NFPA 211 defines three levels of inspection, and which one you need depends on what has changed, not on how old the chimney is.
Level 1 is the yearly check for a chimney in continued service: the same fireplace, used the same way as before. The technician examines the readily accessible parts of the chimney, inside and out, and the fireplace or appliance connection, looking for basic soundness and making sure the flue is free of obstructions and combustible deposits. This is our $69 inspection.
Level 2 goes further. NFPA 211 calls for it when anything about the system changes — a different fuel, a new liner, a new insert or appliance — when a property is sold or transferred, and after an event that may have damaged the chimney, such as a chimney fire, a building fire or severe weather. It includes everything in Level 1, plus the accessible areas around the chimney in attics, crawl spaces and basements, and a video scan of the inside of the flue. If you are buying or selling a home in the Triangle, this is the one to ask for.
Level 3 is rare. It applies when a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection points to a hidden hazard that can only be reached by removing part of the chimney or the building around it.
One practical note: soot hides cracks. If the flue is too dirty to see properly, it has to be swept before the inspection can be finished, and we will show you why before we do it. A chimney sweep starts at $200 and includes the Level 1 inspection.