DFW’S MOST THOROUGH CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS
Chimney Inspection and Repair in Dallas-Fort Worth
NFPA-aligned inspections, certified technicians, and honest reports across the DFW Metroplex since 2010.
DFW Chimney Specialist delivers professional chimney inspections and repair services across Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and the surrounding DFW Metroplex since 2010. Every project begins with a thorough, NFPA-aligned inspection, so the work we do is the work that’s actually needed.
Whether you’re buying a home, recovering from a storm, or scheduling your annual safety check, our certified technicians produce a clear written report with photos, so you understand exactly what’s going on with your chimney before any work is recommended.
Our Inspection and Repair Process
1
Schedule
Free in-home appointment, same-week availability across DFW.
2
Inspect
Thorough NFPA 211-aligned inspection by a certified W-2 technician.
3
Report
Detailed written report with photos of any findings, sent same day.
4
Repair
If repairs are needed, we walk you through and quote everything in-house.
Levels of chimney inspection we provide
The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 defines three levels of chimney inspection. We provide all three, and we’ll tell you upfront which level your situation actually calls for.
Level 1 — Basic Annual Inspection
The standard yearly check NFPA recommends for any chimney that hasn’t changed since the last inspection. Our technician performs a visual review of all readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior, interior, and accessible parts of the connection. This is the right level for most homeowners scheduling their annual safety check.
Level 2 – Real Estate, Post-Event, or Change-of-Use Inspection
Required by NFPA when you’re buying or selling a home, after a chimney fire or major weather event, or when changing fuel types (wood to gas, etc.). Includes everything in Level 1 plus a video scan of the entire flue interior and accessible attic, crawlspace, and basement sections.
Level 3 – Forensic / Hidden-Damage Inspection
Performed when serious hidden damage is suspected and parts of the chimney must be opened to verify the issue. Includes Level 1 and Level 2 plus removal of certain components, such as the chimney crown or interior walls, when necessary. We only recommend Level 3 when there’s a real reason, never as a default.
When you need a chimney inspection
Why Should I Get My Chimney Cleaned?
Most homeowners think about chimney inspections only once a year — but there are several situations when an inspection is critical (and sometimes required by insurance or code):
- Before you buy or sell a home with a fireplace (Level 2 inspection required by NFPA)
- After any chimney fire, even a small one you put out yourself
- After a major storm, hailstorm, or earthquake
- When changing fuel types — wood to gas, gas to pellet, etc.
- After installing a new fireplace insert or stove
- If you smell smoke when the fireplace isn’t lit
- When your insurance carrier requests one
- Annually, per NFPA 211, regardless of how often you use the fireplace
Not sure which level you need? Give us a call at (214) 883-8876 and we’ll tell you honestly, we’ll never recommend a higher level than your situation actually requires.
What’s covered in your inspection
Every inspection covers the same comprehensive 15-point assessment. Your written report includes findings, photos, and clear next-step recommendations for each point:
- Chimney cap and crown defects
- Creosote or heavy soot
- Abandoned or hidden chimney thimble ports
- Cleanliness
- Damaged, blocked, or unsafe chimney flues
- Dead and flues
- Fireplace inserts for wood or coal installed into an existing masonry flue
- Missing chimney clean out doors
- Movement in chimneys
- Orphaned gas-fired water heaters
- Rusted or damaged chimney or fireplace components
- Support defects
- Unlined chimney flues in single-brick width chimneys
- Un-sealed flue-vent connectors at chimney thimbles
- Unsafe fire clearances
Common repairs we find during inspections
Most chimneys we inspect across DFW need at least minor work, and that’s normal. North Texas weather is hard on masonry. Here are the most common issues we find on first inspections:
- Damaged or missing chimney caps
- Mortar joints needing repointing (tuckpointing)
- Crown cracks — often hairline at first, easy to seal when caught early
- Damper rust, stuck dampers, or missing dampers
- Flue liner deterioration or cracks
- Water staining inside the firebox or smoke chamber
- Creosote buildup beyond NFPA’s safe-use threshold
- Efflorescence (white salt stains) on exterior masonry
- Damaged flashing where the chimney meets the roof
If we find anything during your inspection, we’ll show you photos, explain what’s needed and quote the repair in-house. No surprise charges. No upselling. If your chimney doesn’t need repairs, we’ll tell you that too.
Why DFW Homeowners Trust Us
Founded in 2010 by company owner Robert Welch, DFW Chimney Specialist has grown into
one of North Texas’s most trusted chimney service companies. We use our own W2 employees,
never subcontractors, so the technician on your roof is trained, insured, and accountable to us.
15,000+
Inspections & service calls completed
4.9 ★
From 450+ Google reviews
15+ Years
Of trusted DFW expertise
Our Chimney Repair Service Area
We provide chimney inspections and repairs across the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including:
✓ Dallas
✓ Plano
✓ Frisco
✓ McKinney
✓ Highland Park
✓ Southlake
✓ Allen
✓ Richardson
✓ Carrollton
✓ Farmers Branch
✓ Fort Worth
✓ Prosper
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost depends on the level of inspection your situation needs. A Level 1 annual inspection is the most affordable; Level 2 (real estate or post-event) requires more thorough scanning and is priced accordingly. We’ll quote your specific inspection upfront with no hidden fees. Call (214) 883-8876 or request a free quote online.
Level 1 is the standard annual visual check. Level 2 adds video scanning and is required for home sales, post-fire, post-storm, and fuel-type changes. Level 3 is reserved for cases where hidden damage requires opening parts of the chimney to verify. Most homeowners only ever need Level 1. We’ll tell you honestly which level your situation calls for.
Yes. NFPA 211 recommends an annual inspection regardless of use. Chimneys still take weather damage, animal nesting, and structural settling over time — even unused ones. An annual inspection protects the structural integrity of your home and confirms the chimney remains safe to use whenever you want it.
Yes. After your inspection you receive a written report with photos of any findings and clear, plain-English explanations of each one. If repairs are recommended, we explain the urgency (immediate, soon, or routine) and quote the work in-house. You’re never pressured to repair anything immediately.
A Level 1 inspection typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. A Level 2 inspection with video flue scanning takes 60 to 90 minutes. Level 3 inspections vary based on what needs to be opened up. We schedule appointments so you can plan around them — no all-day waiting windows.
Yes. Pre-purchase chimney inspections are one of the most common reasons homeowners call us. We perform the NFPA-required Level 2 inspection and deliver a detailed written report you can share with your realtor, the seller, or your inspector. Most buyers schedule us alongside the general home inspection.
Often yes, especially for damage caused by storms, hail, lightning, or fire. We help you document the damage with photos and detailed reports your insurance company can use to process a claim. We’ve helped DFW homeowners successfully file dozens of chimney-related claims.
Yes. Many serious chimney issues — creosote buildup, flue liner cracks, damper failure, hidden water damage — are invisible from the outside. A proper inspection looks inside the flue, behind the smoke shelf, and across components you cannot see from the ground. If your chimney truly is fine, we’ll tell you. If it isn’t, you’ll know before it becomes dangerous.
READY TO INSPECT YOUR CHIMNEY?
Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Today
Call (214) 883-8876 or request a free quote online. Same-week availability across most of the DFW Metroplex.