A lot of the homes we inspect in Lakewood aren’t simple one-chimney properties. Many of the custom builds around here have a great room fireplace, a separate gas fireplace in a den or primary suite, and sometimes an outdoor living space fireplace too — each one venting through its own flue, sometimes stacked inside the same chase. That kind of multi-flue system is exactly where a basic visual check falls short, because a problem in one flue can be completely invisible if a technician only looks at the flue that’s easiest to access.
That’s why we lean toward recommending a Level 2 inspection more often in Lakewood than in areas with simpler, single-flue housing stock. A Level 2 includes a full video camera scan of each flue’s interior, not just the readily accessible portions, so we can verify that every appliance on the property — wood-burning, gas insert, or outdoor fireplace — is venting safely on its own. Given the value of the homes we’re working on in Lakewood, that extra layer of certainty is usually worth the additional time on site, and it means fewer surprises down the road if one flue turns out to need attention while the others are fine.
We still perform routine Level 1 annual checkups for Lakewood homeowners whose systems are more straightforward, and we’ll always explain which level fits your specific property rather than defaulting to the more thorough option out of habit. Every visit ends with a written report and, if anything needs repair, a flat-fee estimate before we do any further work.
What We Check
- Each flue independently — a full camera scan of every flue on multi-fireplace properties, not just the primary one.
- Shared chase & clearances — verifying multiple flues in a single chase are properly separated and clear of obstruction.
- Outdoor & secondary fireplaces — inspecting outdoor living spaces and additional appliances as part of one complete visit.
- Exterior masonry & crown — checking large custom-home chimney structures for cracking or crown damage.
FAQs
Many Lakewood homes have multiple flues serving a great room fireplace, an outdoor fireplace, and a gas appliance all on the same structure. A Level 2 inspection’s full video camera scan lets us verify each flue independently, which matters more here than in a single-flue home because a problem in one flue can be easy to miss if only the accessible portions are checked visually.
Yes. Lakewood’s larger custom homes often have outdoor fireplaces and multiple gas or wood-burning appliances vented through separate flues, and we inspect each one as part of a complete visit rather than treating the property as a single-chimney job.