Chimscan and other chimney interior flue inspection camera systems:

This article describes the use of a remote camera and lighting to perform a safety inspection of the condition of a chimney flue interior.

These articles on chimneys and chimney safety provide detailed suggestions describing how to perform a thorough visual inspection of chimneys for safety and other defects. Chimney inspection methods and chimney repair methods are also discussed.

Inspecting Chimney Flues by Remote Cameras

Peering up into a chimney flue from below or down into a flue from a rooftop access point, even with a bright light, is pretty much staring into a black abyss.

It is difficult to see all of the interior chimney surfaces.

Quite a few chimney cleaning companies offer a camera service which is in essence, a fisheye lens attached to a video camera which is lowered through the flue or which may be inserted into a chimney flue from inside the building at a fireplace or chimney thimble.

A Chimscan® is a common chimney inspection system you may hear about. Chimney inspection cameras permit a more careful inspection of the condition of the entire flue interior.

Especially on older masonry flues of unknown condition, this step can be quite valuable in assessing the safety and security of the flue against fire, spark, or gas leaks.

Our photos, compliments of Mike Grossman in Duluth, MN, and other northern Minnesota contributors (HC & AC) show a special chimney inspection camera being prepared for use during a chimney inspection.

• Never use a chimney for any purpose if its safety condition is unknown.
  
  Serious fire or carbon monoxide hazards could be present
• Always look up into the flue
  
  with a bright light to see if you see thick coated-on creosote or debris, damage, holes;
  
  view is incomplete unless you are using a special chimney scanning camera, but often even a limited inspection can show evidence of an unsafe chimney or can suggest conditions that make a complete inspection an urgent recommendation

• Also don't forget to inspect the fireplace or woodstove flue before lighting the first fire 
  
  of the season- since an animal or insects could have obstructed the flue over the summer.
  
  If you have a properly screened cap on your chimney top you'll keep out the animals but not the insects.

Shown above and below, the ChimScan chimney flue inspection camera being prepared for use in a Two Harbors MN home.

Below: the technician sends the ChimScan camera UP the flue from inside the home by adding additional extensions to its push rod.

And below we see examples of what the chimney inspection camera can disclose: open mortar joints between clay chimney flue tiles - a potential fire or combustion gas hazard, and cracked flue tiles - the same hazard.

Photos courtesy of InspectApedia.com editor A. Church.

See more about this chimney repair

at CHIMNEY RE-LINING CHOICES - chimney lining alternatives when a flue liner is missing or damaged.

Below: our illustration provided by Carson Dunlop Associates shows the dangers of gaps between traditional clay tile flue liners.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question:

(Nov 29, 2011) catherine e robinson said:
how can i get a professional chimney person to check my zero clearance fireplace to see if scorching occurred ?

Reply:

Call your local fire inspector (in your building department or fire department) or when calling local fireplace or chimney contractors and inspectors ask their experience and credentials including membership in the National Chimney Sweeps Guild.

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Continue reading at CHIMNEY INSPECTION, FLUE INTERIOR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR - home
  • CHIMNEY FLUE INSPECTION CAMERA
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION CHECKLIST
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION, FLUE INTERIOR
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION from GROUND
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION INDOORS
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION OUTDOORS
  • CHIMNEY INSPECTION at ROOFTOP
  • CHIMNEY TOP MASONRY DAMAGE
  • INACCESSIBLE CONNECTIONS FIREPLACE, WOODSTOVE
  • SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS
  • UNLINED FLUE INSPECTIONS
• CHIMNEY INSPECTION PROCEDURE SUMMARY

Suggested citation for this web page

CHIMNEY FLUE INSPECTION CAMERA at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to CHIMNEYS & FLUES

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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