Chimney Inspection in Murfreesboro - Flat-Price Sweep, Photo Report Included

Trusted Chimney Inspection for Murfreesboro Homeowners

Most chimney problems don’t announce themselves. Creosote builds quietly, a crown cracks a little more each freeze, and a flue liner starts to spall where nobody can see it. A proper inspection is how you find those things before they turn into a chimney fire or a carbon monoxide problem. Our technicians have up to 9 years of experience, and we book inspections in Murfreesboro with the same team that cleans and repairs what we find. With photography you can review on the spot and a written report you keep, we show you what we find rather than tell you what you need. Call (844) 372-0461 to schedule.

Call (844) 372-0461

Fireplace Inspection

Fireplace Inspection covers the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, and the first stretch of flue that your fireplace actually uses. Most Murfreesboro homeowners need one when they move into a house with an unfamiliar fireplace, when the fireplace has sat unused for more than a season, or when smoke starts rolling into the room instead of up the chimney. We check the firebox joints for gaps, test the damper for a tight seal, and look at the smoke shelf where creosote and debris collect. In this part of Tennessee the swing between humid summers and cold snaps works firebox mortar hard, and a hairline crack you can’t see can open into a path for smoke and heat. A basic fireplace inspection typically runs $99-$250 as part of a sweep, and any repair needed is quoted separately before we touch a thing.

What We Look At

We check the firebox brick and mortar, the damper and its frame, the smoke chamber, and the smoke shelf behind the damper. Each of those parts has a specific job in keeping smoke moving up and out rather than into the room. We also note the firebox dimensions so a later insert or grate fits correctly.

Gas and Wood Inserts

Gas inserts and wood stoves get a closer look at the venting connection, since a loose collar or a crushed vent pipe is a common cause of poor draft. We check the surround seal and look for any rust or residue that suggests a vent leak. If the unit has sat unserviced, we’ll tell you plainly whether it’s safe to light.

Chimney Inspection Services

Chimney Inspection Services at Goodwin Chimney Sweep follow the standard three levels the trade uses, and we match the level to your situation rather than selling the biggest one by default. A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of readily accessible parts during a routine sweep. A Level 2 adds a camera run through the flue and a look at the attic and roof. A Level 3 opens concealed areas when a Level 2 finds a problem that has to be seen directly. If you’re buying a house in Murfreesboro, adding an appliance, or recovering from a chimney fire, you need Level 2. Routine annual checks stay Level 1. Our inspection services run $99-$350 depending on level, and the estimate is written before we start. We work with DuraFlex and HeatShield products, so when an inspection turns up a repair, the same company handles it.

Chimney Flue Inspection

Chimney Flue Inspection is the part of the job that looks inside the vertical passage your smoke travels through, and it matters most on older homes where the original clay tile liner may have cracked or shifted. Flue tiles fail in ways you can’t detect from the firebox: a tile cracks, the next tile offsets, and a gap opens between them. That gap lets heat reach framing lumber and lets carbon monoxide slip into the house instead of up the stack. Our technicians run a camera down the full length of the flue and check for offset joints, spalling tile, and heavy glazed creosote. Flue inspection as part of a full Level 2 typically runs $150-$350 in Murfreesboro, and if the flue needs relining, we quote the repair before starting. We install flexible liners built by Olympia Chimney and DuraFlex for older and offset flues.

Clay Tile vs. Metal Liners

Original clay tile liners are common in older Murfreesboro houses and hold up well until a crack or offset joint appears. Metal liners are more forgiving of offsets and easier to inspect cleanly. We’ll tell you which you have and what condition it’s in.

Creosote Stages

Creosote comes in three recognizable stages: sooty dust, crusty flakes, and the glazed, tar-like coating that’s hardest to remove and most likely to ignite. Glazed creosote usually needs a chemical treatment before it can be swept. Knowing the stage tells you how urgent a sweep really is.

Chimney Fire

Chimney Fire damage is not always obvious from the outside, and even a small one can crack tiles and warp a metal liner without a visible flame. Most chimney fires happen when glazed creosote ignites in a restricted flue, and homeowners often hear only a low rumble or a pop before it’s over. After any suspected fire, you need a Level 2 inspection before lighting another fire, no exceptions. We check the flue for heat damage, look for cracked or displaced tile, and confirm the liner is intact top to bottom. If repairs are needed, we handle them with HeatShield resurfacing or a new DuraFlex liner. A post-fire inspection in Murfreesboro typically runs $150-$350, and any repair is quoted separately. If you’ve had a fire, don’t burn again until we’ve looked.

Signs a Fire Happened

Puffy, honeycombed creosote, cracked tiles, warped metal, and heat discoloration on the cap are all evidence a fire ran through. A neighbor may have heard the rumble even if you didn’t. Tell us if you suspect one and we’ll inspect accordingly.

Why It Can’t Wait

A chimney fire can leave the flue structurally compromised while the firebox still looks normal. Lighting another fire against a cracked tile is how a second, larger fire gets started. Wait for the inspection result before you burn again.

Level 2 Chimney Inspection

Level 2 Chimney Inspection is the inspection most home sales and appliance changes require, and it goes further than a routine sweep by running a camera through the entire flue and checking the attic, roof, and accessible exterior. Realtors and buyers in Murfreesboro ask for a Level 2 during a sale because it catches problems a visual check can’t: offset joints, hidden cracks, and failed flashing at the roof line. It’s also the right call after a chimney fire, after an earthquake or storm, and whenever you change what you’re burning. We photograph everything we flag and put it in the written report. Level 2 inspections typically run $150-$350 depending on access and flue length, and the estimate is set in writing before we start. Our technicians have up to 9 years of experience running these camera inspections.

What the Extra Level Covers

Beyond the firebox and flue, a Level 2 checks the attic penetration, the roof flashing, and the crown. Those are the places water and heat get in. We note the condition of each and photograph anything that needs attention.

When Real Estate Requires It

Most lenders and buyers want a Level 2 as a condition of a sale, and it protects both sides. We can schedule the inspection around a closing timeline. The written report is yours to share with your agent.

Chimney Leak

Chimney Leak symptoms show up as damp patches on the ceiling near the chimney, rusted damper hardware, or water pooling in the firebox after heavy rain. The leak is rarely where it looks: it’s usually at the crown, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, or a gap in the masonry above the roof line. We inspect the crown for cracks, check the flashing seal, and look for spalling brick and missing mortar joints. If the leak is inside the flue itself, a camera run finds it fast. Leak diagnosis is usually folded into a Level 2 inspection at $150-$350, and the repair is quoted separately once we know the source. We use Gelco and Famco caps and covers to close off the top once the leak is fixed.

Finding the Source

We work top down, checking the crown, then the flashing, then the masonry and flue. Water travels, so the first visible spot isn’t always the entry point. The camera confirms whether the leak is inside the flue or at the exterior.

Repairing the Roof Line

Flashing failures are the most common roof-line leak, and a bad flashing seal can let water into the attic. We reseal the flashing and repair the crown with the right mortar. Sometimes a new cap is all that’s needed.

Chimney Camera Inspection

Chimney Camera Inspection is the tool that makes everything else possible, running a video probe down the full length of the flue and recording what it sees. Without a camera, an inspector is guessing at what’s happening above the smoke shelf. With one, we can show you a cracked tile, an offset joint, a bird nest, or a broken damper frame on screen. We recommend a camera run any time your flue hasn’t been inspected in more than a year, after a suspected chimney fire, or before a home purchase. The camera run is included with any Level 2 inspection, priced at $150-$350 depending on flue length and access. We also check the top of the flue from the roof when it’s safe to access. Photos go in the written report so you have the record.

What the Camera Finds

Cracked and spalled tile, offset joints, heavy glazed creosote, animal nests, and broken dampers all show up on the screen. Some problems are impossible to see any other way. The camera turns a guess into evidence.

Your Copy of the Video

We share the footage with you during the inspection and reference it in the written report. If you’re buying a house, the video is powerful documentation for your agent and lender. Nothing is recommended without a photo or clip you can review.

Brands We Service

We install and work with DuraFlex flexible liners, which hold up well in older and offset flues where a rigid liner won’t fit cleanly. We know where DuraFlex liner joints and collars wear, and we check them during inspection so a repair doesn’t sneak up on you. We also work with HeatShield resurfacing, a repair path that restores a damaged clay flue without a full liner replacement, which many basic sweep companies simply can’t offer.

We use Copperfield components for caps and top-of-chimney work, and Gelco and Famco products for caps, covers, and venting, so the top of your chimney is as protected as the flue itself. Whether you have DuraFlex, HeatShield, Copperfield, Gelco, or any other make, we can help.

Signs You Need a Pro Right Now

• Creosote you can see inside the firebox. Crusty or glazed creosote in the flue is the fuel a chimney fire needs. If it’s more than a thin sooty dusting, book a sweep and inspection.
• Smoke rolling into the room. Smoke coming back into the house usually means a blocked flue, a failed damper, or bad draft. None of those fix themselves, and burning against them is unsafe.
• Water stains near the chimney. Damp patches on the ceiling or rusted damper hardware point to a chimney leak at the crown or flashing. Water left alone damages the flue structure.
• A rumble or pop you can’t explain. A low roar or popping sound during a fire can be a chimney fire you didn’t see. Stop burning and get it inspected before you light another one.
• Buying or selling a Murfreesboro home. A Level 2 inspection is standard during a sale and protects both sides of the deal. It’s the right time to know what the flue looks like inside.

Our Process, Step by Step

1. 1
   Book and confirm. We take your details, ask about the fireplace or stove, and book an inspection slot. We answer 24/7, with fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
2. 2
   Inspect on site. We check the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, and crown, then run a camera down the flue. Everything we can safely access gets checked and photographed.
3. 3
   Review the findings with you. We walk you through the photos and video before we leave, and tell you what’s urgent, what can wait, and what’s fine as-is. Nothing is recommended without evidence you can see.
4. 4
   Quote the repair. If a repair is needed, we put it in writing with a firm price. You decide whether to book it now or later, and there’s no pressure to decide on the spot.
5. 5
   Follow up with the report. You get a written report of everything we found and everything we did. You keep it for your records and to share with an agent or insurer.

How Much Does Chimney Inspection Cost in Murfreesboro?

Our Service Area Near Murfreesboro

We book inspections across Murfreesboro and the surrounding towns: Shelbyville, Woodbury, Christiana, Smyrna, La Vergne, Nolensville, Brentwood, Mount Juliet, and Franklin. Scheduling is handled through our Murfreesboro team, so we can usually line up a visit that fits your week. Woodbury and Shelbyville get the same written report and photo documentation as Murfreesboro itself. Call (844) 372-0461 to find a slot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Inspection in Murfreesboro

Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Service in Murfreesboro Today

Book a Goodwin Chimney Sweep inspection in Murfreesboro and see for yourself what’s going on inside your flue. We show you the photos, put the findings in writing, and quote any repair before we start. No surprise upcharges, no pressure to decide on the spot. Call (844) 372-0461 to book a free estimate. We answer 24/7, with fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. A sweep, inspection, and repair under one company is the way it should be done.

Written by the team at Goodwin Chimney Sweep.