Living in Lakeside, we appreciate the character of our homes, from the classic brick ranches near Bryan Park to the charming Capes scattered throughout the community. Many of these houses feature beautiful masonry chimneys that have stood for decades. But as a local chimney sweep, I can tell you they face a unique set of challenges thanks to our Central Virginia climate.
Here in the Richmond area, we’re no strangers to wild weather swings. One week it’s mild and sunny, the next we’re hit with a freezing rain. This constant freeze-thaw cycle is incredibly tough on your chimney’s brick and mortar. Water seeps into tiny cracks, freezes, expands, and slowly pushes the masonry apart. Add in our famously humid summers and heavy downpours, and you have a perfect recipe for water damage, spalling (flaking bricks), and a deteriorating chimney structure.
This is why a professional chimney inspection isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential part of home maintenance in Lakeside. But what does an inspection actually involve? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the standard with three distinct levels, and knowing the difference is key.
Level 1 Inspection: This is your annual check-up. A technician will do a visual assessment of the readily accessible parts of your chimney, inside and out. If you’ve been using your fireplace without any issues, a Level 1 is usually all you need to ensure everything is in good working order for the season.
Level 2 Inspection: This is more in-depth and is required by the NFPA when you're buying or selling a home, or after an event like a chimney fire or a major storm. Given the age of many Lakeside homes, this is the inspection we most often recommend for new homeowners. It includes everything in a Level 1, plus a video camera scan of the entire flue interior to check for hidden cracks in the liner or damage you can’t see from the top or bottom.
Level 3 Inspection: This is the most intensive level and is only recommended when a serious hazard is suspected. It may involve removing parts of the chimney or adjacent walls to get to the root of a problem. It's rare, but necessary for complex issues.
What are we looking for? In Lakeside homes, we commonly find cracked or deteriorating chimney crowns, damaged terracotta flue liners (a major fire hazard), and blockages from leaves and animal nests—our beautiful mature trees are lovely, but they contribute to this! We also see a lot of water damage to the flashing where the chimney meets the roof.
A Practical Tip: After the next heavy rain, take a walk outside and look closely at your chimney’s exterior brick. Do you see any dark, damp patches that take a long time to dry? That’s a clear sign that water is getting in. Don't wait for a small issue to become an expensive, structural problem. Protecting your chimney is protecting your home. Schedule an inspection and enjoy your fireplace with true peace of mind this year.