Is a chimney safe to use after a lightning strike or storm damage?
No — keep it out of service until a technician has run a camera down the flue, whether you're in a historic Montford home or newer South Asheville construction. Lightning and fallen limbs crack clay tiles and shift masonry in ways that never show from the yard. We're based right here on Emma Rd, so a Level 2 inspection is a short drive away.
Two kinds of Asheville chimney, two kinds of damage
The city's housing splits cleanly. In Montford, North Asheville, and the older pockets of West Asheville, most chimneys are original masonry with clay flue liners — and those are exactly what a strike ruins, flash-heating trapped moisture until a tile cracks top to bottom or a chunk lets go off the crown. Newer South Asheville and Biltmore Village builds usually vent sealed gas units out a sidewall or short flue, so there the storm question is whether an impact bent the termination or knocked the cap loose. Either way, a split liner or a crushed vent does the same dangerous thing — lets heat and carbon monoxide reach the framing around the chase, the hidden path nobody sees coming. That's why we don't guess from the driveway; the camera settles it.
Buncombe inspection, and the paper your adjuster needs
A Level 2 scan runs the whole flue and takes a hard look at the crown, cap, flashing, attic pass-through, and firebox — the industry standard after any sudden event. It also produces a written report with photos, and that matters here: lightning is usually the kind of loss a Buncombe County homeowner's policy responds to, but an adjuster acts on documentation, not a hunch. We inspect throughout Buncombe and put every finding on paper. Because we're headquartered on Emma Rd, we can often get out the same week and, if the cap or screen took a hit, tarp the top so rain and squirrels don't turn a small repair into a big one. Don't relight until we've cleared it. If a gas appliance was involved or you smell gas near the chimney, step outside and call (828) 545-0525 — our line answers around the clock.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
- Is it safe to use a wood fireplace with cracked flue tiles or a damaged chimney liner?
- How do I know if I've already had a chimney fire?
- Can I use my fireplace again after a chimney fire?
- Is a fireplace that hasn't been used in years safe to start using again?
- Should I get a fireplace and chimney safety inspection before buying an older home?