The NFPA Recommends Yearly Inspections for Proper Chimney Maintenance

Whether or not you use your chimney regularly, the NFPA and Gilmartin Chimney and Vent recommends that your chimney and venting system be inspected yearly. If you do use your chimney each year, flammable and corrosive creosote and soot can build up inside of the flue and need to be removed. If you don’t use your chimney each year, it still needs to be checked for structural integrity, due to the long and tough winters we have here in New Hampshire, and exposure to the elements year-round.

Gilmartin Chimney and Vent understands that regular inspections are essential for chimney maintenance. We provide the three levels of chimney and vent inspection, as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

With a Level 1 inspection, you’ll receive an inspection of all the readily available portions of the interior and exterior of your chimney or venting system. A certified Gilmartin Chimney and Vent technician will ensure the basic soundness of the structure and flue and the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits. If not, a cleaning will be in order to ensure continued safe usage.

A Level 2 Chimney Inspection, conducted by a Certified Chimney Sweep, is a little more detailed than a Level 1. An internal video inspection of the inside parts of the fireplace and chimney is required. This also applies to any oil, pellet, or gas furnace or boiler that is connected to a chimney. Your Homeowners Association or real estate buyer may require an NFPA Level II Venting Inspection or NFPA 211. The NFPA Level II Venting Inspection includes the design, installation, maintenance, and inspection of chimneys, fireplaces, and venting systems in all residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.

A Level II chimney inspection is required when:

• Buying or selling a home or business with any heated appliance vented to a chimney
• The chimney sustained damage from a weather event or a chimney fire
• You want to use the chimney for extended periods

A Level III Chimney Inspection is usually required when the construction of the chimney is necessary for the continued or renewed use of the chimney due to potentially unseen defects. The Level III inspection could include opening or removing an interior wall to access hidden parts of the chimney. This level of inspection normally occurs when a more serious problem has been identified and a method of repair needs to be determined.