Meets escrow and insurance requirements
A Level 2 with video scan is the standard almost every California real-estate transaction and insurance claim asks for. We provide the documented version, not a verbal all-clear.
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Chimney Inspection in Carmichael, CA
A documented, photograph-backed assessment of the full system. Fast turnaround on real-estate deadlines, and a report you can hand straight to your agent or adjuster.
Bonded & insuredCSIA certifiedFamily run since 1985Open 24/7
Free estimates, no travel fee inside 30 miles · 141 five-star reviews
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Fast response. No obligation.
Level 1-3CSIA standard
Same dayReport turnaround
100%Photo documented
Why chimney inspection matters
An inspection is the only way to see the parts of a chimney that fail silently. The flue liner, the smoke chamber and the concealed portion of the chase are all invisible from the room, and all three can be badly compromised while the fireplace still appears to work normally. A cracked clay tile does not announce itself — it just lets heat and combustion gas reach the framing behind the wall.
If you are not satisfied with the result, we come back and make it right at no charge.
Benefits
What you get
Sees inside the liner
A camera run through the full flue finds cracked tiles, gaps in mortar joints, and separated liner sections that no visual check from the firebox can reach.
Written report with photographs
Every finding is photographed and explained in plain language, with a clear separation between what is unsafe now and what is simply worth watching.
Settles disputes with evidence
When a seller, buyer or adjuster disagrees about condition, photographs and a certified report end the argument quickly.
Right level, not the most expensive one
Most homeowners need a Level 1. We tell you when a Level 2 is genuinely required and when it is not.
Fast turnaround on deadlines
Real-estate contingency periods do not move. We schedule around them and get the report out the same day where we can.
Warning signs
When to book chimney inspection
- You are buying or selling a home with any fireplace or wood stove
- The chimney has had a flue fire, an earthquake, or a lightning strike
- You are changing fuel type, adding an insert, or relining
- White chalky staining (efflorescence) on the exterior brick
- Damp patches, staining or a musty smell on the wall near the chimney
- The chimney is visibly leaning, or the crown is cracked or spalling
- An insurance claim, an appraiser or a home inspector has asked for one
- You have simply never had the system looked at
Book chimney inspection today
Call (916) 269-0725 or request a quote online.
Process
How we do it
Confirm which level you need
Level 1 for an unchanged system in continued service. Level 2 for a sale, a fuel change, or after a flue fire or earthquake. Level 3 when a hidden area must be opened up.
Exterior and roof assessment
Crown, cap, spark arrestor, flashing, mortar joints, and chase condition, photographed from the roof.
Interior and appliance check
Firebox, damper, smoke chamber, hearth extension, clearances to combustibles, and the appliance connection.
Video scan of the flue
On Level 2 and 3, a camera travels the full liner so cracked tile, gaps and blockages are seen directly rather than guessed at.
Written report, same day where possible
Photographs, findings, and a clear priority order. Formatted so an agent, adjuster or underwriter can act on it.
Local
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Questions
Chimney Inspection FAQs
What is the difference between a Level 1, 2 and 3 inspection?
Level 1 is a visual check of readily accessible parts, for a system in continued service with no changes — this is the annual standard. Level 2 adds a video scan of the flue and access to attics, crawl spaces and basements, and is required for property sales, fuel changes, and after any flue fire or earthquake. Level 3 involves opening up concealed areas and is only performed when a serious hazard is suspected.
Which level do I need to sell my house?
A Level 2. Every fuel-burning appliance transferring with the property should have one, and it is what most California agents, escrow officers and buyers' inspectors expect to see. If someone offers you a Level 1 for a sale, they are not giving you what the transaction needs.
How long does an inspection take?
A Level 1 runs about 45 minutes. A Level 2 with a video scan usually takes 60 to 90 minutes per flue. If the home has multiple fireplaces they are inspected as separate systems, because they are separate systems.
Do I get something in writing?
Yes, always — a written report with photographs of every finding. That document is the entire point. A verbal 'looks fine' is worth nothing to an escrow officer or an insurance adjuster.
Does a chimney need inspecting if we never use the fireplace?
Yes. The failures that matter most on an unused chimney are weather-driven, not fire-driven: crown cracks, failed flashing, spalling brick, and animals nesting in an uncapped flue. An unused chimney still sheds water into your wall cavity.
Do you inspect after an earthquake?
Yes, and you should have one. Masonry chimneys are rigid, heavy and poorly tied to the frame, so they are among the first things to crack in a seismic event. Damage is frequently internal to the flue and invisible from the room.
More
Other services we offer
Chimney Sweep
A full soot and creosote removal from the firebox through the smoke chamber, flue and cap — with drop cloths down and a HEPA vacuum running the whole time.
Learn more about Chimney SweepChimney Cap Installation
Stainless steel caps and spark arrestors, sized and fitted to your flue — the cheapest part of a chimney and the one that prevents the most expensive damage.
Learn more about Chimney Cap InstallationChimney Repair & Masonry
Crown sealing, tuckpointing, flashing, firebox rebuilds and waterproofing — the structural work that keeps water out of the chimney and out of the wall behind it.
Learn more about Chimney Repair & MasonryContact William Chimney Sweep
William Chimney Sweep LLC
6130A Fair Oaks Blvd
Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 269-0725
info@williamchimneysweepllc.com
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Fast response. No obligation.