue has to handle.
- New or replaced appliance. An insert, a new wood stove, or a new gas log set needs a flue that is sound and sized for it.
- Before relining. The scan shows what the liner has to fix.
- A Level 1 found something. When the yearly inspection spots a crack or a gap from below, the video scan shows how far it goes.
What the Video Scan Finds in Flower Mound Chimneys
| Chimney type | Common findings on the scan |
|---|---|
| Masonry chimney with clay tiles (older homes near Grapevine Lake and Lake Lewisville) | Cracked or shifted tiles, open mortar joints, missing tiles, glazed creosote, water staining from a cracked crown |
| Factory-built fireplace in a sided chase (most homes built from the 1990s on) | Separated pipe sections, rust from a leaking chase cover, nests at the cap, warped sections after a chimney fire |
| Gas fireplace flue | Blocked vent from leaves or a nest, rusted or disconnected vent pipe, soot from incomplete burning |
Chimney Relining
The most common serious finding on a clay-tile flue is cracked or missing tiles. Gaps in the liner let heat and gases reach the brick and, behind it, the framing. The standard fix is a stainless steel liner, and the scan tells us the length and size needed. Our chimney relining page explains the options, and the Level 2 report includes a free written estimate when a liner is the recommendation.
Chimney Repair
Not every finding is a liner. A cracked crown, failed flashing, open mortar joints or a rusted chase cover each get their own line in the report with a written price. Our chimney repair page covers each one. For a home sale, buyers typically use the report to request repairs or a credit, and sellers who book the inspection before listing have the numbers in hand.
Creosote Removal
The scan also records creosote stage. Glazed, third-stage creosote shows up as a shiny coating on the walls, and it is the fuel in most chimney fires. If the scan finds it, our creosote removal page explains the chemical and rotary methods used to clear it, and the report includes a price.
Chimney Sweep
A Level 2 inspection is often paired with a chimney sweep in Flower Mound, because the scan reads the flue walls more clearly once creosote and soot are off them. For a home that has not been swept in years, we recommend sweeping first and scanning second, in the same visit.
Book a Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Flower Mound
Flower Mound Chimney Sweep Professionals is veteran-owned and based on Long Prairie Rd in Flower Mound 75028. We do Level 2 chimney inspections in Flower Mound, Lewisville, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Fort Worth and Collin County, 7 days a week from 7 AM to 8 PM, which helps during a short option period. Call (817) 518-6131 or send the form on this page. You get a firm price before we start, a report with photos and video stills, and a free written estimate for any repair. See what customers say on our reviews page.
