By James Rodriguez, Central Chimney Service.
When a Bolingbrook homeowner calls and asks for a chimney inspection, the next question is usually mine: what are you trying to find out? The trade recognizes three inspection levels, and they are not upgrades of each other so much as different tools for different situations. Booking the wrong one either wastes your money or leaves the actual question unanswered. Here is how to tell them apart in plain language.
Level 1: the annual check
A Level 1 inspection is the routine one, and it is what most homes need most years. The technician examines the readily accessible parts of the chimney and the appliance — the firebox, the damper, the visible exterior masonry, the crown and cap from the roof or from grade, and the flue as far as it can be seen from top and bottom. He confirms the flue is clear of obstructions and combustible deposits and that the basic structure is sound.
A Level 1 is appropriate when nothing has changed: you use the fireplace the way you always have, you have not had a chimney fire or a storm event, and you are not buying or selling the house. It pairs naturally with your annual sweeping, which is why we typically do both in one visit.
Level 2: when something has changed
A Level 2 inspection includes everything in a Level 1 and adds the parts that are accessible but not obvious: the attic, crawlspace, and basement portions of the chimney where it passes through the house, plus a video scan of the entire flue interior with a camera lowered down the liner.
You need a Level 2 in four situations. First, a real estate transfer — buying or selling. Second, any change to the system: a new insert, a new liner, a switch from wood to gas, or a new appliance connected to an existing flue. Third, after an event that could have damaged the chimney, such as a chimney fire, a lightning strike, or a serious wind or hail storm. Fourth, when a Level 1 turns up something the technician cannot see well enough to judge.
The camera is the heart of it. Cracked clay tiles, gaps in mortar joints between tiles, and the fine shell cracking that follows a chimney fire are all invisible from either end of the flue. They are also exactly the defects that let heat and combustion gases reach framing.
Level 3: opening things up
A Level 3 inspection means removing part of the structure — a section of wall, the crown, or interior chase framing — to reach a concealed area. It is rare, it is only ordered when a Level 2 found or strongly suggested a serious hazard, and no honest sweep leads with it. If someone proposes demolition before a camera has been down your flue, get a second opinion.
What Bolingbrook homeowners usually need
If you burn a handful of fires each winter in a fireplace you have owned for years, a Level 1 with your annual sweeping is the right call. If you just bought the place, just installed an insert, or the chimney went through a bad storm this summer, book the Level 2 and get the camera down there before the first cold snap. If you are honestly unsure, describe the situation on the phone and we will tell you which one fits — including telling you the cheaper one is enough, which happens often.
One thing worth knowing: an inspection is diagnostic, not repair. A good report tells you what is wrong, what is fine, and what can wait until next year. That last category matters. Not every crack is an emergency, and you deserve to hear which is which.
Book it before heating season
September and early October are the sane months for this. Once the first hard freeze hits, everyone calls at once and the schedule tightens for weeks. Central Chimney Service is insured and bonded, quotes the price up front, and I have spent 29 years doing this work.
Details are on our chimney inspection page, and if a scan turns up liner damage, that is handled under chimney relining. You can also read our DIY chimney care guide for what you can safely check yourself between visits. To schedule locally, see our Bolingbrook chimney sweep page or call (815) 305-5510 — seven days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM.
Frequently asked questions about chimney inspection levels
Do I need an inspection every year if I barely use the fireplace?
Yes. Annual inspections catch problems that develop whether or not you burn, including animal nests, water damage, spalling masonry, and deterioration in the crown or cap.
Which inspection level does a home sale require?
A Level 2. Any transfer of property calls for the added camera scan and the look at concealed sections, because the buyer is inheriting a system they have no history with.
What does the camera actually see inside the flue?
It reveals the condition of the liner along its whole length: cracked or missing clay tiles, open mortar joints, gaps behind an offset, creosote glazing, and any physical obstruction. None of that is visible from the firebox.
Is an inspection the same thing as a sweeping?
No. Sweeping removes deposits from the flue; inspection evaluates the condition of the structure and the appliance. They are usually done at the same visit, but they answer different questions.
I had a small chimney fire last winter. What now?
Get a Level 2 before you burn again. Even a brief fire can crack the liner in ways that leave no sign in the firebox, and burning through a damaged liner is how the second fire reaches framing.
Can a chimney pass inspection and still need work?
Yes, and that is common. A report often lists items that are safe for now but should be addressed within a year or two. We separate the urgent from the eventual so you can plan the spending.
Does a gas fireplace need inspections too?
It does. Gas produces acidic condensate that attacks masonry and liners over time, and blockages in a gas flue are hazardous for the same reason they are with wood. The venting still needs annual eyes on it.
How long does an inspection take?
A Level 1 is typically under an hour. A Level 2 takes longer because of the camera scan and the walk through accessible interior areas, and how long depends on how many flues the chimney carries.
Published September 13, 2026 · Last updated September 1, 2026