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 Cherry Hill, NJ
A Level 2 chimney inspection is a full interior and exterior examination of your chimney system, including a video camera scan of the flue, and it’s required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) any time you sell a home, switch fuel types, or have reason to suspect damage after a storm, fire, or seismic event. At Hearthstone Chimney Co., a Level 2 inspection ends with timestamped photos you can see on the spot and a plain-English verdict – no vague report language, no upsell pressure, just an honest accounting of what we found. If you want to schedule one, call us at (856) 543-2929 and a live person will answer.
We’ve been doing this work in Cherry Hill and the surrounding Burlington and Camden County communities since 1984 – over 42 years of inspecting chimneys in homes that were built during the post-war housing boom that shaped much of South Jersey. A lot of those homes are in Barclay Farm, Erlton, and Kingston Estates, and they have chimneys that are original to the house. Original means they’ve never had a camera inside them. That matters more than most homeowners realize.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Cherry Hill service and our Level 2 inspections are often done together – a sweep clears the flue so the camera can see clearly. But an inspection and a cleaning are two different things, and this page explains exactly what the inspection covers, when you need one, and what it costs in this market.
When You Need a Level 2 Inspection
There are clear situations where a Level 2 goes from advisable to required. Here are the most common ones we see in Cherry Hill:
- You’re buying or selling the home. NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection at every change of property ownership. If your realtor hasn’t brought this up yet, they should have. Sellers in Cherry Hill frequently discover liner cracks or mortar deterioration during this step – better to know before closing than after.
- You had a chimney fire. Even a slow burn-off of accumulated creosote qualifies. A chimney fire can crack the flue liner or damage the smoke chamber without leaving any visible sign at the firebox opening. A camera is the only way to know for certain what’s intact and what isn’t. This is not a situation where a visual-only Level 1 inspection is enough.
- You’re switching fuel types or changing your appliance. If you’re replacing a wood-burning insert with a gas appliance, or converting from oil heat to gas, the flue that worked for the old appliance may not be sized or lined correctly for the new one. A Level 2 determines whether your existing liner is compatible before any installation happens.
- You had storm damage or a seismic event. Cherry Hill doesn’t sit on a fault line, but the region does get wind events, ice storms, and the occasional nor’easter that can shift masonry, unseat a chimney cap, or crack a terra-cotta liner tile. If anything hit your chimney or you noticed the cap was displaced after a storm, a Level 2 is the right call.
- Your chimney is original to a home built before 1985. Older Cherry Hill homes – particularly in the Woodcrest and Barclay Farm sections – were often built with unlined chimneys or with clay tile liners that are now approaching or past their rated lifespan. A Level 2 is the only inspection that will tell you what’s actually inside.
- You haven’t had any inspection in the past three to five years and you use the fireplace regularly. A Level 1 annual inspection is the standard for routine use. But if inspections have been skipped, or if the last one was done by someone without camera equipment, a Level 2 gives you a true baseline.
Our Level 2 Inspection Process
Every Level 2 inspection Hearthstone runs follows the same documented sequence. Russell Haines built this process to match NFPA 211 standards while adding the photo documentation step that most crews skip. Here’s how it goes:
- Pre-inspection sweep (if needed). The camera needs a clear flue to return useful images. If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned recently, we perform a chimney cleaning first so the camera scan shows liner condition – not creosote buildup. We’ll tell you up front whether this step is necessary, and we price it separately with no surprises.
- Exterior examination. We inspect the crown, cap, flashing, masonry joints, and any visible sections of the chase. In Cherry Hill, we pay particular attention to the crown, because the freeze-thaw cycles we get between December and March are hard on poured crowns and will open hairline cracks into larger fractures within a few seasons. We also check the flashing where the chimney meets the roofline – a common source of water intrusion in the split-level and colonial-style homes common here.
- Interior and firebox examination. We examine the firebox, the damper, the smoke shelf, and the smoke chamber. Mortar joint deterioration in the smoke chamber is something we see often in homes from the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s not visible without getting into the firebox with a light and a mirror – or a camera.
- Video camera flue scan. We run a professional-grade camera system down the full length of the flue. This is the step that separates a Level 2 from a Level 1. The camera produces clear footage of every liner tile, every joint, and the full interior surface from cap to firebox. We use equipment that captures still images at any point, which is how we build the photo record for your file.
- Photo documentation and on-site review. Before we pack up, we show you the photos. If there’s a cracked tile at the third bend from the top, you see it. If the liner is intact and in good condition, you see that too. We don’t hand you a form letter – we walk you through what we found in plain terms and tell you exactly what, if anything, needs to happen next.
- Written verdict and estimate (if repairs are needed). If the inspection reveals something that needs attention, we provide a written estimate before we leave. The number on that estimate is the number on the invoice – upfront pricing, no surprises. All repair work is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, no arguing.
Level 2 Inspection Pricing in Cherry Hill
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Cherry Hill typically runs between $250 and $450, depending on the size and accessibility of the chimney system and whether a Chimney Cleaning & Sweep is included. Homes with multiple flues, extended chimney heights, or difficult roof access will fall toward the higher end of that range. A single-flue inspection on a standard colonial-style home is usually at the lower end.
| Service | Typical Range (Cherry Hill Market) |
|---|---|
| Level 2 Inspection, single flue | $250 – $350 |
| Level 2 Inspection, two flues | $350 – $450 |
| Pre-inspection sweep (if needed) | $99 – $175 |
| Written inspection report (included) | No additional charge |
If the inspection identifies repairs – a cracked liner tile, a damaged crown, deteriorated mortar joints – those are priced separately with written estimates before any work begins. We use professional-grade repair materials: Gelco products for liner work, Copperfield components where applicable, and Olympia Chimney systems for liner replacement when that’s the appropriate solution. We don’t use builder-grade substitutes.
If your repair total comes to more than $250, our $50 Off Any Repair Over $250 offer applies automatically. We also offer a permanent 5% Senior and Veteran discount, and a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate you’ve already received from another company. Call (856) 543-2929 for an exact quote – estimates are free and there’s no obligation.
Key Takeaways
- NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection at any change of property ownership, fuel type change, or after any event that could have damaged the flue.
- A Level 2 inspection includes a full camera scan of the interior flue – this is not a visual-only inspection.
- Hearthstone provides timestamped photos and a plain-English verdict before the technician leaves your property.
- Pricing in Cherry Hill runs $250 to $450 for most single-family homes; estimates are free.
- All work is backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise – in writing, no arguing.
- A live person answers at (856) 543-2929, any time of day.
FAQs – Level 2 Inspection in Cherry Hill
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of your chimney and is appropriate for chimneys that have been regularly maintained with no changes in use or condition. A Level 2 inspection adds a full video camera scan of the interior flue and is required by NFPA 211 when a home is sold, when you switch fuel types, or when any event – fire, storm, or impact – could have damaged the liner. The camera is the difference: it reveals cracked tiles, mortar joint failures, blockages, and structural issues that a visual inspection simply cannot detect. If you’re unsure which level applies to your situation, call us at (856) 543-2929 and we’ll tell you straight.
How much does a Level 2 inspection cost in Cherry Hill?
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Cherry Hill typically costs between $250 and $450, depending on the number of flues and whether a Soot Removal cleaning is needed to clear the flue for camera access. The written report and on-site photo review are included at no additional charge. If repairs are identified, those are priced separately with a written estimate before any work begins – the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. Call (856) 543-2929 for a free, no-obligation quote specific to your home.
Do I need a Level 2 inspection before selling my Cherry Hill home?
Yes. NFPA 211 – the standard that governs chimney inspection requirements – mandates a Level 2 inspection at every change of property ownership. In practice, this means sellers should schedule one before listing so there are no surprises during the buyer’s due diligence period. Cherry Hill’s housing stock includes a significant number of homes from the 1960s through 1980s, and undetected liner cracks or deteriorated smoke chambers can become significant negotiating issues or contract complications if they surface late in the process. Getting the inspection done early gives you time to address anything that needs attention. Call (856) 543-2929 to get on the schedule.
How long does a Level 2 inspection take?
Most Level 2 inspections in Cherry Hill take between 90 minutes and two and a half hours from arrival to written verdict. Single-flue systems on the low end, multi-flue or more complex systems toward the higher end. If an Annual Sweep is needed before the camera scan, that adds time – we’ll give you an accurate estimate when we schedule. Our technicians are background-checked, arrive in uniform, and complete most inspections in a single visit. There’s no second trip for the report because the photos and the verdict are delivered before we leave.
Why Hearthstone for a Level 2 Inspection in Cherry Hill
There are chimney companies that will send someone out with a flashlight and call it an inspection. We’ve seen what that produces: homeowners who spent years using a fireplace with a cracked liner because nobody put a camera in it. That’s not a knock – it’s just the reality of a market where inspection standards aren’t always enforced by the people doing the work.
Russell Haines started Hearthstone Chimney Co. in 1984 with a different idea: document everything, explain it plainly, and stand behind the result. Forty-two years later, that’s still how we run every job. Our Level 2 inspections are documented with timestamped photos, reviewed with you on site, and backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise – in writing, no arguing. If something we assessed turns out to be wrong within 90 days, we come back and make it right. No paperwork, no runaround.
We serve all of Cherry Hill – Barclay Farm, Erlton, Kingston Estates, Woodcrest, Deer Park, Chapel Avenue corridor – and the surrounding communities in Camden and Burlington Counties. When you call (856) 543-2929, you’ll reach a live person. When your technician arrives, they’ll be in uniform, they’ll have done this before, and they’ll leave you with a plain-English verdict you can act on.
If you want to understand the broader context of chimney care, our home page covers everything Hearthstone does. And if you’ve been putting off a routine cleaning along with an inspection, our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Cherry Hill page explains how the two services work together and what to expect.
The estimate is free. The answer is honest. Call (856) 543-2929.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Cherry Hill since 1984.