Inspection for New Home Buyers in New Jersey
According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC), there are 26000 residential fires and 20 deaths per year related to chimneys. In addition, there are $6.4 Billion in residential structure fire property losses per year.
It is imperative that prior to moving to their new home, general buying public insures that their chimneys are SAFE. Home inspectors (according to American Society of Home Inspectors - ASHI) are NOT required to inspect interior flues of chimneys. Home inspectors disclaim the internal elements of the chimney for the simple fact that it is inaccessible and cannot be viewed during a routine VISUAL HOME INSPECTION. Since they cannot see it, it falls outside the scope of their inspection.
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
Level 2 (camera inspection) is required “upon sale or transfer of property”.
Chimney's R Us is equipped with the most sophisticated color video camera system to check the condition of your chimney. This Hi-Tech system gives us the ability to inspect the interior elements of the flue and see things inaccessible to the naked eye. We offer two kinds of inspections for Home Buyers:
Level 1 Inspection (Basic Inspection) and
Level 2 Inspection (Camera Inspection)
Level 1 Inspection
According to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Level 1 Inspection shall be utilized when verification of the chimney or flue for continued service, under the same conditions and with the same or similar appliance or appliances, is needed.
Chimney's R Us will evaluate the condition of the flue and connections to the flue and give a proposal of what the chimney needs if anything before the closing takes place.
This inspection takes about 15-20 minutes.
Level 2 Inspection
According to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Level 2 Inspection is indicated when verification of the suitability of the chimney for new or changed conditions of service is needed or when Level 1 inspection is not sufficient to determine the serviceability of the chimney.
Level 2 Inspection shall be conducted under following conditions:
1. Upon addition or removal of one or more connected appliance.
2. Upon sale or transfer of the property
3. After a building or chimney fire
Chimney's R Us will evaluate the condition of the flue and connections to the flue and give a detailed report with pictures of what the chimney needs if anything before the closing takes place.
This inspection takes about 45-60 minutes.
Relighting the Fire: Safety Tips for Your Old Gas Fireplace
The weather outside might be frightful, but your fireplace can be so delightful! You may be looking forward to curling up next to that first fire of the season, but relighting your gas fireplace calls for a few safety measures. Learn how to safely rekindle those fireside flames with these tips for relighting your old gas fireplace.
Check Your Chimney
Your chimney provides the proper ventilation needed to keep the air clean and healthy in your home. After periods of non-use, you’ll want to inspect your chimney for debris and anything that might be blocking airflow. Remove any blockages before starting the season’s first fire.
You also need to check the cleanliness of the chimney. Just because there’s no soot doesn’t mean your chimney is clean. Gas burns cleaner than wood, but it can still deposit substances corrosive to your chimney. These acids released by the gas are difficult to see and can pose health risks.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) explains that two problems are common from by-product buildup: incomplete combustion and condensation. Incomplete combustion can occur when gas by-products prevent adequate draft in the chimney. This can make it difficult to light your fireplace and also prevents carbon monoxide from escaping the chimney while your fire is burning. Higher efficiency gas fireplaces keep chimneys cooler, but they can also cause condensation in the chimney, which corrodes the surface.
The CSIA recommends looking for these signs of ventilation problems:
- Damp patches on interior or exterior walls
- Blistered paint
- Stains on the ceiling around the chimney
- White stains on the outside of masonry chimneys
- Eroded mortar joints
- Crumbling bricks
If you find any of these, call a certified chimney sweep to do a thorough inspection before lighting your fireplace.
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Know Your Log Type
Knowing what type of gas logs you’re using can help you keep your fireplace running smoothly. Yellow flame logs have a very realistic look and require venting because they produce soot and carbon just like real wood logs. They’re comparable to wood logs in both looks and heat and are often mistaken for real wood.
Blue flame logs, also known as vent-free or unvented gas logs, produce much more heat than yellow flame logs. They burn hotter and cleaner but can still produce the by-products of any gas fire, so you’ll still want to check for damage to the fireplace before lighting them. Blue flame logs don’t always require a chimney, so make sure to check the firebox cabinet even if there’s no chimney.
Chimney Swifts
The chimney swift is one of four regularly occurring species of swifts found in North America, the most common one found east of the Rockies. They have become accustomed to building their nests in chimneys as well as abandoned buildings and occasionally stone wells.