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Chimney Inspection After Storm, Sale, or Smell

The reason for the visit changes the scope. A free estimate visit is not a camera scan, a sale report, or a sweep. Ask what is included before you book.

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Inspection, then a quote

How a chimney inspection visit becomes a written quote

During a free estimate visit, a technician assesses the concern, names the failed part, and gives a written quote before any repair. Call (754) 328-2421 to schedule.

  1. 1

    Inspect on site

    During a free estimate visit, a technician assesses the chimney or fireplace at the property. The visit checks the concern you describe. It is not a diagnosis from photos alone. A camera scan or a sale report is separate unless it is on the quote.

  2. 2

    Name the failed part

    The technician names the failed part, such as the cap, crown, flashing, chase cover, flue, masonry, or fireplace appliance.

  3. 3

    Written quote before work

    You receive a written quote for that part before any repair. Paid work starts only if you approve the quote. Call (754) 328-2421 to schedule the visit.

Start with the reason you need an inspection

A sale, a named storm, smoke in the room, and a chimney fire are four different looks. Say which one it is. A free estimate visit is not a free camera scan, certification, or report. Those have to be on the agreed scope.

Why Homeowners Call

When to Request a Professional Chimney & Fireplace Inspection

The same chimney can need a different kind of evaluation depending on the symptom, event, or decision the homeowner needs to make.

Smoke, odor, or draft changes

Smoke entering the room, a new odor, or a fireplace that no longer drafts as expected can justify a closer look before the system is used again.

Water or visible damage

Fresh stains, loose masonry, a shifted cap, rust, or debris in the firebox can point to several possible components. The requested scope should match the concern.

A sale, system change, fire, or storm

These events can raise different questions. Explain why you are requesting service so the technician understands the concern.

Choose the Right Request

Inspection, sweep, or repair estimate?

These services answer different questions. Start with the outcome you need so the team can confirm the appropriate scope before the visit.

Inspection

Choose an inspection when you need condition information for a symptom, event, system change, or property transaction. Confirm the exact scope and deliverables.

Plan ongoing chimney maintenance

Chimney sweep

A sweep addresses deposits in agreed areas. It does not automatically include a formal inspection, camera scan, test, or report.

Compare chimney sweep service

Repair estimate

If you already see water, damaged masonry, a loose cap, or another repair concern, start by describing the symptom and request an estimate for the proposed work.

Explore chimney repair

How the Request Works

Define the purpose before you approve the service

  1. 1. Explain why you are calling. Mention symptoms, a recent event, a home sale, an appliance change, or another reason for the request.
  2. 2. Request a technician visit. Share the address and contact details.
  3. 3. Receive the free estimate. The technician reviews the service request and gives you a free estimate. This does not automatically include a formal inspection, testing, certification, or report.
  4. 4. Decide whether to approve paid work. Every approved paid job requires a deposit. If you cancel after paying it, the company retains the deposit.

Questions to Ask

Explain what prompted the request

  • Has smoke, odor, or fireplace performance changed?
  • Are there water stains, rust, debris, or visible masonry changes?
  • Was there a recent storm, chimney fire, or appliance change?
  • Is the request connected to maintenance or a property transaction?
  • What fuel and fireplace or appliance type does the property use?

Frequently Asked Questions

Chimney inspection questions

How much does a chimney inspection cost in Florida?
We do not publish a flat inspection menu. Scope follows the level of looking required: accessible visual (Level 1), deeper accessible areas and typically camera scanning when conditions call for Level 2, or investigative opening when Level 3 is warranted. Access, height, real-estate timelines, and storm or leak signs all move the work. For repair decisions we start with a free estimate visit and a written quote for any recommended work. Call (754) 328-2421.
What is the difference between Level 1, 2, and 3 chimney inspections?
Level 1 is a basic visual of readily accessible areas for sound systems under routine use. Level 2 adds deeper accessible areas and is commonly used for property transfers or after conditions change—often including flue scanning. Level 3 is investigative when serious hazards are suspected and hidden areas must be opened. Which level fits is decided from your situation on site—not from a price list. Call (754) 328-2421.
What drives inspection scope (not a dollar amount)?
Why you called (routine, leak, storm, sale), access and height, masonry vs chase construction, and whether the flue interior must be scanned or opened. We explain the level that fits, then quote any repair separately in writing. Call (754) 328-2421.
Is your free estimate the same as a Level 2 sale report?
Not automatically. A free estimate visit for repair quoting names the failed part and prices that work. Camera scans, written sale reports, and Level 2/3 protocols are scoped when your situation needs them. Ask when you book. Call (754) 328-2421.
When is Level 2 typically considered?
Common triggers include home sale/purchase, a change of appliance or fuel, or after an event that may have affected the system (storm impact, chimney fire concern, major renovation nearby). Final level is confirmed for your address. Call (754) 328-2421.
How does a chimney inspection visit become a written quote?
During a free estimate visit, a technician assesses the concern, identifies the failed part, and gives a written quote before any repair. Camera scans and sale reports are separate unless they are on the agreed scope. Call (754) 328-2421.
Is the estimate visit free?
Yes. A technician can visit the property and give you a free estimate.
What is included in a chimney inspection?
There is no single inspection package for every property. The useful scope depends on why the inspection is requested, the chimney and fireplace type, access, fuel, condition, and any recent event. Ask which accessible or visible components are included and whether camera imaging, testing, photographs, a written report, or another deliverable is part of the proposed service before booking.
Is a chimney sweep the same as a chimney inspection?
No. A sweep addresses deposits in the areas included in the agreed cleaning scope. An inspection evaluates condition for a stated reason. The two services may be requested together, but one does not automatically include the other. Confirm both scopes before booking.
Can I request an inspection for a home sale?
Yes. Describe the transaction and deadline when requesting service. Ask the lender, insurer, buyer, or closing professional whether they require a particular inspection scope, report, photographs, testing, or certification. Those items are not automatically included simply because the request involves a home sale.
Does every chimney inspection include a camera scan?
No. Inspection methods vary with the system, access, and reason for the visit. A camera scan may help with questions inside an accessible flue, but it does not replace every other part of an evaluation. If imaging matters to your request, ask whether it is available, what area it covers, and whether images or a report are included.
How long does a chimney inspection take?
Timing varies with the chimney, access, requested service, and observed conditions. Ask about timing when requesting the visit.
What happens if the assessment identifies proposed repair work?
The technician can give you a free estimate for proposed work. If you approve a paid job, a deposit is required.
What happens to the deposit if I cancel approved work?
Every approved paid job requires a deposit. If the customer cancels after paying it, the company retains the deposit.
The fireplace has sat unused for years in Florida. What should we check before the first fire?
Ask for an inspection before you burn. An idle flue can hide nests, damp creosote, a rusted damper, or water damage you cannot see from the hearth. A sweep may follow if debris is present. Animal sounds mean removal first. Do not treat the first cold night as the test.
What should I do after a chimney fire or carbon-monoxide alarm?
Leave the property and call 911 first. Do not use the fireplace again until emergency responders have cleared the property and the chimney has been evaluated.

What an inspection can and cannot settle in one visit

An inspection answers a stated question: why smoke entered the room, whether a stain followed rain, what a buyer or lender asked for, or what changed after a fire or storm. It does not automatically include a camera scan, a written report, testing, or a repair. Those items have to be confirmed for the job. A free technician estimate visit is the starting point, not a substitute for a named inspection scope.

Florida idle months hide problems until the first cool evening. A fireplace that sat closed through a humid summer can need inspection for odor, a stuck damper, or debris before anyone lights it. After a named storm, start with the visible top and the leak path on hurricane chimney repair if wind damage is the reason for the call. If the flue itself is the concern, compare chimney relining. If the request is only to remove soot, start with a chimney sweep.

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Request an inspection estimate

Tell us what prompted the request and what information you need. A technician can visit and give you a free estimate; confirm the inspection scope before booking.