Swede Chimney Sweep

& Dryer Duct Cleaning

858-573-1672          619-466-1672

Email: office@swedesweep.com
 

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We are extremely proud to say that we are the ONLY Certified Chimney Sweep company in San Diego, CA that offers chimney video inspections!
 
 

 Chimney Video Inspections
 
  What is a chimney video inspection?
A chimney video inspection consists of sending a special video camera into the chimney flue from either above going down or by sending it up through the damper area from below and being able to either record video or take digital images of any issues such as cracks or gaps in the masonry chimney flue sections or if there are any disconnected flue pipes in a prefabricated chimney flue that are found that may not be visible otherwise.

 

 

 

 

  Using the video inspection camera allows us to spot any unsafe chimney conditions that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to see, such as:
 
bullet Flue pipe cracks, even hairline cracks
bullet Missing mortar or gaps between flue sections
bullet Damage caused by a chimney fire
bullet Obstructions in the flue
bullet Disconnected prefab flue pipe sections
bullet Broken or missing flue lining sections
bullet Deterioration of smoke shelf or damper
bullet Hidden breeches (gaps) in the chimney system
 

Chimney Before Being Swept

Heavy Creosote Buildup In Chimney Flue

Cracked Chimney Flue Lining
 

All of the pictures above are of the same chimney.  What they plainly show is the importance of having the chimney swept first in order to spot any damage to the system.
The Chimney Video Inspection Camera
 
 

The Wohler VIS 2000 Pro chimney video inspection camera has the ability to pan, tilt and rotate 180° and 360° by remote control directly from the controls at the monitor.  During the scan we can at any time save a digital video recording or a digital still image of any issues that we find in the chimney flue.

 

Wohler Video Inspection Camera System
  A typical inspection of the inside of a chimney flue lining without the camera is from the top of the chimney looking down with only a flashlight and the naked eye. This will only give you a minimal view of the system at best and leaves too much to guesswork. Using this method only allows us to see about the top 4' - 6' accurately. Only with a video camera, can we see every aspect of the chimney flue pipe sections and the mortar joints in-between.
  Why should I have a video inspection?
Chimney video inspections are commonly recommended if the customer, home inspector or the chimney sweep suspect problems in the system.  Some of the reasons why this type of inspection  would be recommended are:
 
bullet A potential crack or void is seen in the chimney during the initial chimney evaluation or sweeping
bullet After a chimney fire or other sudden occurrence event
bullet Change or replacement of an appliance with one of dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency
bullet Prior to relining chimney flue
bullet Upon sale or transfer of the property
bullet Some other form of suspected chimney damage
Other things you need to know about chimney video inspections...
  You should be aware that even the most thorough inspection may not reveal all problems. Some areas of a chimney simply are not accessible due to the construction of the chimney, but a chimney video inspection will provide you with the most effective method available to determine the interior condition of the chimney flue and any potential damage.

In almost all cases, a chimney sweeping will be required before a chimney video inspection can be done. This is because it’s very difficult to make the differentiation between a spider web and a crack in the flue lining, or to see any damage under even a small amount of creosote buildup.
 
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