Tim's Hearth Inspections & Services

I’m not posting this to promote anything. I’ve actually scaled back quite a bit. These days I’m mostly doing inspections for real estate transactions and working full time in a different part of the fireplace industry. I’m not taking on new clients right now, but I still think this needs to be said.

I’ve been seeing a wave of these so-called $49 chimney inspections, and I’ve got to be honest, it’s getting out of hand. This isn’t just a local thing either. I’m hearing the same story from professionals all over the country. Companies are using these cheap "inspections" to get in the door, then pushing repairs that may or may not even be necessary. Now I’m starting to see the same thing happening right here in our own community.

If someone is advertising a chimney inspection, it should be based on industry standards. There are three levels of inspection in this industry. Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

Level 1 is a basic visual inspection. You do that when nothing’s changed and the system has had no problems.
Level 2 is required when a property is being sold, when there's been an issue, or if any changes have been made to the system. This includes a full interior video scan and a detailed look at all accessible areas like attics and crawlspaces.
Level 3 is only used when serious damage is suspected, and it usually means opening up walls or removing components to get a closer look.

Every legitimate inspection should fall into one of those categories. And every legitimate inspection should come with a full written report that documents what was found, what condition the system is in, and what the next steps should be. No pressure. No sales pitch.

If someone can’t explain what the different levels of inspection are, or why they matter, that’s a problem. If they’re using a $49 inspection just to push overpriced repairs, that’s even worse. I’ve built my business around transparency and doing right by the people I work with. That’s what this trade is supposed to be about.

So if you’re hiring someone to look at your fireplace or chimney, ask questions. Ask about their certifications. Ask for a copy of their report. Make sure they’re CSIA or F.I.R.E. certified, and make sure they have a good reputation in the community.

Just be careful out there. There are a lot of amazing people in this trade, but unfortunately, there are also some who only see dollar signs instead of genuinely wanting to help others.

"Tim contacted me on the day of my appointment to make sure I was still planning for him to come.
He showed up just when he said he would. And he actually took off his shoes before he entered the house-I didn't ask him to that's just part of his great service.
The prior sweeper put the bricks back in my insert incorrectly so I have had to deal with a brick falling into the insert--drove me nuts! Tim automatically put the bricks back in correctly after he finished cleaning the insert. Talk about great service!
I highly recommend Tim!"

I'm very happy to be of service, thank you Greg!

"I have to add my five stars for Tim. He was organized from the beginning of his response to my request for a quote to the detailed report he provided us when he completed his inspection. Because of Tim's inspection, we will not burn in our stove until it is fixed. I think Tim may have prevented some fire damage. He showed us pictures of the deterioration of our chimney that were very concerning. We almost didn't get a cleaning this year, but I am glad we called Tim. I highly recommend him. He's excellent and his prices are reasonable. Hire the guy."

Thank you Ann!

"Tim is out of this world AMAZING! He showed up with professional gear mask clothing and equipment!
We were desperate to get someone out here because our stove was smoking, unfortunately some modifications that were made to our chimney and he quickly realized we did not need a sweep! We needed a inspection. His final report included pictures , and all the details and it was 100%professionally done. This time of the year it is so hard to get someone to come do a sweep , in fact I called over 25 different companies in this area and he was the ONLY one that actually picked up the phone, and fit us into his schedule. All I can say is WOW WHAT A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT! Thanks Tim"

Thank you Rachael!