Buying a new home, especially for the first time, can be both exciting and stressful. There’s a lot to celebrate throughout this process, but there are also a lot of things to consider and cross off of your to-do list to ensure you aren’t left with a mess once the purchase is final.
Now, many figure a home inspection is all they need to gain the peace of mind so many seek during this time, but this isn’t the case when it comes to your chimney. In fact, many real estate agents now recommend investing in a professional chimney inspection before putting a home on the market – or insist on a chimney inspection before you buy the house.
Why is this? A chimney inspection ensures the fireplace in the home is in sound condition and ready for use. And at Owens Chimney Systems, we offer chimney inspections for both homebuyers and home sellers. Give us a call today, so that we can help!
Avoiding Repairs & Problems Down the Line
Now, when it comes right down to it, home inspectors only do a quick examination of the chimney. They don’t have the training, equipment, or the expertise necessary for making a thorough assessment of the chimney, and it’s because of this that things quite often get missed.
Don’t get us wrong – home inspectors perform a critical function in the home-buying process and are typically very conscientious! They are not, however, prepared to conduct an in-depth inspection of your flue. Even the best inspectors do no more than assess what they can see, and they are neither venting nor chimney specialists.
In fact, home inspectors aren’t even required to do many of the things necessary to test whether or not your system is actually sound. This includes things like inspecting seals and gaskets, inspecting the vent system, testing the pilot light, analyzing if everything is properly installed, determining if creosote levels are too high, performing a smoke test, removing any necessary chimney parts, and more.
Basically, if you’re looking for a thorough level 2 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) inspection, you won’t be getting it from your home inspector. And just because a chimney passes their overview doesn’t mean it’s safe for use or running as efficiently as possible. This can mean you’ll have to invest in some costly repairs down the line.
In the end, think of it this way… If you buy first and inspect later, you may find major damage when you try to use your fireplace, and you’ll be the one who will be responsible for paying necessary repairs. Yet, if you find repairs that need to be completed beforehand, you’ll be able to negotiate who will be responsible for paying those repairs. This is one easy step that could be extremely beneficial for you in the long run.
We Offer In-Depth Level 2 Inspections
When you call on Owens Chimney Systems for your pre-sale overview, we’ll perform a level 2 chimney inspection. During this inspection, we’ll do a video scan to thoroughly check over the interior condition of your chimney. We’ll also view any accessible portions of the chimney, which may include opening doors, panels, or coverings, as well as inspecting portions of the chimney in your attic, basement, or crawl spaces.
Now, level 2 inspections will never require the use of demolition equipment to access various parts of the chimney. If problems persist, and the video scan and overview didn’t reveal the cause of the issues, then we’d move onto a level 3 inspection. That said, these are far less common, and there’s little chance this would be necessary.
Only Trust a CSIA-Certified Sweep
When it comes to hiring a sweep for this type of job, it’s important that you find a crew that has been certified with the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Why? Well, a sweep that’s certified has put in the time and effort to learn from a nationally recognized organization. This requires hours of study, the passing of an exam, and giving up time and expense to ensure they’re as knowledgeable as possible.
Along with this, recertification is required every 3 years to keep these credentials. This ensures all sweeps are kept up to date on any changes or updates in the industry, and it gives you peace of mind knowing you’re always hiring a sweep that is well-informed.
Finally, the CSIA requires all of their sweeps to sign a strict Code of Ethics, which includes a promise of honesty and professionalism when working with customers.
Owens Chimney is Here for You
Owens Chimney is locally owned and our award-winning team is experienced and dedicated to staying educated and informed. On top of being CSIA-certified, we’re also members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG), the North Carolina Chimney Sweep Association (NCCSA), and the South Carolina Chimney Sweep Guild (SCCSG), and we participate in many trainings and seminars to ensure we come to your home as prepared as possible.
So, don’t wait. If you’re buying or selling a home, it’s time to get our experts on the job now. Give us a call at 704-554-9595 to book your appointment!