assess for air penetration prevention and negative pressure issues
Water penetration of chimney or surrounding area.
Negative air pressure in your house is bringing smelly air down the chimney with it.
The damper is maybe out of place, damper rusted shut, damper covered in debris or soot buildup.
Your carbon monoxide or smoke dector alarm just went off - not because you burned the popcorn.
When you use your chimney, smoke tends to come back into your home.
White staining is efflorescence (the migration of a salt to the brick surface). Black is micromosses. Both are caused by water penetration into masonry.
You see the surface of your chimney bricks flaking off.
The chase cover is the metal cover that fits over your chimney chase (or flat top of your chimney just below the cap).
The cap on your flue or bvent is starting to deteriorate or rust.
You can see vegetation growing on the side or growing out from your chimney.
The chase cover is the metal cover that fits over your chimney chase (or flat top of your chimney just below the cap).
You can easily see the chimney mortar deteriorating or you can find bits of mortar in your yard near your chimney.
Animals can enter an open flue or damper if proper caps are not installed.