I'm buying a house with a fireplace — what should I have inspected?
In Brevard, water is the thing to inspect for — Transylvania County catches 80-plus inches of rain a year, and it cracks chimney crowns, spalls brick, and rusts dampers and caps. Have the crown, flashing, and flue scoped on a Level 2 inspection, and because much of Brevard runs on propane, confirm the gas unit's fuel and orifice before you close.
Rain is the enemy here
All that rainfall goes to work on a chimney. Crowns crack and let water into the flue, brick spalls, dampers and caps rust, and the crawl spaces and chimney chases behind the firebox stay damp long enough to rot framing. The wet season from March through June is relentless.
A camera scan of the flue plus a close look at the crown, cap, and flashing tells you what the moisture has already done — and whether a stainless cap and waterproofing can stop it.
Propane country checks
Brevard and its outlying cabins lean propane rather than a gas main. A unit converted or set up for the wrong fuel runs sooty and burns hot in the wrong places, so confirm LP versus NG, check the regulator and connection for leaks, and test the ignition.
Verify the permit history with Transylvania County. We're 40 minutes southwest — call (828) 545-0525 and we'll inspect it before your contingency ends.
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
- Does a standard home inspection cover the fireplace and chimney?
- What is a Level 2 chimney inspection and do I need one when buying a house?
- Is it safe to use the fireplace in a house I just bought before having it serviced?
- Will my homeowner's insurance have issues with an existing wood stove in a house I'm buying?
- Should I ask the seller to repair or service the fireplace before closing on a house?