One of the inspections that a buyer might decide to pay for when purchasing a home is a chimney inspection, especially when buying a home with a wood burning fireplace, woodstove, or pellet stove. This inspection is separate from the standard home inspection that covers mechanicals and structural items, but is an important step to take even though it adds about $125-200 to your total inspection expense.
Chimney/masonry experts can come in and inspect aspects such as the chimney flue and liner, cap, brickwork and mortar, flashing, and moisture resistance. Other items on the fireplace they will address include the smoke chamber, damper, grate, ash container, screen/doors, and hearth protection. If it’s a woodstove or insert, the stovepipe condition and overall installation will be checked.
Inspectors use wire and nylon brushes to clean creosote buildup out of chimneys. Creosote is a byproduct from burning wood and is highly flammable and can increase the risk of a house fire if it’s not regularly cleaned out.Inspections can also help you make sure that wildlife such as racoons, squirrels and birds have not nested in your chimney when not in use.
Chimney experts also warn of pyrolysis, another hazard from fireplaces. "That is when drywall, wood framing, paneling, cork ceiling tiles, and other organic materials located too close to a fireplace break down after prolonged exposure to heat," The Wall Street Journal reports. "The material can ignite, even when there is no flame present."One sign of pyrolysis to look for: a dark stain on the wall or ceiling near the chimney.
About 19,800 residential fires occur each year in the U.S. from fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
