Atlanta Georgia / Fulton County Georgia
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Home Inspection Library J C Weise Home Inspector Atlanta, GA www.UpscaleInspections.com

Inspecting Fireplaces And Chimneys

For safety and liability reasons, I do not light a fire in any fireplace to check for proper operation, so the fireplace has not been checked for actual function in burning gas or solid fuels. Additionally, gas shutoff valves for gas fireplaces are not operated under any circumstances (click here for helpful information about why I do not operate gas shutoff valves).

Fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected on at least an annual basis, and more often depending on usage. Inspection of the fireplace during the home inspection is limited to visible and accessible sections only. The inner reaches of the flue or chimney throat are relatively inaccessible, so the view from the fireplace or chimney is not adequate to discover possible deficiencies or damage, even with a strong light. I do not dismantle rain caps and spark arrestors on the chimney top to look inside the chimney flue.

Manufactured fireplaces are usually built for use with natural gas. Although some manufactured fireplaces are built for use with solid fuel, I can only verify approval for use with solid fuel if the manufacturer’s installation instructions, approval statement, or use guidelines are available and state such approval. I am aware that many Atlanta residents do burn solid fuel in the fireplace regardless of manufacturer instructions. If solid fuel is burned (and I emphatically recommend against it), do not burn pine or the various manufactured logs (see Figure 1) that are found at many stores; dry hardwoods are better, remembering that I still emphatically recommend against burning solid wood. Pine and manufactured logs typically burn hotter due to the sap present in the materials and typically will increase soot in the chimney.

If you notice soot above the fireplace (see Figure 2), there’s a good possibility that your fires are too large for the fireplace or that the fireplace and chimney are not operating properly, creating poor drafting conditions (drafting is when the combustion gases and soot exit the structure through the chimney). Poor drafting can result in not only smoke and soot in the Atlanta home, but dangerous gases as well, such as carbon monoxide.

Some newer fireplaces don’t need a chimney. Instead they have what is called a direct vent. These vents typically are located at about three to five feet on exterior walls, which is unfortunate since they become very, very hot and have resulted in young children being serious burned. Therefore, I recommend having a protective cage installed over the direct vent (see Figure 3).

Direct-vent fireplaces usually are operate by a wall switch and have a solid glass window that cannot be opened. The glass window becomes extremely hot during operation, so protect the beautiful flames from

curious young children. Condensation sometimes forms on the glass of direct-vent fireplaces, particularly during the first few minutes of operation. According to Mr. Dale Feb, Executive Director of the Fireplace Investigation, Research, and Education Service (Moorpark, California), the white film includes sulfuric acid, produced during the combustion process. Sulfuric acid can permanently etch the glass and should be removed on a regular basis.

Vent-Free (unvented) fireplaces are typically designed to be installed in a fireplace (as an “insert”) or in special fireboxes made to resemble a hearth. Unvented systems burn very hot and are specifically engineered to result in nearly complete fuel combustion—increasing energy efficiency (more of the fuel is converted to heat)—while decreasing byproducts like carbon monoxide and soot that are produced by other gas burning fireplaces. This is one reason they can safely be vent-free; however, as with all systems, they can fail, so make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms in your home.

Inspection, testing, or analysis of free-standing fireplaces, also called Franklin stoves, is not within the scope of a property inspection. Such fireplaces can be unique in their installation, operation, and maintenance. Ask the seller for any operation, maintenance, installation guides, receipts, and warranty information that might be available. You might also be able to download such guides from the manufacturer’s web site.

The National Fire Protection Association and the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommend that fireplaces and chimneys receive a “Level II” inspection whenever real estate is sold or transferred. I agree with those distinguished associations, of course. From the Chimney Safety Institute of America:

Level II inspection
The addition of a new home heating appliance or a change in the type of fuel a homeowner is burning requires a Level II inspection. This type of inspection should also be completed upon the sale or transfer of a property or after an operating malfunction or external event that is likely to have caused damage to the chimney. The scope of a Level II inspection includes that of the Level I inspection plus the inspection of accessible portions of the attics, crawl spaces, and basements. It may also include a performance test, such as a smoke test or a pressure test, and possibly an interior chimney video inspection if recommended by the certified chimney sweep. Click here for helpful information on the other inspection levels of the Chimney Safety Institute of America. You can also use their web site to find a certified chimney sweep.

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