Buying · selling · managing — Connecticut
Real-estate Level 2 chimney inspection in Connecticut
A home is changing hands and the chimney is a question mark. A Level 2 inspection answers it: the flue examined from the inside by camera, the accessible parts of the chimney checked in the attic and basement, photos of everything, and a written report you can hand to the other side of the table.
Built for a transaction timeline — buyers, sellers, realtors, and property managers get the same thing: evidence, in writing, before the deadline.
Tell us the closing date — we'll tell you honestly whether the timeline works.
Inspection levels, plainly
Level 1 vs. Level 2 — what changes
NFPA 211, the standard the chimney industry works to, defines inspection levels by how deep they go and when each is appropriate. Here is the honest version.
| Level 1 | The routine annual checkA visual inspection of the readily accessible portions of the chimney and fireplace — exterior, cap, crown, flashing, firebox, damper, and the visible flue. No tools beyond a light. Appropriate when nothing has changed and nothing is wrong. This is our standard $149 inspection. |
|---|---|
| Level 2 | The transaction, the event, the changeEverything in Level 1, plus an internal examination of the flue — typically by camera — and the accessible parts of the chimney in attics, crawlspaces, and basements. NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 when a property is sold or transferred, after a chimney fire or a weather event that could have caused damage, and when the system is changed (new appliance, new fuel, relining). |
| Level 3 | When hidden damage is suspectedRare. Involves removing components or parts of the structure to reach a suspected problem. Only recommended when a Level 2 shows a reason for it — never as a default. |
One thing we won't say: that Connecticut law requires you to get one. We don't give legal advice. NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 on sale or transfer; whether your transaction calls for one is between you, your agent, and your contract.
What a Level 2 includes
Camera inside, eyes everywhere else
The point of a Level 2 is that nobody has to take anybody's word for it. The flue is examined from the inside, the hidden parts of the chimney are checked where they're accessible, and it all ends up in a report with photos.
Who it's for
Four seats at the closing table
Know before you own it
A flue problem found after closing is your bill. A camera inspection before closing is leverage — or peace of mind — and the report is yours.
Remove the question mark
A documented chimney takes one objection off the table and keeps a buyer's inspector from turning "unknown" into a negotiating point.
A deliverable that fits the timeline
Photos, a written report, and a straight answer about what matters now versus what can wait. Tell us the closing date when you book.
One report per chimney, on file
Turnover, new tenants, or an owner asking for a condition record — the same documented visit, kept for the file.
If we find something
Repair findings, separated honestly
The report exists so the parties can decide — not so we can sell repair work. When something needs attention, the written scope separates what matters for safety now from what is normal wear that can wait, with pricing for each.
If the flue checks out, the report says that too, with the pictures to prove it.
Related
Often booked alongside
FAQ
Real-estate inspection questions
We don't give legal advice, and we won't tell you a law requires it. What we can say: NFPA 211, the standard the chimney industry works to, calls for a Level 2 inspection upon the sale or transfer of a property. Whether your transaction calls for one is between you, your agent, and your contract — many Connecticut buyers and lenders ask for it.
A Level 1 is a visual inspection of the readily accessible parts of the chimney and fireplace — the routine annual check. A Level 2 adds an internal examination of the flue, typically by camera, plus the accessible areas of the chimney in attics, crawlspaces, and basements, and it is the level NFPA 211 calls for when a property changes hands, after a chimney fire or weather event, or when the system is being changed.
Whoever books it — buyer, seller, agent, or property manager. The written report with photos is yours to share with the other parties, your attorney, or your lender.
Tell us the date. Book online for the earliest date in the scheduler, or call and we'll tell you honestly whether the timeline is workable — we would rather say no than miss your closing.
You see the photos and get a written scope with pricing for any recommended repair, separated into what matters now and what can wait. Nothing is done without approval — the report is for negotiating and deciding, not for selling you work.
Next step
Get the chimney documented before the closing date.
Camera-examined flue, photos, and a written report — scheduled around your transaction, confirmed by a person.