​Are all of your employees on the same page? Is there a discrepancy in terms or procedures? Does your office staff understand what your chimney technicians are trying to tell them? Does it take a long time to train new employees? These problems can be solved with the Chim-Scan® Factory Training (CSFT) class.

This class/book follows a video scanning and inspection process. Each of the five modules takes the technician from one transition point to the next. It provides an up-close view within the structure.  There is also a 17-page glossary with terms and images. The book includes over 400 photos that explain what you will see in the flue. 

How can your team be aligned if your technicians don’t agree on terms or the procedure? Is this causing confusion with your office staff? If each employee who trains a new technician uses their own terms and unique processes, this confuses the technicians and office support staff! Having streamlined training is essential to having a staff that works together. 
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Do your technicians understand what is happening in the flue? A cracked chimney does not always mean a chimney fire has occurred. A crack may indicate one of these causes: overfiring, chimney fire, or a seismic event. This book focuses in depth on the symptoms to look for other than cracks. There is other evidence to gather, images to capture, and analysis of how this may affect the structure. 

Highlights for the CSFT book and training:
• What is an Ideal Chimney? How does it stand up to IRC and NFPA 211?
• When do I use IRC, NFPA 211, or the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions?
• Understanding the Levels of Inspection and Chimney Scanning
• Cracks in the flue, Thermal Stress, and Thermal Shock
• Best viewing angles for scanning – the best angle to use by defect for the best images
• The Four Pathways to Deterioration, with examples and images
• Best Access Points for scanning
• What you might find in a chimney (animals, types of soot, etc.).
• Equipment check
• Scanning patterns

Once technicians become familiar with the content in the book, they can take the Chim-Scan® Factory Trained Technician Test to achieve this designation. They will earn a certificate and a patch. A copy of the logo is also available for their use now. This will put them light years ahead of their competition and make them a source of knowledge for homeowners.

​1. All new cameras and units will have the new connectors.
2. 2. Starting June 1st, any whole unit that needs a new connector will be changed to the new style.
3. We have a small stash of old connectors, so we intend to use them only for repairs.
4. The new connectors are cheaper, but the durability is top quality.
5. *Starting May 1st, all cameras with Y-blocks must be upgraded to J3D Cameras. We will put old connectors on them as long as we have the old connectors available.
6. Please ask if you’d like an adaptor cable from the old to the new connector.
7. Payment plans are available for people who ask. It’s ½ down, and the balance is financed over 3 months. No interest.
We know there will be some confusion and snafu’s, so please share this information with everyone in your company who deals with your Chim-Scan®!
*There’s no discount or coupon.
For those who own multiple units, you may want to think about sending units in to be switched over before fall.
To obtain a price Quote
Please send us a picture of your camera and your unit. You can text photos to 641-472-7643 or send them to [email protected]. Please let us know if you would like an upgrade, require repair, want it refurbished, or just cleaned. Please fill out the repair form before sending it in for repair and enclose a copy in the box. 
We will call you if we have questions and send you a  quote. The work doesn’t start until we get your approval.
Financing 
In a bit of a pinch? Whether you want to purchase a new unit or need upgrades, we have a payment plan if this project is a little more than you planned. We still require ½ down, but the remaining balance can be spread out over 3 monthly payments.
Thank you for your business!!

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. 
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​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. 
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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. 

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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

​Hi! I’m SeeMore-Chimneys, and I want to introduce you to the most extraordinary chimney camera out there! It’s called the Chim-Scan® J3D Camera and is the champion of the extreme sport of chimney scanning!

My friend, the J3D, is a product of evolution. It started with the Combo Camera, which has a side camera with all of the Lighthouse™ features and a top camera. First, a flexible white rod and, later, a flexible spring connected the top camera to the Lighthouse. This was the best camera yet, with multiple options. Because we are innovators working to improve our products and ease the process of chimney scanning, we continued to hone the Combo Camera, and the J3D Camera was born.

It is built heavy-duty, like a tank! We understand that it has to withstand bumps, scratches, and drops, all in an environment with creosote, debris, and scary critters - all kinds of dangerous areas! 

Today, when combined with our Units, our high-resolution J3D has two cameras. The side camera rotates continuously without having to hold a button. There is a speed control dial that allows you to adjust the rotation speed. When creating a video, the rotation can stop to capture an image. 

The lens tilts from 0 to 90 degrees for viewing misaligned tiles and hard-to-see defects. It has two rows of 9 dimmable bright LED lights: one row above and another row below the side camera, totaling 18 dimmable lights for that camera. The high-resolution top camera has 12 bright LED Lights surrounding the camera in a circle. These lights are also dimmable. The top camera looks straight up (or down) the flue, which is excellent for checking for blockages, Chimney Swift Nests, or critters in the flue. 

Orange and white whisker stabilizers are included with the camera. They are easy to adjust and replace as needed. We also include your choice of chimney rod adapter. If you have an older Unit, we may need to upgrade it to include these capabilities in the controller. We can upgrade most older cameras, or you can ask us about a trade-in for your old Unit or camera.
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The J3D camera is 6" shorter than the Combo Camera, and this compact powerhouse has two high-resolution cameras that provide optimal chimney scanning. We have integrated 3-D printing into the J3D, removing some weight to make it lighter. But it’s still a rugged, industrial-quality camera ready to participate in the extreme sport of inspecting chimneys day after day. You won’t find a competitive match anywhere unless it’s another J3D Camera. Scroll below. The J3D will work with our Series 100 and 211 controller/monitor. If you have an older unit, please contact us to ensure it can run all of the J3D features. It may need an upgrade.
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#Chimney, Chim-Scan, chimney camera, chimney flue, #industrial quality camera

​Hello, I’m See-More-Chimneys. I’ve spent over 40 years at Estoban helping test the Chim-Scan® chimney inspection cameras. I’ve seen what the cameras have been through on the front lines and heard the stories. A chimney camera has to be strong, tough, and capable of intense physical activity. Our Chim-Scan® cameras have been designed for commercial use. That means standing up to interior chimney abuse daily in the EXTREME job of scanning chimneys. 

The Chimney Environment
Chimney interiors are long, dark, and mysterious. They often harbor insects and animals. The residue from the products of combustion, such as soot, tarlike creosote (cameras hate this), shiny glazed creosote, acidic residue, and moisture. This requires a chimney camera designed to withstand extreme conditions. It must also withstand navigating rough surfaces, broken tiles, damper frames, and thimbles. A chimney camera has to be strong, tough, and capable of withstanding extreme conditions while delivering high-resolution images, which Chim-Scan® does. 
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Repairable
Our cameras have 40+ years of experience built into navigating chimney interiors. If there were an Extreme Olympic Sport for scanning chimneys, our cameras would wear the gold medal. We are not disposable electronics. Our equipment is mission-critical, made with high-reliability electrical components that ensure daily use and uninterrupted service. Occasionally, something may happen to a camera, such as wear and tear, extreme interior conditions, or accidental operator damage. Since we make these cameras and units right in Iowa, you can return it to us. We built it. If you break it, we can fix it. If it’s older than 15 years, our options for replacement parts may be limited.
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Upgrades
Because we are innovators constantly looking for ways to improve our products and make chimney scanning easier for you, we create a lot of updates. We offer an upgrade service available on units up to 15 years old. For instance, if you have a Combo Camera, we can shorten it and make it a J3D. If you want the 0-90° tilt mechanism added, that’s doable. Just ask if you want to add the power tool battery pack so you can use a battery from DeWalt®, Milwaukee®, Bosch®, Rigid®, Makita® or Kobalt®. 
There are still some really old functioning cameras out there. If it can’t be upgraded, ask us about a trade or keep your old camera and/or unit as a backup. One of our customers proudly displays their old Chim-Scan® Unit in their office. 
In conclusion
Since we started as chimney sweeps, we understand the business. Innovation is our continuous goal. We consistently manufacture new products or add features with the latest technology available. Sometimes, we wait a little until the issues are worked out of certain components and until they have a proven track record. Last year, we celebrated our 40th anniversary. That’s 40 years of making rugged, reliable, commercial-quality chimney inspection cameras—Chim-Scan—the EXTREME camera. Built for possibilities.
#chimney, #chimney inspection, #chimney camera, #Chim-Scan, #video chimney

​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.
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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.

​Making informed decisions is essential when it comes to your home. Your chimney is no different. Most interior flue defects are not apparent to the naked eye. This is why having your chimney swept, scanned, and inspected at least annually is so critical. We manufacture the Chim-Scan® Internal Evaluation Systems, chimney cameras for detecting and recording defects and healthy flue images. We are in the chimney inspection business!
Here's an example of why having your chimney scanned annually is so important! 
A homeowner had his chimney swept every year. The chimney sweep, in good faith, thought he was doing a great job of cleaning and inspecting the chimney. There was one catch, though. He didn't use a chimney camera. A year later, he brought a camera to the job. The camera revealed damage to the chimney's interior that might have resulted in a house fire if the conditions were right. Conditions within the chimney can change, which is why it’s so important to have your chimney cleaned, scanned, and inspected at least once annually.
We began our company as a chimney sweeps. In the early '80s, no camera would work in a chimney. We became frustrated when sweeping chimneys because we couldn’t see the flue's interior. It was quite a challenge, but we built our first chimney camera, the only dedicated one at the time. It meant long days, including hard work, all done around our sweeping business. It took over a year to build the first unit. Fast-forward to today (40 years later), where technology is abundant, and we continue to innovate, update, and educate. We’ve come a long way.  
Additionally, when educating our customers, we created the Chim-Scan® Factory-Trained Technician Program, which includes training and two books on scanning and inspecting chimneys. This educational program was written for chimney sweeps, home inspectors, and others interested in chimney scanning. We even offer classes. Our president, Tom Urban, is an industry expert and teacher. He taught at the Chimney Safety Institute of America School, National Chimney Sweep Guild Events, State Chimney Guilds, and other locations. We also provide in-house training in our lab in Fairfield, Iowa.
Tom was interviewed on 20/20, CNN, newspapers, and other sources. He was even a guest star in an episode of This Old House. We also want to help America's homeowners enjoy their fireplaces and keep them warm and toasty. So, look for more blogs or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TickTok.

​Whether performing chimney inspections or reading a chimney inspection report, one thing is clear: It is hard to argue with a high-resolution picture taken during a chimney inspection with a camera showing defects deep inside the flue. A chimney inspection done with the naked eye is no comparison to an internal chimney scanning. I used a 5’ chimney prop with hidden defects in the chimney inspections and classes I taught for 21 years. Almost 99.9% of the time, the inspectors missed an opening defect within the flue by inspecting only with a flashlight and the naked eye. These defects were only 17” from their face. 

Images and videos from scanning chimneys are one part of the equation. If you read a report with multiple pictures, can you understand what the defects are and what caused them? Here are some other questions to consider:

1. Can you identify and define “What is a defect?” within the chimney interior?"
2. Can you determine how the defect was created or the most probable way it was created?
3. Did you rule out other causes and conditions, leaving probable causes as to why the defect is there?

In my forty years in the chimney industry, I have accumulated a lot of images, videos, and knowledge regarding chimney construction and defects. I have also spoken at national and state organizations and taught at a national trade organization school for over twenty years (Chimney Safety Institute of America). 

This wealth of experience led me to envision a way to share this information with the chimney industry and anyone interested in internal chimney inspections, culminating in the following book. The Chimney Scanning & Inspection Guide.
Within this book is a brief outline:

• Where to start – Use IRC, NFPA 211, local codes, or the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Where to put drop cloths and prepare the area for the inspection
• How does scanning chimneys fit within the Levels of Inspection (NFPA 211)? Where do the Levels of Accessibility fit into all this?
• How do structure integrity and flue condition compare to what is the ideal chimney in the code books?
• What is happening within the flue and the chimney?
• What is the probable cause of the defect or symptom, along with an explanation?

Operating a chimney camera using the proper techniques and observation skills should produce more answers regarding the flue’s condition rather than presenting more questions. Since there are many types of installation, we segmented this book into modules to provide a step-by-step approach to chimney scanning by chimney type. The modules include:
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• Scanning a Masonry Chimney and Fireplace
• Scanning a  Masonry Chimney and Fireplace with an Appliance (Hearth Stove & Insert)
• Scanning a Masonry Thimble Chimney Serving an Appliance(s) (Solid Fuel or Liquid Fuel(s)
• Scanning a Prefab Chimney and Fireplace
• Scanning a Prefab Chimney Serving an Appliance (Solid Fuel or Liquid Fuel(s)

Each installation type offers its unique challenges. We detail the differences between types of installations, including conditions to be alert for and the typical defects for each. The training modules listed above tell you the best access points and offer a step-by-step assessment process for home protection, defect diagnosis, and cleanup. If you would like more information about our books, click here. Otherwise, continue reading our blogs to learn about your interests.

Becoming a Chim-Scan® Factory-Trained Technician is a unique factory training program. It starts with our Chimney Scanning and inspection Guide. You can take the test once you feel confident that you know the information. You will receive a patch, certificate, and the Chim-Scan® Factory-Trained designation upon passing. 
 There are many benefits of becoming a Chim-Scan® Factory Trained Technician: 
• You may be able to get lower insurance coverage rates. Ask your agent about this.
• You receive a certificate, a patch, and the number upon passing. 
• You receive a copy of our Chim-Scan® Technician Logo for advertising. 
• This book is packed with great information: 

•  There are over 400 pictures in the book.
• The book explains Levels of Inspection and Access Points
• When to refer to IRC and NFPA 211
• Angles of imagery
• Probable cause
• The Four Pathways
• Five modules featuring multiple installation types

1. Masonry fireplace
2. Masonry fireplace with an appliance - insert or hearth stove
3. Masonry thimble chimney with a solid or liquid fuel appliance(s)
4. Prefab fireplace & chimney
5. Prefab chimney with a solid fuel or liquid fuel appliance(s)

The open-book multiple-choice test is based on this guide, the Chim-Scan® Manual, and knowledge of the Chim-Scan® System. Each question is worth one point. Since this is an open-book test, 85% of correct answers are passing scores. 
You can take the test online. Once you finish the test (100 questions) and press the Submit Button, you will receive your pass/fail at that time. Your Certificate of Completion is ready to print directly off the site. You can take it up to two times before you incur an additional charge. 
Here is the breakdown of the test and manual cost: 
The training Manual is $200 in print form, including the test for one person (there is a retest fee if the test needs retaking more than twice). If you order your book(s) before 1/31/2025, you will only pay ($87 + $15.50 shipping.) 
For each test, it is only $50 for each individual from the same company. For information on taking the 
test, scan the QR code below, visit our website at www.chimscanfactorytraining.com, or give us a call to order at 641-472-7643.