While preparing your house for potential sellers, ensure your chimney and fireplace are also spruced up. A well-built fireplace and chimney can offer great value when selling your home, but a few mistakes can hamper the process.

This blog will explain everything you need about the chimney repairs required to sell a home at a premium price.

Importance of Chimney Inspections Before Selling a Home

Did you know that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires a Level 2 chimney inspection before selling a property? This is to ensure that chimney doesn’t pose any severe risks to the new homeowners and tells you what needs to be fixed. Sometimes, homebuyers get their own chimney inspections before buying a home to be sure. Suppose you didn’t get the right repairs, and your potential buyer finds some problems during their inspection. They might not buy from you or negotiate the price to a lower value.

Here are some issues that you can discover during chimney inspections:

1. Moisture damage from a missing/broken chimney cap, improper flashing or broken crown
2. Improperly connected chimney liner for the fireplace
3. Incorrect chimney flashing
4. Inadequate distance between combustible materials and heating appliances
5. Chimney or fireplace not meeting safety codes due to deterioration, poor maintenance or improper installation

Chimneys or fireplaces that don’t meet the safety requirements can cause carbon monoxide poisoning or fires. Accumulated debris, creosote and soot cause an unhealthy living environment and many health issues. Moisture damage is another common problem with chimneys that lead to structural problems. Knowing these things before selling your home can help you make the required changes.

What is Level 2 Chimney Inspection?

You must be already getting your annual Level 1 inspection, as advised by the authorities. Level 2 inspection is a more in-depth assessment of fireplace and chimney components to address the deeper issues.

Here’s what it looks like:

 

Step 1: A chimney professional will look for creosote buildup, blockages and any other issues in the ventilation system

Step 2: Next, they will inspect the crown, smoke chamber, cap, damper and firebox. They will also check the structural elements of your chimney to ensure its sound structure.

Step 3: They will access the attic and crawlspace to inspect the exterior for any damage or deterioration.

Step 4: Lastly, they will use video cameras to look deeper inside the chimney and all its components.

 

After the inspection, you’ll receive a report that lists all the issues with your chimney and repair recommendations.

 

Chimney Sweeping

Most homeowners also get chimney sweeping services with chimney inspections. This ensures that your chimney is free from soot, creosote or any blockages and is properly cleaned from top to bottom. Getting the necessary repairs and cleaning will give your buyers peace of mind, and they wouldn’t mind paying a premium price.

Chimney and Dryer Vent Services LLC offers a wide range of chimney services in Gainesville, including fireplace cleaning, chimney caps, chimney inspection, repairs and cleaning.  Our team will ensure that your chimney and fireplace are in the perfect shape to help you sell your home quickly and at a good price. Contact us to get started.