1. Commercial-grade imaging equipment. There’s a difference between our products and disposable consumer electronics.

2. We fix what we sell. Chim-Scans® are made by hand here in Iowa.

3. We offer upgrades on older equipment. 

4. Two reference guides: Chimney Scanning & Inspection Guide and Interior Chimney Scanning.
5. Chim-Scan® Factory-Trained Technician Program™. 

6. The Flue & Hearth Notes™ for documentation and reporting.

7. Easy-to-understand product manual with a quick-start guide.

8. A book targeted specifically for realtors.

9. We promote our customers by providing your name and contact information to the American public when asked.

10. We provide an active website with information, videos, and the latest innovations.
11. When you call, the phone is answered by a live person. 

12. We offer 40 years of experience in equipment building, 110 years of combined industry experience in-house, and reliable equipment that 8 people in Iowa build. 
​

​The Screen-Shooter™ is a simple way to take interior chimney photos and upload them to your preferred storage without needing special apps, FTP, or Wi-Fi. Over the past year, we asked our customers how they took chimney inspection photos. Most said they were taking pictures with their phones and using the SD as a backup. The most common problem they encountered was glare, which ruined a great image, and being unsteady while taking the photo. So, we updated the concept of our original Screen-Shooter™ to adapt to today’s conditions.  

The Screen-Shooter® creates a “blackout” condition for the phone’s camera, allowing it to focus on the screen and giving you the perfect shot. 
​
Each Screen-Shooter™ is 3D printed in our shop, so you never know what color you'll receive, but it'll look fabulous! (Don’t worry. We won’t let Shelley use pink, purple, or pastels).

Features:

• Phones easily slide into place
• Adjustable Knobs fit most Smart Phones
• Screen-Shooter™ easily connects to monitor
• The phone panel easily flips up to provide a direct view of the monitor.
• The 100 includes a bracket for tilting the unit back for proper viewing while on the hearth extension or floor.
• 211 has a built-in monitor/controller tilt adjustment feature that also allows the monitor to lay flat when scanning thimbles. 

​
PRICING:
The Series 100 Screen-Shooter™ is $150 (Includes case bracket)
The Series 211 Screen-Shooter™ is $154.

If you want the Screen-Shooter™ added to your Controller/Monitor, you can send it back, and we will add the bracket (and remove the screen protector).

#chimney camera, #Chim-Scan, #inspect chimney, #chimney inspection, #chimney videos, #chimney pictures, #Screen-Shooter

​Our cameras feature a high-resolution chip for taking images and videos during chimney inspections. These cameras provide focus from 2” to infinity and beyond. Each camera will need a Chim-Scan® Unit to run it. 

Here are our seven cameras and their applications:
The J3D™ Camera has two cameras. A top camera for straight-up views and a side camera with a 0-90° tilt. The camera rotates continuously in a 360° pattern without having to hold a button. You can adjust the rotation speed from slow to dizzy. We do suggest a slower speed when recording a video. You can stop rotation at any time to take a photo. The J3D has 30 dimmable LED lights to brighten even the darkest chimneys. There are two rows of 9 lights above and below the side camera and 12 on top of the second camera. Both white and orange stabilizers and a rod adaptor are included.  

The Lighthouse™ Tilt Camera is the bottom half of the J3D. It features 360° of continuous rotation without having to hold a button, and the rotation speed can be easily adjusted. The camera includes a 0-90° Tilt and 2 rows of bright LED lights that are dimmable. Both white and orange stabilizers and a rod adaptor are included. 

The Mini-Enviro is the New Version of the Enviro.
Mini-Enviro™ Camera Lineup
The Mini-Enviro Camera is a high-resolution camera with 9 bright LED lights and has four different ways to use it. This economical camera provides high-resolution images and videos when inspecting chimneys, chases, attics, crawl spaces, and other hard-to-reach areas. The Mini-Enviro™ and the JS Ball ™ are priced attractively and are a great addition to your system to have as a backup camera. Here’s our lineup:

Our Mini-Enviro™ Camera set in a bracket provides high-resolution images and videos from a side view for detecting defects when scanning flues. It is set into a 3-D bracket and includes a built-in new-style mini whisker with orange and white stabilizers and a rod adaptor. The bracket is called the scanning bracket and is the most popular style. And is the standard for the camera. When you order the Mini-Enviro™ with other brackets, you won’t get this bracket. To rotate the camera, you must manually turn the chimney rods. It is a power-packed yet economical camera. 

Our new JS Ball with Mini-Enviro™ Camera was originally custom-designed for a customer, but it worked so well that we added it to our catalog. It also captures high-resolution images and videos. This camera is fixed at a 15° angle for viewing multiple interior chimney defects such as misaligned flue tiles, open mortar joints, cracks, damaged liners, and more! Like the Mini-Enviro™ Camera above, the chimney rods must be turned to scan the flue using the barber pole and reverse barber pole method. This small camera measures 5¼" high, 2" wide when facing head-on, and 2 ½" from front to back.  It also includes orange and white whisker stabilizers and a rod adaptor. 

The Dryer Vent Camera Plus™ is a Mini-Enviro™ enclosed in the Dryerball bracket (less than 2.5”) with a probe to navigate 90° elbows. The Mini-Enviro Camera is enclosed in a ball. This system includes a 35' no-kink continuous flexible rod (a 50’ custom rod is available) and a case with an easy-access cutout.

Our Mini-Enviro™ Camera on the Wired Gooseneck Rod is excellent for hard-to-access areas such as ash pits, fireplace smoke shelves, and other hard-to-reach places where a flexible camera and rod are needed, like attic spaces, wall cavities, smaller woodstoves when inspecting the interior and chases.
​
The Mini-Enviro™ is permanently attached to the Gooseneck Rod and cannot be removed. This protects the camera from falling off, and when it is paired with a painter’s pole, it’s even more stable.

The Mini-Enviro™ Camera on a Painter’s Pole provides high-resolution images and videos of challenging areas such as crawl spaces, unfinished attics, chimneys that are too far from the access door, and other hard-to-reach areas. It features 9 bright LED lights, a wired flexible Gooseneck Rod, and a wired telescoping 16’ painter’s pole. It is also ideal for checking gutters. To see images of it in use, click here.

These cameras cover a multitude of applications. Remember, each requires a Chim-Scan® Unit for smooth camera operation, video and image capture, and storage option.

We began our venture into the chimney industry as chimney sweeps in Pennsylvania in the 1970s. We swept chimneys and inspected them with the only available tool—a flashlight and, later, a mirror. It always left us feeling discomfort that there wasn't a better way to see into the chimney, and we might be missing something. Thus, we began building the first designated chimney inspection camera, and 40 years later, we are still manufacturing chimney cameras. 

Since we were chimney sweeps, we knew a chimney camera had to be tough. Chimneys can be rough and damaged, have sharp edges, contain acids, and pose a multitude of risks to any camera. Our commitment still stands today as we continue to manufacture commercial quality equipment designed specifically for the chimney industry.
 
In the video, Tom shares a story that would have shattered most cameras. A drop off a 40-foot building with only a damaged switch and a repair of $350. Tom also demonstrates as he drops our camera off the mezzanine at a distance of 16'. 

We are committed to quality, and we repair and upgrade our equipment. We get it. We understand the challenges of inspecting, cleaning, and relining chimneys.

​The chimney is a long and dark mystery that has been a part of human culture through the centuries. Because our ancestors frequently used their chimneys for heating and cooking. They were at the chimney's mercy when they became clogged. An unfortunate goose or a small child was used to attempt to dislodge blockages and sweep away the soot and grime. For centuries, humans' best efforts have led to the question, "Can I see from bottom to top?" and “Does it look OK?” Based on a poor visual view, they assumed all was good! Only in recent history can we see inside the chimney to determine whether there are defects and why the system may not be venting correctly.
Tom and Esther Urban started sweeping chimneys in 1979 after spending time in the Peace Corps. They founded their business in Pennsylvania and enjoyed interacting with customers. What bothered them was that they couldn’t see into the chimneys very well. The concept of an interior chimney camera was born.
At that time, there were no chimney cameras. Trying to lower a regular camera was not only a bad idea, but when Tom attended a security conference in New York City, the vendors asked, “You want to do WHAT with a camera?” They thought he was nuts.
Today, Tom, Esther, and their Daughter Shelley run a chimney camera manufacturing business. They design, construct, and assemble new cameras, controllers/monitors, and repairs, in addition to wearing many other hats. Their staff is well-taught, can tackle complex wiring boards and repairs, and runs diagnostic procedures on damaged units needing repair. The chimney camera equipment is manufactured just outside Fairfield, Iowa, a small town in Southeast Iowa. Their chimney cameras have been used for four decades to pinpoint defects, take images, and capture videos, making America’s homes safer.
These cameras are reliable, easy to use, repairable, and manufactured from heavy-duty commercial parts. They are designed for day-to-day use for scanning chimneys. Other uses include air duct scanning, crawl spaces, confined spaces, search and rescue, and are even installed on farm equipment. Along with the equipment, Tom provides technical support training on chimney scanning, diagnostics, and documentation. He taught for the National Chimney Sweep Guild at conventions, the Chimney Safety Institute of America, several state chimney sweep guilds, and home inspectors. He was a guest on 20/20, This Old House, CNN, and others. He served as an NCSG director, as the head of the Tech Committee, and on the CSIA Board of Directors. He received some of the industry/s highest awards, such as the President’s Award from the National Chimney Sweep Guild, the Education Award from the Chimney Safety Institute of America, and more. 

​The Chim-Scan© J3D™ chimney inspection camera provides the ultimate view for scanning the interior of chimneys. It includes two built-in cameras. The top camera provides a zero-degree (straight up/down) view for that first scan up the flue to quickly check the chimney condition. The bottom camera has a 90-degree side view, and you can tilt the camera head up to 45 degrees up or down to view at an angle. These angles are great for taking close-up images of defects.
Stabilization and Protection
To ensure the images and videos are captured without blurriness, the camera includes two stabilizers for spacing & stabilization. These stabilizers are built into the top camera, and at the base, so it is ready for scanning. The orange and white whisker stabilizers are interchangeable, giving you flexibility. The orange whiskers are flexible, and the white whiskers are stiffer. Each Lighthouse and J3D camera includes a set of adjustable stabilizers built into the camera to keep it stable within the chimney. This stabilization prevents wobbling, avoiding incomplete and erratic camera movement.
Lens Rotation & Capturing Images During a Scan
The lower camera head camera can rotate continuously clockwise or counterclockwise without holding a button. If you spot a defect while recording a video, flip the "Lighthouse" Switch to the Hold (center) position to still the camera rotation to capture a specific image. The video will continue recording during this time. If you want to capture a specific image while recording a video, you can do this without pausing the recording.
Clarity of Image
The Chim-Scan® Cameras have a high-resolution camera with a fixed focal range. Stabilizers are included with the camera to provide stability without adjusting the focal range for clear images. Sometimes, J3D wheels and brackets are used for negotiating challenging turns in place of stabilizers.
Illumination
The Chim-Scan® Cameras include specially designed LED Lights built in with lighting adjustment controls at the control box. LED lights provide bright illumination to light up the dark flue corners—these specialty-designed LED lights prevent hot spots.
 Position of Lens
You do not have to continuously hold a button to adjust the speed and rotation of the Lighthouse Tilt or J3D cameras. You can position these cameras to scan from 0° up to 45° degrees up or 45° down. This tilt feature makes adjusting the camera as easy as the flip of a switch or turn of a knob. With the Lighthouse™ Tilt Combo or J3D Camera, you can flip a switch to change the view from the flue side to view the chimney straight up or down.
Vertical View
The J3D Chimney Camera provides a vertical view (5" to 10"), depending on the liner's size. This range of vertical views depends on the flue size.  
Angled View
Your camera needs to be able to view up to a 45-degree angle. Having a tilt lens enables you to see the following situations clearer: Misaligned liners, beyond gaps in the mortar joints or missing tiles, unique angles for flaking liners, cracking, and moisture damage.
Compatible for scanning through thimbles and dampers
The J3D Chimney Camera is designed to scan masonry and prefab chimney flue interiors. This 9" long camera can fit through thimbles and fireplace dampers for masonry and prefabricated construction. It is 6" shorter than the older Combo Cameras. The top camera is not removable.
Wheels are included for maneuvering challenging offsets, thimbles, and dampers.
Each J3D Camera includes a wheel bracket and two sets of two J3D Wheels. These wheels – two on the front and two on the back assist in scanning through challenging thimbles and offsets. Ensure the wheels are on the camera's top (or front) side when traveling through the thimble. As the camera moves vertically into the thimble, the top or front wheels start the turn, allowing the camera to roll, and the rear (lower wheels) follow, rolling the camera through the transition. The top camera is not removable. Use the Utility Camera and Wired Gooseneck to access hard-to-reach areas like chases, ash pits, smoke shelves, etc. Compatible with 211 or 100 Controller Units.
 The Tilt and Rotate Switches are on the controller (see below). These switches control the following camera functions while scanning:

• Rotational Speed Control
• Rotation Directional Control (left/right)
• Switching between Combo/Enviro and Other Cameras (switch between straight-up view and side, 45-degree views).
• Tilt Switch (tilts lens up to 45 degrees and Up/Hold/Down – Hold for pictures).  

In addition to these options, there are other monitor functions such as:

• SD Controller (if chosen)
• Unit Power and Light Variation Knob
• Unit Power LED Light
• AC/DC Toggle Switch
• 2-Amp Fuse for Power (replaceable)
• DC Battery Fuse for 2-AMP (replaceable for Battery Pack)
• Camera fuse 1-AMP (replaceable)
• SD Bypass Switch (if SD won't work in below-freezing conditions)
• Microphone On/Off Switch with LED Mic Record Light

Correct camera functions and monitor/recorder are essential in taking informative pictures for chimney inspections. The right camera provides clear, bright images in varying angles with the option of videotaping the inspection process while taking snapshots. Rotating and adjusting the tilt mechanisms don't slow you down during the inspection process; capturing the images and videos you need leads to a successful inspection report.