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Level 1 Chimney Inspection in Seattle, Tacoma & Everett
The once-a-year visual check for a chimney you use the same way every season. No camera, no tools beyond a light, and a written summary of what we saw.
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
- Same-day service often available
Request a Free Chimney Inspection Level 1 Quote
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A Level 1 inspection is the baseline check that NFPA 211 recommends every year for a chimney that is in continued use, has not been changed, and has no known problems. It covers the readily accessible parts of the system: the firebox, the damper, the flue as far as a light reaches from below, and the exterior of the chimney from the ground and the roof. It does not involve a camera, and it does not involve opening anything up. That is the point. It is quick, it is inexpensive, and for most fireplaces that are used the same way year after year, it is enough.
This page is specifically about Level 1. It explains what we examine, what we deliberately do not examine, and the situations where a Level 1 stops being enough and a Level 2 inspection with a camera is the right call. For an overview of all three levels, read our main chimney inspection page.
Most Level 1 inspections in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett are booked alongside a sweep. Our sweep and inspection special starts at $299, and any repair we spot gets a free quote.
Symptoms
Signs you need chimney inspection level 1
- It has been about a year since anyone looked at the chimney
- You use the fireplace the same way you always have and nothing has changed
- You want to know whether the flue needs sweeping before the season starts
- A new cap, crown or flashing was done and you want it checked over
- You are a landlord who needs a yearly condition note for a rental
- The fireplace works fine and you simply want it confirmed safe to light
Common causes
- Normal seasonal wear: soot, a damper that stiffens, minor mortar loss at the crown
- Small changes that are easy to miss from the hearth, such as a cap screen clogging
- Early water entry at the crown or flashing that has not yet shown up indoors
- Creosote creeping from stage 1 toward stage 2 between cleanings
How It Works
Our chimney inspection level 1 process
A Level 1 is a hands-and-eyes inspection of the readily accessible parts of the chimney. Inside: firebox brick and mortar joints, damper operation and seal, the smoke chamber as far as we can see, the hearth, and the flue from below with a bright light. Outside: crown, cap, flashing, brick and mortar on the stack, and the chimney's general lean or movement from the ground and the roof. We confirm the appliance is connected to the flue it should be on and that the flue is free of obvious blockages and heavy deposits. We do not use a camera, remove the damper, or open walls, attic or chase framing at this level.
Confirm Level 1 fits
Same appliance, same fuel, no sale, no fire, no storm damage. If any of those have changed, we tell you a Level 2 is the better buy before we start.
Interior visual check
Firebox, damper, smoke chamber, hearth and the lower flue with a light. We note cracked firebrick, a damper that does not seal, and the creosote stage.
Exterior and roofline check
Crown, cap, flashing, brick and mortar on the stack. Our crew handles all roof access; you stay on the ground.
Flue condition from below
A light up the flue for blockages, heavy buildup, obvious tile displacement or a missing cap. Anything that looks wrong gets flagged for a camera.
Written summary
A plain list of what we saw, whether a sweep is needed, and whether anything should step up to Level 2. Any repair gets a free quote.
Options
Repair and service options
Level 1 is the simplest inspection we offer, and it pairs naturally with a few routine services:
- Sweep and inspection, starting at $299: the most common booking. The Level 1 check and a standard sweep of one wood-burning flue happen on the same visit. See chimney sweep.
- Inspection only: if you want to know whether the flue needs sweeping before paying for it, we inspect first and tell you honestly.
- Annual plan: a reminder at the same time next year, so the Level 1 becomes a habit. See annual inspection.
- Step up to Level 2: if the Level 1 turns up a displaced tile, signs of a past fire, or unexplained water, we recommend a camera scan and quote it before doing anything further.
- Minor fixes on the spot: a loose cap screw, a damper that needs freeing, or a small gap at the crown can often be handled the same day with your approval.
Free quote on any repair, free second opinion on any other company's quote, and price match plus 10–25% off.
Pricing
What affects the price
- Inspection only versus inspection bundled with a sweep
- Number of flues in the chimney
- Roof pitch and how the top of the stack is reached
- Whether the fireplace has an insert or stove that limits the view from below
- Distance from our Renton office for outlying Puget Sound addresses
Every chimney is different, so you get a written quote after we look at the system. Ask about our price match and free second-opinion quote.
Safety & Seattle Conditions
Safety considerations
A Level 1 inspection is how most problems get caught while they are still small: a damper that no longer seals, a cap screen packed with debris, the first stage of creosote, a crown crack letting water in. NFPA 211 recommends an annual inspection for every chimney, and Level 1 is the level it describes for a system in continued use with no changes. What a Level 1 cannot do is see the inside of the flue tiles. If there is any reason to suspect hidden damage, it is the wrong tool, and we will say so.
Never light a fire after a suspected chimney fire, and never use a fireplace with a blocked flue, until it has been inspected. Leave roof and chimney-top work to our certified and insured crew.
Seattle & Puget Sound conditions
The reason a yearly look matters here is rain. Sea-Tac's NOAA 1991–2020 normals put about 29.65 inches of precipitation into October through March, roughly 73% of the year's 40.34-inch total, and that is the same stretch when fireplaces run every night. A crown hairline or a lifted flashing edge that was harmless in July is wet for months by January.
A Level 1 in late summer, before the November peak of 6.31 inches, catches those small openings in time. Winter lows at Sea-Tac average just above freezing (37.1°F in December), so wet masonry crosses the freezing point repeatedly rather than staying frozen, which the Brick Industry Association identifies as the pattern that cracks and spalls saturated brick.
Our Work
Chimney Inspection Level 1 in action
Book your annual Level 1 chimney inspection
Sweep and inspection starting at $299. Free quote on any repair, free second opinion on any quote. Call 206-453-2045.
☎ 206-453-2045 Request a QuoteQuestions
Chimney Inspection Level 1 FAQ
What does a Level 1 chimney inspection include?
A visual check of the readily accessible parts of the chimney: firebox, damper, smoke chamber, hearth, the flue from below with a light, and the exterior crown, cap, flashing, brick and mortar. We confirm the flue is clear and free of heavy deposits and that the appliance is connected properly. No camera, no tools beyond a light, and nothing is opened up.
What does a Level 1 not cover?
It does not scan the inside of the flue with a camera, so cracked or shifted tiles above the damper can be missed. It does not open the attic, crawlspace, chase framing or any concealed area. If you are buying or selling, changing the appliance or fuel, or have had a chimney fire, earthquake or storm damage, NFPA 211 recommends a Level 2 inspection instead.
When is Level 1 enough?
When the chimney is in continued use, nothing about the appliance or fuel has changed, there has been no fire or event, and there are no symptoms such as leaks, smoke in the room or loose brick. That describes most fireplaces in most years, which is why Level 1 is the annual standard. The moment something changes, step up a level.
How often should I get a Level 1 inspection?
Once a year, which is what NFPA 211 recommends for every chimney regardless of how much it is used. For a wood fireplace burned through the winter, the annual Level 1 is also what decides whether a sweep is needed. Late summer or early fall is the best time in Seattle, before the wet season and the burning season start together.
Is the Level 1 inspection free?
The inspection is a paid service, but the quote for any repair it finds is free, and a second opinion on another company's quote is free too. Bundled with a sweep, our sweep and inspection special starts at $299 for one wood-burning flue. Call 206-453-2045 and we will tell you which option makes sense for your chimney.
Can a Level 1 be done on a gas fireplace or a prefab chimney?
Yes. On a gas unit we inspect the venting, termination cap, chase cover and chase for water and corrosion; we do not touch gas valves, pilots or gas lines. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility. On factory-built chimneys the usual Level 1 findings are a rusting chase cover or a cap with a torn screen.
Will you push me to a Level 2 I do not need?
No. We confirm the level before we start, and we only recommend a camera scan when a Level 1 finding calls for it, such as signs of a past chimney fire, a tile we can see out of place, or water we cannot trace. If a Level 1 is enough, we say so and charge for a Level 1.
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