What a Level 1 covers
Working from the standard used across the trade, a Level 1 examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior and the accessible parts of the appliance and the connection. In practice we’re checking:
- The firebox, damper and visible flue for soot, creosote stage and obvious damage.
- The chimney structure we can see — masonry, crown, cap and flashing from the ground or roof edge where safe.
- That the flue is clear of obstruction and drafting, and that clearances and the basic setup look right.
It answers a specific question: for a system in normal, unchanged use, is there anything that says don’t keep burning?
What a Level 1 is not
A Level 1 does not include hidden or concealed areas. It won’t open walls, pull the appliance, or (by itself) send a camera through the entire flue. The moment your situation involves a change, a sale, a malfunction, or a suspected problem you can’t see, the correct inspection steps up to a Level 2. Asking for a Level 1 in those situations isn’t cheaper — it’s the wrong tool.
When Level 1 is the right call — and when it isn’t
Level 1 fits the annual maintenance check on a fireplace you use the same way each year with no complaints. Level 2 is required instead when you’re buying or selling the home, after any event that could have damaged the chimney (a chimney fire, a lightning strike, an earthquake — or in Florida, a hurricane or serious storm), when you change the fuel or appliance, or when there’s a performance problem like persistent smoke, leaks or odor. We’ll ask a few questions up front so we recommend the right level rather than defaulting to the cheapest one.
What you get from us afterward
You get a plain-language rundown of what we found, what’s fine, and what — if anything — needs attention before the next fire. If we spot something that a Level 1 can’t fully evaluate, we’ll say so and explain why a camera or a Level 2 is the honest next step, rather than guessing at a hidden condition we didn’t actually see.
Questions people ask us
How is a Level 1 different from just a sweep?
A sweep cleans; a Level 1 evaluates. They’re commonly done together — clean the flue, then confirm the readily accessible parts look safe — but a sweep alone doesn’t give you the inspection findings, and an inspection alone doesn’t remove buildup.
I’m buying a house — is a Level 1 enough?
No. A real-estate transfer is a textbook Level 2 situation, because it involves a change of ownership and you want the flue interior and accessible concealed areas evaluated, typically with a camera. We’d recommend a pre-purchase inspection rather than a Level 1 here.
We just went through a big storm — does that change anything?
Potentially, yes. Severe weather can crack a crown, shift a cap, or damage flashing and masonry. If you suspect any storm impact, that pushes the inspection to a Level 2 so the areas that could have been affected get a proper look, not just the readily visible ones.