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Stainless steel liners and clay flue tile replacement for wood, oil and gas chimneys, with a lifetime warranty on stainless.
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Rochester chimney inspections
Chimney Inspection in Rochester, NY
For a chimney inspection in Rochester, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep climbs the roof, looks down every flue and leaves you a written 21 point report before the truck pulls out. Selling the house or lighting the first fire of fall, you find out what is sound and what is not.
A Straight Answer Before the First Fire
A written report, photos and a plain yes or no on burning
Contact UsNFPA 211, the fire safety standard chimney crews work from, says every chimney should be inspected at least once a year. Most people hear that and think "cleaning." An inspection is a different job. Someone looks at the crown, the brick, the flue tiles and the damper, then writes down what they saw. We hand you the same checklist the sweep carried up the ladder, so you are never taking our word for it. Honestly, that report is the part customers keep.
Chimney Inspection Levels We Perform
Three levels, and most Rochester homes need only the first or the second
Level 1 Inspection
The yearly check for a chimney you use the way you always have. We look at everything we can reach without tools: the firebox, the damper, the flue by flashlight, and the crown and brick from the roof. It takes under an hour.
Level 2 Inspection with Camera
Required after a sale, a fire or a change in fuel. A camera runs down the whole flue, and we look in the attic and crawl space around it. Cracked tiles show up on the screen that no flashlight would ever find.
Home Sale Chimney Inspection
Buyers and sellers in Monroe County book these before closing. You get a written report with photos that a lender, a lawyer or a home inspector can read without calling us.
Wood Stove and Insert Inspection
Stove pipe, clearances, gaskets and the flue behind it. Stoves built before 1988 burn differently from newer ones, so we check them for that too, and tell you if the pipe sits too close to a wall.
After a Chimney Fire
A chimney fire can crack flue tiles with no sign from inside the room. Insurance companies often ask for a camera scan before you burn again, and we write the report to answer what they ask.
Level 3 Inspection
Only when we suspect a hidden hazard behind a wall or under a hearth. Parts of the chimney get opened up. We tell you what comes apart, and why, before anyone picks up a hammer.
Chimney Inspection Prices
- Level 1 inspection: $125 to $225
- Level 2 with camera: $175 to $400
- Home sale inspection and report: $250 to $400
- Level 3, opened up: quoted after a Level 2
- 21 point report and photos: included with every visit
Most homes get a price on the phone. Two flues or a very tall chimney sit at the top of each range.
Every Inspection Includes
- The written 21 point report you keep
- Photos of anything we flag
- A look from the roof and from the firebox
- Plastic sheeting and boot covers indoors
- A plain yes or no on whether to burn
- Your fee credited toward a cleaning if the flue is dirty
How Much Does a Chimney Inspection Cost in Rochester?
A chimney inspection in Rochester costs $125 to $225 for a Level 1 and $175 to $400 for a Level 2 with a camera in 2026. A home with two flues or a very tall chimney lands at the top of the range. If the flue turns out dirty, the inspection fee comes off the cleaning bill.
| Inspection | What it covers | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Everything reachable, the crown and brick from the roof | $125 to $225 |
| Level 2 with camera | Full flue scan plus attic and crawl space | $175 to $400 |
| Home sale report | Level 2 with photos for the buyer, seller or lender | $250 to $400 |
| Stove or insert check | Pipe, clearances, gaskets and the flue behind | $125 to $250 |
Last year we ran about 1,150 sweeps and inspections out of two trucks, and the price people remember is the repair they did not need. A short, honest inspection beats a surprise in February. If everything looks fine, we say so and tell you to come back next fall.
When Do You Need a Level 2 Chimney Inspection?
You need a Level 2 chimney inspection when you buy or sell a house, after a chimney fire, when you switch fuels or add a stove, and whenever a Level 1 turns up something that needs a closer look. A camera runs the full flue, which finds cracked tiles and gaps a flashlight misses.
Buying or Selling a Home
Rochester has a lot of brick colonials and ranches from the 1920s to the 1960s, and many chimneys were last looked at by a previous owner. Lenders and insurers sometimes ask for the camera scan. We write the report in plain English, with photos, so the deal does not stall over a word like "spalling."
After a Chimney Fire or a Storm
Chimney fires are not always loud. Sometimes the only sign is a flaky crust on the cap or a smell you cannot place. The heat can crack the clay flue tile, which lets hot gas reach the wood framing. We scan before you light another fire. The lake does not care how careful you were last year.
Adding a Stove or Switching Fuel
Switching from oil to wood, or the other way, changes what the flue has to handle. A flue that was fine for a furnace may be too wide or too rough for a stove. We inspect first and tell you what the flue needs. If it needs a new sleeve, see our chimney liner installation page.
What We Look For in a Rochester Chimney
Rochester gets about 100 inches of lake-effect snow a year, and brick soaks up melt water, freezes, and flakes apart. Think of a chimney as the tallest, most exposed wall on your house. From the roof it looks like a small thing, but it takes the worst weather every winter.
The Crown and the Brick
The crown is the concrete slab on top that sheds water. We look for cracks, missing pieces and brick faces peeling off. A cracked crown often means a chimney crown repair job, and crumbling gray lines between bricks point to chimney repointing.
The Flue Tiles
The flue is the passage smoke travels through, and most older Rochester chimneys have clay tile in it. Tiles crack from ice and from heat. With the camera we follow the joints from top to bottom and flag any gap wide enough to let creosote or flame through. We do this for homeowners all over Monroe County, from Greece to Irondequoit and Gates.
Questions we hear
Chimney Inspection FAQs
How often should I have my chimney inspected?
At least once a year if you use the fireplace or stove, according to NFPA 211. Do it in late summer or early fall, before the busy season. Chimneys you do not use still need a look every year or two, because animals and water do not wait for a fire.
Is a chimney inspection the same as a cleaning?
No. A cleaning removes soot and creosote. An inspection checks whether the chimney is safe to use. We do both on one visit when you want, and if the flue turns out dirty, the inspection fee comes off the cleaning price, so you do not pay twice.
Do you inspect gas and oil chimneys too?
Yes. Gas and oil chimneys still carry exhaust, and a cracked tile or blocked flue can push carbon monoxide into the house. We check the flue, the cap and the connection the same way. Ask for a Level 2 if the furnace or water heater was replaced recently.
Can you inspect the chimney before I close on a house?
Yes. Call as soon as you have a closing date and we will fit a Level 2 inspection in, usually within the week outside the October to December rush. You get the report and photos the same day, in a form your lender or lawyer can use.
Our reviews
What Rochester Customers Say
We had a brown stain by the chimney every spring and two roofers blamed the shingles. Ron went up, took pictures of the crown and showed me the crack. New crown, dry ceiling, and he mentioned two cracked bricks before I asked.
Karen L.Crown repair · Irondequoit Bought a 1940s house in Brighton and the inspector said the chimney needed a closer look. They sent a camera down the flue the next week and gave us a report the bank wanted. We closed on schedule.
Matt & Priya S.Camera inspection · Brighton Our wood stove would not draw. They fitted a stainless liner and a new cap in one day, showed me how to burn it and haven't left a speck of soot on the carpet. First winter with no smoky smell.
Dan W.Liner and cap · Greece
Explore Our Other Services
Chimney Caps
Hy-C stainless caps with a lifetime guarantee and top-mount dampers that seal the flue tight.
CapsChimney Crown Repair
New fiber-reinforced or concrete crowns that keep meltwater out of the brick, with a guarantee on the work.
CrownsChimney Repointing
Old mortar joints removed and new mortar colored to match, so a crumbling chimney is solid again.
RepointingChimney Waterproofing
Chimney Saver breathable water repellent that slows freeze-thaw damage, with a 10 year guarantee.
WaterproofingChimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds to the roof line for chimneys that lean, crumble or have come apart.
RebuildsBook online in a minute
Smoke, Smell or a Wet Ceiling by the Chimney? Tell Us.
Leave your name, number and a line about your chimney. We call back within one business day, and often the same afternoon.
- Photos before any quote
- 21-point report after every visit
- Free quotes on repairs