Do I need a chimney inspection when buying a house?

Yes, if the house has a fireplace, a wood stove or any appliance that vents through a chimney, a chimney inspection is worth ordering before you close. Virginia does not make you buy one, but the seller is not promising the chimney is sound, and a chimney is hard to judge without getting up on the roof and into the flue.

Why the seller's word is not enough

In Virginia the buyer does the checking. The state's Residential Property Disclosure Act has the seller hand you a disclosure statement that says "The owner makes no representations or warranties as to the condition of the real property or any improvements thereon".^[3] The same statement tells buyers they are "advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary, including obtaining a home inspection", and to do it in accordance with the terms of the purchase contract, but in any event prior to settlement.^[3]

A chimney is exactly the kind of component that hides its problems. Cracked flue liners, missing firestopping, buildup inside the flue and water damage around the crown or flashing cannot be judged from the living room. Fixing them after you own the house is your cost.

What to ask for

A thorough pre-purchase chimney inspection goes further than a look from the fireplace:

• the inspector goes on the roof and checks the chimney from the top
• the chimney is checked where it passes through attics, basements and crawl spaces
• a camera scan covers the inside of every flue, with each connected appliance checked

A general home inspection may mention the fireplace, but it is a separate service from a chimney inspection. Ask your home inspector exactly what the report covers. If it does not include a camera look up the flue and an inspection from the roof, order a full inspection from a chimney company. What a chimney inspection costs in Virginia explains how to compare quotes.

When to schedule it

Put the inspection into your contract timeline. The disclosure statement points buyers to do their due diligence in accordance with the terms of the purchase contract and before settlement,^[3] so ask your agent how your contract handles inspection and repair requests, and book the chimney visit early enough to use the result. Chimney companies get busy in the fall.

If you can, ask the sellers for any sweeping and inspection reports. A written report from the last visit tells you what was found and what was recommended.

What to do with the results

• Clean report. Sweep it if the report recommends it and enjoy your first fire.
• Repairs needed. Get written quotes and ask the seller for a repair, a credit or a price reduction through your agent, according to your contract.
• Serious defects. A damaged liner or other problem means the fireplace should not be used until it is fixed. The U.S. Fire Administration's advice is to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional,^[2] so plan on a yearly visit once you move in.

Do not light the first fire in a house you have just bought until you know the chimney has been checked.

When to call a licensed pro

Inspecting a chimney means roof access, disconnecting appliances and reading camera images, so hire a qualified chimney professional rather than checking it yourself; what certifications a chimney sweep should have explains what to look for. If the inspection leads to repairs, the Board for Contractors' consumer guide says "a valid Virginia Contractor’s License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work".^[1] Check the licence before you sign, and see what a chimney sweep does for what a routine visit includes.

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class. Browse chimney services, read more chimney and fireplace answers, or describe your chimney once and local chimney businesses quote the inspection.