Do I need a chimney inspection when buying or selling a home?
In Brevard, moisture is the reason to inspect before buying or selling — Transylvania County catches 80-plus inches of rain a year, and that water cracks chimney crowns, spalls brick, and rusts dampers on the homes and cabins here. A home inspector only glances at the firebox. For a real-estate transaction the standard is a Level 2 with a camera scan and a report.
What all that rain does to a chimney
Brevard's wet season, roughly March through June, is hard on masonry, and it's the top thing a real-estate scan turns up around here. Water gets into a cracked crown, works down through the brick, and rusts the damper and any steel liner from the inside out — and because crawl spaces and chimney chases in these homes trap damp, the deterioration often hides where a firebox inspection can't reach. The Level 2 video scan documents the flue's true state so a buyer isn't inheriting a relining bill and a seller isn't blindsided by the buyer's inspector in the final week. Waterproofing and a stainless cap are common fixes, but you only know you need them once a camera has been up the flue.
Downtown gas, cabin propane
Fuel runs mixed in Transylvania County — downtown Brevard homes may be on natural gas while the cabins toward Connestee Falls and Sherwood Forest run propane — so the inspection covers whatever the property actually burns. If it finds a gas connection that was never permitted or pressure-tested, correcting it is licensed work; a showroom or mason legally can't connect fuel in North Carolina. We pull the permit with Transylvania County, meet the inspector, and hand you a written report for your agent or insurer. We're about 40 minutes southwest of the Asheville showroom, so on a closing timeline, call early — (828) 545-0525 — and any repair is quoted upfront.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- I just moved into a home with a fireplace — should I have it inspected before using it?
- What are Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 chimney inspections?
- What is the difference between a chimney inspection and a chimney sweeping?
- Does homeowners insurance require proof of chimney or fireplace maintenance?
- What certifications should a chimney sweep have?