The levels are set by circumstance, not preference
This is the part that surprises people. You do not pick an inspection level the way you pick a service package. NFPA 211 defines three levels and specifies which applies based on the situation the chimney is in. A good sweep will ask you what prompted the call before quoting, because the answer determines the level.
Level 1 — routine annual service
A Level 1 covers all readily accessible portions of the chimney and the appliance connection: the flue interior as far as it can be seen, the firebox, the damper, the smoke chamber, the crown, the cap, and clearances to combustibles.
It is the right inspection when nothing has changed — same appliance, same fuel, no events, and the chimney is in continued regular service. That describes most annual visits, and it is what comes included with a routine sweep.
Level 2 — sales, changes and events
A Level 2 includes everything in a Level 1 and adds video scanning of the full flue interior plus inspection of accessible attic, crawlspace and basement runs. NFPA 211 calls for it in specific circumstances:
- On the sale or transfer of a property
- When the appliance, the fuel type, or the flue's shape or material has changed
- After an operating malfunction or an external event that could have damaged the chimney — a chimney fire, an earthquake, a lightning strike, or a severe storm
That third case matters a great deal in our service area. San Bernardino sits between the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems, and masonry chimneys typically crack at or just below the roofline, where nothing is visible from the firebox or from the street. A camera scan is the only way to know.
Level 3 — when the damage is hidden
A Level 3 is called for when a Level 1 or 2 finds, or strongly suggests, a hazard that cannot be evaluated without opening up concealed areas — removing part of a chase, a wall, or the crown.
It is destructive by definition, so it should never be a first step and it should never be a surprise. Where we think a Level 3 is warranted we scope the work and quote it before touching anything, and we show you the Level 2 footage that led us there.
Why a home inspection is not a substitute
If you are buying a house with a fireplace, this is the single most useful thing to understand. A general home inspection is visual, conducted from the room and the roof, and standard home inspection agreements explicitly exclude the flue interior. Most home inspectors say so in their own reports and recommend a specialist inspection.
A property transfer is precisely the case NFPA 211 defines as needing a Level 2 with camera scanning. Doing it before the buyer's inspector raises it puts you in a much stronger position, and if the chimney is sound you have documentation proving it.
Want a professional to take a look?
Baker Chimneys Incorporated serves 12 communities across the San Bernardino Mountains and the valley below. Free, no-obligation estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Level 1 runs about 45 minutes. A Level 2 with camera scanning of a single flue is usually 60 to 90 minutes; multiple flues or awkward access take longer. A Level 3 depends entirely on what has to be opened up.
Yes. Looking fine is exactly the problem — seismic cracking in masonry chimneys characteristically happens at or below the roofline where it is invisible from inside and from the ground. The consequence of missing it is combustion gas reaching the framing.
A written report with photographs and, on a Level 2, the camera footage. Findings are ranked by urgency: what is a safety issue, what is maintenance, and what can wait. It is yours to take to any contractor you like.