An inspection tells you whether a chimney is safe to use and what it needs. The national standard, NFPA 211, calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected at least once a year, and it defines three levels so that everyone means the same thing by the word. In a city where most chimneys are older than their owners, the inspection is the service that matters most.

  • Level 1: routine check of the readily accessible parts
  • Level 2: video scan of the flue plus attic, crawl space and roof
  • Level 3: concealed areas opened where serious damage is suspected
  • Written report with photographs
  • Furnace and water heater flues as well as fireplaces

Which level do you need?

Level 1 is the annual check for a system that is used regularly and has not changed. Level 2 is required when a property is sold or transferred, after a chimney fire, earthquake or severe weather, and when a fuel or appliance is changed — installing an insert, converting to gas, replacing a furnace. It includes a camera run through the full flue. Level 3 means removing parts of the building or chimney to reach concealed areas, and is done only when a Level 2 finds evidence of a hidden hazard.

Buying an older Richmond home

A general home inspector looks at a chimney from the firebox and the roof and will usually recommend a specialist. Take that recommendation. A Level 2 inspection sees the inside of the flue, where cracked tiles, missing liners and past chimney fires show. Finding out before closing gives you something to negotiate with. Finding out after the first fire does not.

What it costs

Angi puts the average chimney inspection at about $450, within a wide range. A Level 1 runs from $100 to $950, often folded into the price of a sweep. A Level 2 with camera runs $200 to $1,000. A Level 3 costs $500 to $5,000 because it involves demolition and repair. A house with several flues costs more to scan than a house with one.

Common chimney inspection situations in Richmond

  • Buying or selling a house with one or more chimneys
  • A fireplace that has not been used in years
  • A furnace or water heater recently replaced
  • A chimney fire, lightning strike or earthquake
  • A carbon monoxide alarm that has sounded

Chimney Inspection FAQs

Does my chimney need to be inspected if I rarely use it?

Yes. NFPA 211's annual recommendation applies regardless of use, because nests, water damage and deterioration do not depend on fires. A chimney that vents a furnace or water heater is in use all winter even if the fireplace is not.

What are the signs of a blocked chimney?

Smoke coming into the room, a fire that is hard to start or keep going, a smell of soot or damp, debris falling into the firebox, and sounds of birds or animals. With a gas or oil appliance, signs include soot around the draft hood, condensation on windows and a carbon monoxide alarm. Stop using the appliance and have the flue checked.

This content is reviewed by the Richmond VA Chimney Sweep editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Chimney Services. Read our editorial standards.