Chimney and Fireplace Inspection in Panama City, FL
Know what shape your chimney is in before you light it.
- Licensed and insured
- Same-day service is available
- Family owned and operated
- Owned and run locally
At a glance
Inspecting a chimney means checking the firebox, damper, flue, crown, cap and flashing as one system. Panama City Chimney & Sons follows NFPA 211 on every inspection, explains each finding at the house and writes a price only when something needs work.
Save 10% on Work Booked in the 72 Hours After Your Inspection
Book any work from your inspection within 72 hours of the visit and take 10% off.
Why Panama City Homeowners Call Us
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Family owned and operated
A family member does the inspection and explains it to you face to face.
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Upfront, honest pricing
If work is needed, each item is priced in writing so you can choose.
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Same-day service is available
Same-day inspections are available when the schedule has room.
What the inspection covers
We look at the chimney the way smoke and rain travel through it. Inside, that means the firebox walls and floor, the damper and its seal, the smoke chamber and as much of the flue as a strong light shows. On the roof, it means the crown, the cap and its screen, the brick or siding of the stack and the flashing where the chimney meets the roofing.
Factory-built fireplaces get the same treatment with different parts: the refractory panels, the metal firebox, the listed chimney sections and the chase cover on top.
Why yearly inspection is the rule
NFPA 211 asks for chimneys and vents to be inspected once a year and whenever something changes, such as a new appliance or a chimney fire. Storm season adds a practical reason: caps loosen, crowns crack and flashing lifts without anyone noticing from the ground.
Most of what we find at a yearly visit is small and cheap to fix while it is small. The expensive repairs tend to start as one cracked crown or one open joint that nobody saw for several seasons.
Inspections for buyers and sellers
A general home inspector usually looks at the chimney from the ground and the fireplace from the room. When their report says the chimney needs further evaluation, that is our job. We go onto the roof and into the flue and give you a list you can take back to the other side of the sale.
The written findings name each item, so the buyer, the seller and the agent are reading the same list.
What you get at the end
Before we leave, we go through each finding with you: what it is, why it matters and whether it needs attention now, later or not at all. If work is needed, you get a written estimate with each item priced separately.
You are under no obligation to book anything. If you do book within 72 hours of the inspection, the work is 10% off.
Inspections We Carry Out
- A chimney safety inspection before the first fire of the year
- Fireplace and chimney inspection together on one visit
- Chimney inspection for home sale and real estate chimney inspection for buyers
- A quick chimney check after a storm or roof work, part of our chimney inspection service
What the Chimney Inspection Can Lead To
Panama City Chimney Emergency?
Our 24/7 emergency line is staffed around the clock, and after the danger passes we work out the repair with you.
Flames, a gas odor or a sounding CO alarm: take everyone out of the house and dial 911. Phone the gas utility only once you are outdoors.
Book Your Free Panama City Inspection
Leave a name and number and we ring back to agree on a visit time.
- Free inspection and written estimate
- Licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Request Received
Thanks, it is in. A family member rings you soon to book the inspection.
How We Handle Chimney and Fireplace Inspection
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Start in the room
We check the firebox, damper and smoke chamber and protect the floor while we work.
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Look up the flue
A strong light shows the condition of the liner as far as it can be seen.
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Check the roof
The crown, cap, masonry and flashing are checked from the roof when it is safe to climb.
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Explain and write it down
You hear every finding in plain words and get any work priced in writing.
Questions Homeowners Ask Us
How long does a chimney inspection take?
A chimney inspection on a single-flue house usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Two flues, a tall stack or a steep tile roof adds time, and so does a fireplace that needs the damper freed before the flue can be seen. The crew explains the findings before leaving, so plan a few extra minutes for questions.
What is involved in a chimney inspection?
An inspection covers the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue from inside, then the crown, cap, masonry and flashing from the roof. The crew looks for cracks, gaps, rust, deposits and signs of water; each finding is explained on site, and any work is written up as a separate priced line you can accept or decline.
How often should you have your chimney inspected?
NFPA 211 recommends a chimney inspection once a year, and again after a chimney fire, a storm, a roof replacement or a change of appliance. A fireplace that is rarely used still needs the yearly check, because caps, crowns and flashing wear out from weather whether a fire is lit or not.
Is a chimney inspection part of a home inspection?
Only partly. A general home inspection usually covers a quick look at the fireplace and the outside of the chimney, not the flue or the crown up close; when the report asks for further evaluation, our crew goes on the roof, looks down the flue and writes up what the general inspector could not see.
Can I inspect my own chimney?
A homeowner can safely check a few things. Look up the flue with a flashlight and the damper open, check the firebox for cracked brick, and view the cap and crown from the yard with binoculars. Climbing onto the roof is risky and cracked flue tile is easy to miss, so leave the full inspection to a crew.
Who can inspect a chimney?
A chimney company inspects chimneys as its main work, while home inspectors and roofers usually look at the outside only. The inspector should check the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue, crown, cap and flashing against NFPA 211; our family crew does that full check for free in Panama City, with the findings explained before we leave.
Book a Free Chimney Inspection in Panama City
Find out what your chimney needs before you light the next fire.