What are Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 chimney inspections?
Out in Fairview, wood heat is a natural fit for the big wooded lots, and around here creosote is the leading cause of chimney fires when the fall sweep gets skipped — which puts the yearly Level 1 front and center. NFPA 211's three tiers run from that annual check, to a Level 2 camera scan after a fire or fuel change, up to an invasive Level 3.
Creosote, the fall sweep, and the annual check
Fairview's forested Cane Creek and Garren Creek properties make wood heat an easy choice, but a wood fire lays down creosote — the tarry, flammable residue that builds inside a flue and, left alone, is the number-one cause of chimney fires. The defense is a fall sweep paired with a Level 1 inspection: an accessible-parts check for creosote, clearance, and obstruction before you burn all winter. On a wood-heated Fairview home, that yearly visit isn't optional; it's what keeps a chimney fire from ever starting.
After a fire, or after a conversion
If a Fairview chimney does have a fire, NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 afterward — a camera scan up the full liner to confirm the heat didn't crack or warp it, since that damage hides inside. The same tier applies when you convert to propane, which many homes out here run: adding a sealed propane insert changes the appliance, so it gets a fresh scan and a correctly sized liner, with the connection permitted through Buncombe County and pressure-tested by a licensed gas contractor.
When it becomes a Level 3
A Level 3 is the rare, invasive tier — opening a wall, ceiling, or the crown to reach a hazard a scan uncovered, like a cracked liner behind concealed masonry. We only recommend it when safety genuinely requires it, never to run up a bill, and we quote any repair before we open anything. Fifteen minutes east of our Emma Road showroom, we're in Fairview often. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What is the difference between a chimney inspection and a chimney sweeping?
- Do I need a chimney inspection when buying or selling a home?
- I just moved into a home with a fireplace — should I have it inspected before using it?
- What certifications should a chimney sweep have?
- What does a chimney sweep actually do during a cleaning?