What a Level 2 adds over a Level 1
- Full-length video scan of the flue. A camera travels the entire liner so cracks, gaps, offsets, blockages and deteriorated tile are seen, not guessed. This is the heart of a Level 2.
- Accessible concealed areas. We check the chimney where it passes through attics, crawl spaces and basements — the readily accessible portions — for clearance and condition.
- No demolition required. A Level 2 still doesn’t open walls; that’s a Level 3 step reserved for confirmed serious problems. It uses tools and cameras, not a sledgehammer.
When a Level 2 is required — not optional
Under the standard the trade follows, a Level 2 is called for when there’s a change or a reason to suspect damage:
- Sale or transfer of the property (a pre-purchase inspection).
- A change in fuel, or a new or replaced appliance or liner — for example a wood-to-gas conversion.
- After an event that could have damaged the chimney: a chimney fire, lightning, or a hurricane or severe storm.
That last one matters here more than in most of the country. A strong storm can crack a crown, lift or dent a cap, tear flashing, and stress masonry — damage that a ground-level glance won’t reveal but a camera will. If your chimney has weathered a named storm and hasn’t been looked at since, a Level 2 is the honest call.
Why the camera changes the conversation
Plenty of chimney problems are invisible from the firebox and the roof. A flue can look fine at both ends and have a cracked tile or a separated joint in the middle — a path for heat or combustion gases to reach the surrounding structure. The camera is what turns “it looks okay” into “here’s exactly what the inside of your flue looks like.” We’ll show you the footage and explain what you’re seeing, rather than handing you a verdict with nothing behind it.
What you get, and the honest limits
You get documented findings: the flue’s condition along its length, the state of the crown, cap, flashing and accessible masonry, and a clear repair-versus-monitor recommendation. The limit worth stating: a Level 2 evaluates what’s accessible and visible to the camera. If it uncovers something that can only be confirmed by opening a wall or removing a component, that becomes a Level 3 investigation, and we’ll explain why before anyone starts cutting.
Questions people ask us
Do I really need a Level 2 just to sell my house?
For a property transfer, yes — it’s the level written for a change of ownership, and it protects both sides by documenting the flue’s actual interior condition. A buyer’s inspector who only did a visual pass hasn’t seen inside the flue; a Level 2 has.
My chimney looks fine after the last hurricane — can I skip it?
The parts you can see may look fine while a crown hairline crack or a shifted flue tile hides the real damage. Storm impact is one of the standard triggers for a Level 2 precisely because the important damage is often the kind you can’t see from the ground.
Is a Level 2 the same as a camera inspection?
A camera scan is the central tool of a Level 2, but a full Level 2 also evaluates the accessible concealed areas and the structure, not just the flue video. If you only want the flue filmed for a specific concern, a standalone camera inspection may fit; for a sale or post-event check, get the full Level 2.