Some chimney problems are fairly easy to understand. Others require investigation to discover exactly what’s happening. Chimney inspections are the first step toward solving all types of issues with chimneys and the fireplaces they vent.
American Chimney & Fireplace of Louisville, KY, has provided licensed inspections since 2007. We’re a family-owned, family-operated company, dedicated to improving the safety and efficiency of your chimney and fireplace.
The Importance of Annual Chimney Inspections
The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 211 standard advises that all vent systems attached to fireplaces, freestanding stoves or other heating appliances, be inspected once a year.
Our chimney inspection team uses video imaging to look closely within the flue cavity and spot the earliest signs of wear and damage. We also use drones (if access is permitted) for quick, accurate assessments of chimney tops.
Professional inspections also check to make sure the chimney flue is the correct size for the fireplace to which it’s connected. This is very important for newly built homes and chimneys.
What Happens During a Chimney Inspection?
A thorough inspection of your chimney and fireplace looks at all readily accessible areas of the system, including:
- Chimney cap or chase top
- Concrete chimney crown
- Chimney masonry – bricks and mortar
- Chimney flashing
- Chimney liner
- Fireplace damper
- Firebox surfaces and refractory panels
We also look for chimney leaks, excess creosote buildup, debris in the flue and other issues that could affect the performance and safety of your chimney system.
Inspection When Selling Your Home
Homes being sold require a chimney inspection, preferably by a licensed chimney technician and not a “home inspector.” Our certified technicians have extensive training in chimney construction, chimney drafting, troubleshooting, repair and other disciplines that few, if any, home inspectors have.
Let us help you get your chimney ready when you’re selling your Louisville, KY, home with a thorough visual and video inspection of the entire system.
Complete Chimney and Fireplace Repairs
American Chimney & Fireplace offers complete chimney and fireplace repairs to resolve any issues uncovered during an inspection. We repair all parts of chimneys and fireplaces and can replace old or damaged components.
Service and Experience You Can Trust
Our chimney inspectors carry professional industry certifications and are experts in working with all types of chimney and fireplace systems. After the inspection, we’ll provide you with a full written report of our findings and recommend the best options for resolving the issues we’ve found.
Other Types of Inspections
Special chimney inspections are needed when you’re altering your chimney system by connecting it to a new appliance, such as a furnace or a fireplace insert.
An emergency inspection should be performed after a chimney fire or other event is thought to have caused damage. You should also have your chimney inspected if it acts, looks, sounds or smells “odd.” Let us get to the bottom of what’s happening and fix it properly.
And don’t forget about your fireplace. Yearly inspections of the firebox will alert you to cracking, excess wear and other problems in the appliance’s surfaces and refractory panels.
Certified Chimney Inspections in Louisville KY
If it’s time to schedule a routine or emergency chimney inspection, American Chimney & Fireplace is ready to respond. Reach us by phone in the greater Louisville, KY, region, or use our simple contact form.
Based in Louisville, KY, American Chimney & Fireplace serves Pewee Valley, KY, Anchorage, KY, Clarksville, IN, Brandenburg, KY, Fisherville, KY, Glenview, KY, and other communities in the greater Louisville region.
