​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.

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.

​A leaky chimney can cause deterioration and unpleasantness. Moisture can cause many problems to the chimney and flue. It can also damage drywall, ceilings, and cause your fireplace to smell. An open chimney top leaves the chimney vulnerable. This big open area resembles a giant rain gauge but is much more significant.
An open chimney lets in moisture, such as rain, sleet, snow, debris, and animals, which causes deterioration and an unpleasant smell. A quality rain cap works like a big umbrella, directing rain away from the flue opening. A chimney cap with a screen is the best option, as the screen will deter animals from wanting to nest in your chimney.
A chimney crown (or wash) is a barrier that prevents moisture from entering the cavity between the flue tiles and the interior of the brick (or stone). It starts at a gap near the flue tile and extends to the exterior brick, often with an overhang and a drip edge. Cracks in the chimney crown allow moisture into the chimney, and the cracks can expand when the moisture is frozen, accelerating the damage. Most cracks in a chimney crown can be repaired, but if severe, the crown can be replaced.
Chimney flashing and counterflashing is a metal material that forms a moisture barrier between the chimney and the roofing material. Defective or improperly installed chimney flashing can let water into the chimney and the home since It tends to follow the chimney into an attic or enter rooms below the chimney, damaging ceilings, drywall, and other materials. Repairing or replacing the flashing will direct moisture away from the gap between the chimney and the home's structure.
Moisture can wash out the mortar joints holding the flue tiles together. The flue tiles are the first line of defense against combustion products. If the mortar is missing, the tiles can shift, or at the very least, they will leave an opening in the flue. Moisture can also cause flaking of the flue tile and bring creosote and mineral salts through the mortar to the chimney’s exterior, leaving dark creosote and (white) efflorescence stains.
When moisture has caused flue defects, several solutions can be explored. If the mortar joints are missing, relining the chimney is one option, or resurfacing the flue may be necessary (the flue tiles must be intact and aligned). A chimney technician can use stain removal cleaners to remove stains on the exterior. Another option is waterproofing the chimney’s exterior if the moisture penetrates the brick-and-mortar (or stone) exterior.
As more moisture travels down the chimney and into the flue, damage can occur, such as eroded mortar joints in the flue, smoke chamber, and firebox, particularly the back wall. It can rust a fireplace damper, glass door, and screens. This moisture will continue to break down the fireplace and damper while creating an unpleasant smell from the wet soot and debris, particularly in the spring and summer. The fireplace can be repaired and the damper replaced, but the moisture must first be stopped. Cleaning the flue and smoke chamber may help, but often, the soot is already soaked into the masonry, and it is impossible to remove all of it.
The best way to prevent moisture problems is to ensure that leaks are taken care of promptly to avoid further erosion problems. Keeping moisture out of the chimney will prolong its life and reduce annoying stains and odors. By spending a little now, costly future repairs can be avoided. Take heart; if there is damage from moisture, it can be repaired by a chimney professional so you can continue to enjoy your fireplace.
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