Fireplace Inspection in Simi Valley, CA

What a fireplace inspection actually finds in Simi Valley

Two earthquakes did the damage. The 1971 Sylmar and 1994 Northridge events racked unreinforced brick stacks across the older tracts. Many were never looked at after. Clay tile liners shift at the mortar joints. The crack is often hairline and invisible from the hearth. Decades of sun hit the crown too. That causes splitting, then water gets in. Spalling brick and white efflorescence show up on the exterior.

So the inspection is a camera job, not a flashlight job. We run the flue from the firebox up. Joint by joint. Throat dampers in these pre-1980 ranch and bungalow homes are usually rusted into one position. We check smoke chamber parging and the shelf behind it.

Newer tracts are a different list. Prefab metal fireboxes show up often. Class A double-wall pipe is common too. Flat sheet-metal chase covers tend to pond water and rust through. Warped refractory panels void the UL listing. Storm collar and chase flashing at stucco get checked too.

Gas log sets and direct-vent inserts dropped into old masonry boxes need vent-path, damper-clamp and CO verification. Sweeping them proves nothing.

Real estate transfer gets a level two with photos. Fire hazard zone homes get spark arrestor screening checked. Book flashing and crown work before the rain window.