What Is a Level 2 Chimney Inspection, and Do You Need One When Buying a Home?
A Level 2 chimney inspection covers everything in a Level 1 inspection plus the accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, including attics, crawl spaces and basements, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) says it "shall also include a visual inspection by video scanning or other means" to examine the flue liners. For buyers, CSIA is direct: "a Level 2 inspection is required upon the sale or transfer of a property." It is a separate inspection by a chimney professional, not part of a general home inspection.
The InterNACHI Standards of Practice, in Section 3.8, say the home inspector is not required to "inspect the interior of chimneys or flues" or to "perform a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-style inspection." NFPA 211, in its 2024 edition, calls for a Level II inspection "Upon sale or transfer of the property," and CSIA agrees. So a home inspection under these standards stops at the visible chimney, while the chimney standard calls for a look inside the flue when a home changes hands. Below: the three levels, what a Level 2 includes, what a home inspector checks, one Pennsylvania township's resale rule and how to find a CSIA-certified sweep.
What Are the Three Levels of Chimney Inspection?
CSIA describes three levels of chimney inspection, and a Level 2 is the middle one: it adds the accessible portions of the chimney, including those in attics, crawl spaces and basements, and a video scan of the flue liners to the basic Level 1 check.
Level | What CSIA says it covers | When CSIA points to it |
Level 1 | Readily accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, plus accessible parts of the appliance and the chimney connection | The minimum when the appliance and venting have not changed and you plan to use the system as before |
Level 2 | Everything in Level 1, plus accessible parts of the chimney exterior and interior, including attics, crawl spaces and basements, and a video scan or other means of examining the flue liners | Sale or transfer of a property, changes to the system, or a malfunction or outside event likely to have damaged the chimney |
Level 3 | The construction and condition of concealed parts of the chimney structure and the flue | When a Level 1 or Level 2 suggests a hidden hazard that cannot be evaluated without special tools |
What Does a Level 2 Chimney Inspection Include?
The video scan is one of the additions. CSIA says the video scan examines "the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners incorporated within the chimney," so a chimney that holds more than one flue gets each liner looked at. CSIA adds that a Level 2 "will address proper clearances from combustibles in accessible locations."
CSIA's own Level 2 procedure for masonry chimneys, revised in April 2019, spells out two requirements in plain terms:
"Video scanning (or similar inspection) of the chimney interior is required during a Level Two inspection."
"Inspection within accessible attics is required in a Level 2 inspection."
The same procedure has sections on clearances and on the top of the chimney, including the crown, flashing and cricket. NFPA 211 uses similar scope language, saying Level II inspections "shall include all accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior."
A Level 2 is not a demolition job. CSIA says "No removal or destruction of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure or finish shall be required by a Level 2 inspection," and no demolition equipment is needed to open doors, panels or coverings.
When Do NFPA 211 and CSIA Call for a Level 2 Inspection?
NFPA 211 is the National Fire Protection Association's Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances. Its scope covers "the design, installation, maintenance, and inspection of all chimneys, fireplaces, venting systems" and solid fuel-burning appliances. In the 2024 edition, sale or transfer of the property is one of the listed occasions for a Level II.
CSIA lists three kinds of triggers:
A sale or transfer. CSIA says a Level 2 "is required upon the sale or transfer of a property."
A change to the system. CSIA names "a change in the fuel type, changes to the shape of, or material in, the flue (i.e. relining), or the replacement or addition of an appliance of a dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency."
Damage. CSIA calls for a Level 2 after "an operation malfunction or external event that is likely to have caused damage to the chimney," and says "Building fires, chimney fires, seismic events as well as weather events are all indicators that this level of inspection is warranted."
A buyer who plans to switch a fireplace to a different fuel or add a different type of appliance would meet CSIA's change trigger as well as the sale trigger.
What Does a Home Inspector Check on a Chimney?
Under Section 3.8 of the InterNACHI Standards of Practice, the home inspector shall inspect:
"readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys"
"lintels above the fireplace openings"
"damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable"
"cleanout doors and frames"
The same section lists what the inspector is not required to do. Besides the chimney interior and the NFPA-style inspection, it includes inspecting "the flue or vent system," determining "the need for a chimney sweep," lighting or putting out fires, judging draft, performing "a smoke test," and dismantling or removing any component. The heating section repeats the point: the inspector is not required to "inspect, measure, or evaluate the interior of flues or chimneys." And Section 2.1 says, "An inspection is not technically exhaustive."
What the home inspector reports still matters. Section 3.8 lists conditions to describe as in need of correction, among them damage or deterioration of the hearth, hearth extension or firebox, a manually operated damper that does not open and close, and a missing smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace. See this guide to carbon monoxide testing during home inspections in Pennsylvania, and for other gaps, read what a home inspector cannot check or test.
Is a Chimney Inspection Required to Sell a House in Pennsylvania?
It can be, depending on the municipality. Middletown Township in Bucks County, in eastern Pennsylvania, is one example. As of October 2026, its Residential Resale Requirements page, revised 10/4/2021, cites NFPA 211 and says a Level II chimney inspection is required any time a property is sold or transferred. The page adds: "The level II chimney inspection is to be done by a certified CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) chimney sweep." The township's Chimney Inspection Standards page quotes Code Section 190-104, which says the township will use NFPA codes, standards and practices.
That rule belongs to Middletown. Buyers and sellers in Allegheny County and the rest of Western Pennsylvania should ask their own municipality's code office whether its resale rules include a chimney inspection, and ask their agent how a chimney finding fits the agreement of sale and the inspection period.
How Do You Find a CSIA-Certified Sweep for a Level 2 Inspection?
CSIA runs an online directory of "CSIA Certified Sweeps & Technicians." You can search by ZIP code, narrow by distance, city, state or county, and check a "CSIA Certified" box.
When you call, ask questions drawn from CSIA's own Level 2 description:
Will the video scan cover every flue liner in the chimney?
Will the accessible attic, crawl space and basement portions be checked?
Will the inspection address clearances from combustibles?
Hand the sweep the chimney and fireplace findings from the home inspection report so the Level 2 starts from what was already seen. If the sweep finds signs of a hidden problem, CSIA says a Level 3 "is recommended" when "a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection suggests a hidden hazard and the evaluation cannot be performed without special tools."
Deteriorated chimneys and flue systems appear on this list of red flags inspectors find in older Pittsburgh homes. For symptoms worth acting on, see these warning signs that call for a professional chimney evaluation.
FAQ
Do you need a Level 2 chimney inspection when buying a house?
CSIA says a Level 2 "is required upon the sale or transfer of a property," and NFPA 211 (2024 edition) lists sale or transfer as a Level II occasion. Whether your municipality or your agreement of sale requires one is a separate question for the municipal code office and your agent.
Does a home inspector look inside the chimney?
The InterNACHI Standards of Practice do not require it. The inspector is not required to inspect the flue or the interior of chimneys or flues, and looks instead at the readily accessible and visible portions of fireplaces and chimneys, the lintels, operable dampers and cleanout doors.
Does a Level 2 chimney inspection use a camera?
Yes. CSIA says a Level 2 includes a visual inspection "by video scanning or other means," and its Level 2 procedure for masonry chimneys says video scanning, or a similar inspection, of the chimney interior is required.
Can a sweep open panels during a Level 2 inspection?
Yes, within limits. CSIA's definition of "accessible" allows "commonly available tools to remove doors, panels or coverings," and says this "will not damage the chimney or building structure or finish."
What is the difference between a Level 2 and a Level 3 chimney inspection?
A Level 3 addresses concealed portions of the chimney structure and flue. CSIA says removal of components such as the crown or an interior chimney wall is required "only when necessary to gain access to areas that are the subject of the inspection."
How often should a chimney be inspected?
NFPA, in a February 2025 release reported by ANSI, says "Heating systems and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional."
Planning a Home Inspection and a Separate Level 2 in Pittsburgh
First Class Home Inspections is a Pittsburgh, PA home inspection company with InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector certification, serving Greater Pittsburgh and Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Butler and Beaver Counties. A general home inspection is not a Level II chimney inspection, so buyers who want one should book a CSIA-certified chimney sweep before their inspection contingency ends. Radon testing, sewer line evaluations and water quality testing are also available alongside our home inspection services.
Visit First Class Home Inspections or call (570) 660-9337 today. Contact us for more information.
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