Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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AfterLevel 2 Inspection in Allentown, PA
A Level 2 chimney inspection is the standard required any time something significant has changed – a real estate transaction, a conversion to a different fuel type, a chimney fire, or damage from a severe storm. In Allentown, our technicians complete a Level 2 inspection using a video camera system that reaches every part of the flue interior, and you see the photos before we leave. If something is wrong, you’ll know exactly what it is and what it costs to fix.
Hearthstone Chimney Co. has been doing this work since 1984. Russell Haines built this company on the idea that a homeowner deserves a plain-English verdict – not a vague warning designed to sell the most expensive repair on the truck. When you call us at (610) 632-1394, a live person answers, and we’ll get a uniformed, background-checked technician to your door with upfront pricing so the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice.
A Level 2 inspection is also what we recommend before any significant Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Allentown – because cleaning a flue with an unknown structural problem can push debris into cracks and make a manageable repair into a costly one. Knowing the condition of the system before we start is how we protect your home and our workmanship.
When You Need a Level 2 Inspection
The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 211 standard is clear: a Level 2 inspection applies in any of the following situations. If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies, call us. We’ll tell you straight.
- You’re buying or selling a home in Allentown. Lehigh County real estate attorneys and home inspectors increasingly flag chimneys for professional-level documentation. A Level 2 report with photos gives both parties a clear record – no ambiguity, no post-closing disputes.
- You’ve had a chimney fire. Even a chimney fire that seemed minor – a brief roar, some smoke, neighbors didn’t notice – can crack the flue liner in ways that are invisible from ground level. Only a camera inspection catches hairline fractures in a clay-tile liner before they become a carbon-monoxide or structure-fire problem.
- A severe storm came through the Lehigh Valley. The freeze-thaw cycle in Allentown is hard on masonry. A single winter of water working into a small crack can leave you with spalled bricks, shifted crown sections, or a liner that has heaved. After any significant weather event, a Level 2 inspection tells you what actually happened.
- You’re changing fuel types or installing a new appliance. Converting from an oil appliance to gas, adding a wood stove, or replacing an old insert all require a Level 2 inspection under NFPA 211. The new appliance may produce different flue-gas temperatures or moisture levels that the existing liner wasn’t built to handle.
- The system hasn’t been inspected in more than three years. Many Allentown homes – particularly the older brick colonials and ranchers in areas like Fullerton, Fountain Hill, and the West End – have chimneys that were last looked at when the previous owners were still around. Three-plus years is enough time for a minor issue to become a serious one.
- You had any kind of building event near the chimney. A tree falling against the house, a vehicle impact, blasting or excavation work nearby – any seismic or physical shock can shift the mortar joints or misalign the liner sections in ways that a surface-level inspection misses entirely.
Our Level 2 Inspection Process
We follow a consistent, documented process on every Level 2 job in Allentown. No step is skipped because the job looks simple from the outside. The whole point of a Level 2 inspection is that you can’t know what’s inside until you look.
- Arrival and walkthrough. Your technician arrives in a marked Hearthstone vehicle, in uniform, and introduces himself by name. We do a brief walkthrough of the fireplace and any visible chimney sections – exterior masonry, cap, crown, flashing – before any equipment comes off the truck. This is where we note visible concerns and set your expectations for what the camera may find.
- Full interior camera sweep. We lower a high-resolution video camera through the entire flue from crown to firebox. The camera captures footage and still images at any point where the technician sees a concern. This is what separates a Level 2 from a Level 1: we’re not estimating the condition from what we can see with a flashlight – we’re documenting it with equipment that reaches every section of the liner.
- Accessible area inspection. A Level 2 inspection includes all accessible portions of the chimney interior and exterior – the attic space where the chase passes through, the crawl space if applicable, and the roof surface around the flashing and cap. We look at mortar joints, liner joints, and any place where the system interfaces with combustible framing or insulation.
- Photo documentation and on-site review. Before we pack up, we sit down with you and walk through the photos on a screen you can actually see. We explain what each image shows in plain terms. If there’s a crack in the clay tile at the third joint above the smoke chamber, we’ll show you the photo, explain why it matters, and tell you what it costs to fix it under our upfront pricing model.
- Plain-English written verdict. You receive a written inspection report – not boilerplate, but specific findings tied to specific locations in your flue. If the system is clean and sound, we say so. If repairs are needed, the report identifies them by type, location, and recommended resolution. This document is yours to keep and share with your real estate agent, attorney, or insurance carrier.
- Repair estimate, if applicable. If we find anything that needs attention, you get a no-pressure, upfront estimate on the spot. All Hearthstone repair work is covered by the 90-Day Done Right Promise – in writing, no arguing. If the repair we made doesn’t hold, we come back and make it right. That’s what standing behind the work looks like in practice.
A note on safety: if the camera reveals a severely compromised liner – collapsed sections, significant displacement, or large open cracks – we’ll tell you plainly that the system should not be operated until it’s repaired. A damaged chimney liner is not a cosmetic issue. It is the barrier between combustion gases and your home’s framing. We use professional-grade liner materials from brands like DuraFlex and HeatShield when relining or repair is the right call – because using builder-grade substitutes in a repair we’re going to warrant is not something we’re willing to do.
Level 2 Inspection Pricing in Allentown
An Annual Sweep or Level 2 chimney inspection in Allentown typically runs between $250 and $450 depending on the specifics below. That range is for the inspection itself – documentation, camera work, written report, and the on-site review with you. It does not include any repairs, which are quoted separately with upfront pricing before any work begins.
| Factor | Typical Effect on Price |
|---|---|
| Single-flue residential chimney | Base range: $250 – $325 |
| Multiple flues (two or more) | Add $75 – $125 per additional flue |
| Post-chimney-fire inspection | Additional documentation time; $325 – $450 |
| Real estate transaction report | Standard range; formatted for legal/title use at no added cost |
| Combined with chimney sweep | Bundled pricing available – ask when you call |
These are honest working ranges, not bait-and-switch starting points. Our technicians quote the full scope of work before they begin, and the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. If you need a repair and it exceeds $250, our standing $50 Off Any Repair Over $250 offer applies. Senior and veteran homeowners receive a permanent 5% discount on all services.
If you’ve already received a written estimate from another company and something about it doesn’t sit right, call us at (610) 632-1394. We offer a free second opinion on any written estimate – no fee, no obligation. We’ve been doing this work in the Lehigh Valley since 1984. We know what things should cost.
FAQs – Level 2 Inspection
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection covers what a technician can see from ground level – the firebox opening, visible liner sections, exterior masonry, and cap. A Level 2 inspection includes all of that plus a full camera sweep of the flue interior for Soot Removal and inspection of all accessible portions of the chimney structure, including attic and crawl space areas. Level 2 is required by NFPA 211 any time there has been a change in the system – a new appliance, a fuel conversion, a chimney fire, or a real estate transaction. If you’re not sure which level you need, call us at (610) 632-1394 and describe the situation. We’ll tell you straight.
How much does a Level 2 inspection cost in Allentown?
In Allentown, a Level 2 inspection from Hearthstone Chimney Co. typically costs between $250 and $450 for a single-flue residential chimney, depending on the number of flues, the reason for the inspection, and whether it’s bundled with a Chimney Cleaning & Sweep. The price includes camera work, written documentation, and a photo review with you before we leave. There are no add-ons that appear on the invoice without being on the estimate first. Call (610) 632-1394 for a specific quote on your property – estimates are free.
Do I need a Level 2 inspection when buying a house in Allentown?
Yes, NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection any time a property changes hands. Many Allentown-area real estate transactions now include a chimney inspection as a standard contingency. A general home inspector can note visible concerns, but they are not qualified to assess the interior of the flue or the structural integrity of the liner – that requires a camera inspection by a qualified chimney professional. The written report we provide is formatted for sharing with your real estate agent, attorney, or title company. Call (610) 632-1394 to schedule before closing.
Can you do the inspection and any needed repairs in the same visit?
In many cases, yes. Our technicians carry professional-grade materials on the truck and are equipped to handle common repairs – tuckpointing, minor crown work, cap replacement, and damper issues – in a single visit. If the inspection reveals something that requires a more involved repair, like relining with DuraFlex or a HeatShield resurfacing application, we’ll schedule that as a follow-up with full upfront pricing. All repair work is covered by the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Call (610) 632-1394 and we can discuss what’s likely based on what you’re seeing.
Serving Allentown Homeowners Since 1984
Russell Haines started Hearthstone Chimney Co. in 1984 with the straightforward idea that homeowners deserve honest work and a clear explanation of what’s been done. Over 42 years, that hasn’t changed. We serve Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley communities – from the older masonry chimneys in Allentown’s West Park neighborhood to the newer gas-insert systems in newer construction further east. The chimneys are different. The standard we hold ourselves to isn’t.
We’re not a price-cutting chain operating off a franchise model, and we’re not a one-truck operation with no accountability. We’re a company that plans to be in Allentown in thirty more years, which means we do the job right the first time or we come back and fix it. That’s the 90-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s in writing.
If you’re due for a Level 2 inspection – whether it’s a real estate closing, a post-storm assessment, or simply a system that hasn’t been properly documented in years – call us at (610) 632-1394. A live person will answer. We’ll schedule your inspection, give you upfront pricing before any work starts, and leave you with photos you can see and a plain-English verdict you can act on. Free estimates on all inspection and repair work.
You can also learn more about our full range of services on the Hearthstone Chimney Co. home page or review what a standard annual sweep includes on our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Allentown page.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Allentown since 1984.