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Chimney Inspections in the Flathead Valley

Camera down the whole flue, footage in your hands, and a report you can put in front of anyone.

Cracked clay tile liner inside a chimney

Under contract?

Tell us the inspection deadline when you call. We prioritise jobs with a closing date and turn the report around same-day where we can.

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There are three inspection levels and the difference matters more here than in most markets, because a large share of Flathead property changes hands every year and a chimney is one of the few systems a general home inspector explicitly does not fully assess.

Level 1 is the annual check that comes with a sweep - accessible parts, visible surfaces. Level 2 is required any time a property is sold or transferred, after a chimney fire, or when the appliance or fuel changes. It adds camera examination of the entire flue interior, plus accessible attic, crawlspace and basement sections. Level 3 involves opening up structure and is rare - it happens when a Level 2 finds something that cannot be assessed any other way.

Almost everything we do on the inspection side is Level 2, and almost all of it is driven by a transaction with a date attached.

What's included

Camera run of the full flue interior - liner joints, cracks, offsets, blockages
Video footage supplied to you, not just described in a summary
Crown, cap, flashing and exterior masonry assessed and photographed
Accessible attic, crawlspace and basement chimney sections examined
Appliance connection, clearances to combustibles and damper operation checked
Written report you can hand to an agent, an insurer or the other side of a negotiation

Job	Typical price
Level 1 inspection alone (no sweep)	$140 - $190
Level 1 with a sweep	included
Level 2 camera inspection, single flue	$280 - $400
Level 2, additional flue same visit	+$120 - $180
Rush turnaround for a closing deadline	no surcharge, subject to schedule

Kalispell, MTWhitefish, MTColumbia Falls, MT

What Camera Inspections Turn Up in This Valley

Three findings come up repeatedly here, and all three are invisible without a camera.

Crown failure feeding liner damage. The freeze-thaw pattern in this valley is brutal on crowns, and a cracked crown is not just a masonry problem - it is a route for water into the space between the liner and the chimney wall. Once water is in there and freezing, tile joints separate from the outside in. From the ground the chimney looks fine. On camera the joints have moved.

Uncertified or undersized liners after an appliance swap. A great many Flathead houses have had a wood stove or insert dropped into an existing masonry fireplace at some point. Done correctly that includes a properly sized stainless liner running the full height. Done cheaply it does not, and the flue is then oversized and unlined for the appliance actually venting into it. This is the single most common serious finding we make, and it is the one most likely to change a purchase price.

Wildlife and cap loss on seasonal properties. A cap that departs in a spring windstorm on an unoccupied house is discovered by birds well before it is discovered by the owner. We have pulled entire nest structures out of flues on houses that were listed as "recently swept", because the sweep happened before the cap left.

Common Questions

Isn't the home inspector already checking the chimney?

Not to this level, and most home inspection reports say so explicitly in their limitations section. A general inspection is visual and from accessible positions. It does not include a camera run of the flue interior, which is where the expensive problems live.

Who usually pays for it?

Most often the buyer, as part of due diligence. Sellers sometimes order one ahead of listing to avoid a renegotiation later, which in a market like this is frequently the cheaper move.

How fast can you turn it around?

Same day for the inspection itself where the schedule allows, and the written report typically within 24 hours. Tell us the deadline when you book - we prioritise by it.

What if you find something serious?

You get the footage, the photographs and a plain description of what it means and how urgent it is. We quote repairs separately and there is no obligation to use us. A report that only makes sense if you hire the inspector is not worth much in a negotiation.

Book an inspection

Deadlines respected. Tell us the closing date and we'll work backwards from it.

Call (406) 555-0176 Get a Free Quote