Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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Before
AfterLevel 2 Inspection in Tacoma, WA
A Level 2 chimney inspection is a camera-assisted examination of every accessible interior and exterior component of your chimney system, conducted to NFPA 211 standards. In Tacoma, it runs $199-$349 for most single-flue systems, is completed the same day, and produces a written report with photos before any repair conversation happens. If you bought a home, had a chimney event, or haven’t had a camera in your flue since before 2020, this is the inspection you need.
At Level Two Chimney Tacoma, the Level 2 inspection isn’t an upsell - it’s what we named the company after. Since 2009, every visit has included a camera scan of the flue liner, a documented photo record, and a written price before any work starts. That’s Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, and it has applied to all 38,000+ chimneys we’ve inspected and cleaned - including Chimney Cleaning & Sweep work - across the South Sound. If you’d like to schedule or just want to talk through what your chimney’s situation looks like, call us at (253) 447-5982 - a live person picks up, around the clock.
This page is part of our broader Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Tacoma service - the Level 2 inspection is typically the first step before any cleaning or repair work begins.
When You Need a Level 2 Inspection
Not every chimney situation calls for a Level 2. Some do, and skipping it in those cases is where problems get missed. Below are the specific triggers that make a Level 2 the right call in Tacoma’s housing stock and climate.
- You bought or sold a home. NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection at every real estate transfer. In Tacoma’s market, where homes in Proctor, North End, and Stadium District regularly change hands with original clay tile liners from the 1940s and ’50s, this isn’t a formality - it’s the only way to know what’s actually inside the flue before you light a fire.
- You had a chimney fire. Even a “small” chimney fire - the kind that sounds like a low rumble and leaves a burned smell for a day - can crack flue tiles and damage mortar joints in ways that are invisible without a camera. After any suspected flue fire, a Level 2 is non-negotiable for safe continued use.
- Your appliance or fuel type changed. If you converted from gas to wood, added a wood stove insert, or changed to a different BTU appliance, the existing liner may not be rated for the new heat load or flue gases. We see this frequently in Tacoma’s older bungalows when homeowners upgrade to pellet stoves.
- You’ve experienced seismic activity nearby. The Pacific Northwest sits on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and even moderate earthquakes can shift mortar joints and crack liner sections. After any USGS-reported event above 4.0 within 50 miles, a Level 2 is the only way to confirm your flue is still structurally sound.
- Your chimney shows visible exterior damage. Spalling brick (where the face of the brick flakes off from freeze-thaw cycles), a cracked crown, or a missing or rusted cap are exterior signals of potential interior deterioration. Tacoma’s wet winters accelerate this process, and what looks like a surface issue outside is often a more serious liner problem below.
- It’s been more than three years since a camera inspection. A Level 1 visual sweep won’t show you hairline cracks in the flue liner, mortar joint erosion, or partial blockages behind the damper plate. If your last documented camera scan is more than three years old - or if you have no documentation at all - you don’t actually know the condition of your liner.
Our Level 2 Inspection Process
Here’s exactly what happens from the time our tech arrives to the time they leave your Tacoma home. Nothing is skipped, and nothing is added to the price after the work starts.
- Written price before we touch anything. Under Haven Standard Clause 1, the written price and scope are delivered before any inspection begins. You’ll see the number in writing, not after the camera is already in your flue. This applies to every job, no exceptions.
- Full exterior survey. The technician walks the roofline and exterior, checking the chimney crown for cracking or deterioration, the cap condition and fit, flashing integrity at the roof penetration, the mortar joints and brick faces on all four sides, and the presence of any vegetation or animal intrusion at the top. In Tacoma neighborhoods with mature tree canopy - like Elgin or South Slope - we pay particular attention to debris loading on the crown and cap screen.
- Interior firebox and smoke chamber examination. We inspect the firebox floor and back wall for spalling or cracking, check the damper operation and seating, and examine the smoke chamber walls for parging integrity. A failing smoke chamber is one of the most underdocumented chimney problems we encounter - the corbeled masonry above the firebox is hard to see with a flashlight, and we find issues there that visual-only inspections consistently miss.
- Camera scan of the full flue liner. This is the core of a Level 2. A high-resolution camera travels the entire length of the flue, recording footage and capturing still images at every relevant point. We’re looking at liner type (clay tile, cast-in-place, stainless steel), joint integrity, creosote classification (Class I through Class III), blockages, and any section where the liner has shifted, cracked, or separated. If a HeatShield or similar cast-in-place liner resurfacing was done previously, the camera confirms adhesion and coverage.
- Written findings report with photo documentation. Before leaving, the technician delivers a written summary of every finding, tied to the photo record. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this on every visit. You receive: the camera footage, labeled still photos of any deficiencies, the creosote classification for your flue, and a clear plain-English explanation of what each finding means for safe operation. If nothing needs repair, that’s documented too.
- Written repair scope and price, if anything is found. If the inspection reveals a condition that needs correction, you’ll receive a written repair estimate before you’re asked to decide anything. There is no on-site pressure. The written price and scope are yours to keep, compare against another estimate (our Free Second Opinion offer is open to anyone with a competitor’s written quote), or simply think about.
Before
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A Level 2 chimney inspection in Tacoma runs $199-$349 for most single-flue systems. That price includes the camera scan, written findings report, and photo documentation - all of it, not broken out as add-ons. Here’s what moves the number within that range.
| Factor | Typical Price Impact |
|---|---|
| Single-flue system, standard access | $199-$249 |
| Two-flue or multi-appliance system | $280-$349 |
| Difficult roof access (steep pitch, 3+ stories) | Add $40-$80 |
| Inspection combined with Level 1 sweep | Bundled pricing available - ask when you call |
| Second-opinion review of competitor’s written estimate | Free |
A few things that don’t affect your price: the age of the chimney, whether you’re in Hilltop or Point Defiance or anywhere else in Tacoma, and whether the inspection turns up findings. The camera goes in either way. If you have a written estimate from another company and want a second set of eyes on it, bring it to us - the second opinion costs nothing.
The written price is always delivered before any work starts. That’s not a policy we talk about - it’s Clause 1 of the Haven Standard and it’s applied to every job we’ve run since 2009. Call (253) 447-5982 to get your written estimate scheduled. There’s no form to fill out; a live person answers.
What the Camera Shows That a Flashlight Misses
The difference between a Level 1 and a Level 2 inspection isn’t a bureaucratic distinction - it’s the difference between looking at the top of the flue from the roofline and actually seeing every inch of the liner on a screen. Here’s what the camera routinely turns up that a visual inspection misses.
Hairline cracks in clay tile liner sections. Clay tile liners are the standard in Tacoma homes built before 1980, and they crack. Not dramatically - usually small, longitudinal fractures that open wider over time. A flashlight from above doesn’t show these. The camera does, and it shows exactly which tile sections are affected so that any repair scope is precise, not speculative.
Class II and Class III creosote behind the damper. Creosote builds up in layers. Class I is a light, flaky deposit. Class II is a harder, tar-like coating. Class III - the kind that can combust under the right conditions and sustain a flue fire - is a dense, shiny glaze that often accumulates in the lower-middle sections of the flue, out of sight from above. We classify every flue by NFPA creosote class and document it in the written report. If a flue has Class III, we say that plainly and explain what it means, including whether Soot Removal is needed, before we go further.
Offset mortar joint failures. In older masonry chimneys, the individual liner sections sit on top of each other with a mortar joint. Those joints fail. When they do, combustion gases - including carbon monoxide - can migrate through the gap into wall cavities. This is one of the more serious findings we document, and it’s not visible without a camera at the joint itself.
Animal intrusion and blockages. Raccoons, starlings, and squirrels are all regular chimney occupants in Tacoma. A cap screen failure or absent cap means nesting material, debris, and sometimes the animals themselves end up in the flue. We document what’s there, where it is, and what access point allowed it.
The Haven Standard and What It Means for Your Inspection
The Haven Standard is the operational framework Level Two Chimney Tacoma works under. For a Level 2 inspection, four clauses apply directly.
- Clause 1 (Have it in writing): Written price, written scope, written warranty before anyone starts. You won’t be handed a number after the tech is already in your home.
- Clause 2 (Arrive on schedule): A named technician is assigned, and you receive a text when they’re on the way. Background-checked, uniformed, licensed.
- Clause 4 (Documented photo record): Camera footage and labeled still photos are part of the deliverable on every inspection, stored as a permanent record you can reference for future repairs, insurance claims, or a real estate transaction.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise: If something we inspected or repaired isn’t right, we correct it. Stamped on every job.
We’ve been running this documentation practice since 2009 - before insurance companies started requiring photo evidence for chimney-related claims, and before home inspectors began specifying camera evidence in their own reports. The archive exists for a reason: a documented record of your flue’s condition on a specific date is a legitimate asset the next time your chimney is questioned.
FAQs – Level 2 Inspection in Tacoma
How much does a Level 2 chimney inspection cost in Tacoma?
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Tacoma costs $199-$349 for most homes, depending on flue count and roof access difficulty - see How Much Does Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost? (2026 Price Guide) - Tacoma, WA for full pricing details. That price includes the camera scan, written findings report, and photo documentation - none of those are add-ons. The written price is delivered before any work begins. Call (253) 447-5982 for a specific written quote for your address - there’s no estimate fee.
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of your chimney system. A Level 2 inspection adds a camera scan of the full flue liner interior, an examination of accessible concealed spaces, and a written documentation record. NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 when a home changes ownership, after any suspected chimney fire, or when the appliance or fuel type changes. If you want to actually see the condition of your liner rather than estimate it, Level 2 is the standard that applies.
How long does a Level 2 chimney inspection take?
A Level 2 inspection on a single-flue system in a typical Tacoma home takes 60-90 minutes. Two-flue or larger systems run 90-120 minutes. That includes the exterior survey, firebox and smoke chamber examination, full camera scan, and delivery of the written findings report before the technician leaves. We don’t drop a verbal summary and schedule a follow-up - the documentation is delivered the same visit.
Is a Level 2 inspection required when buying a home in Tacoma?
Yes. NFPA 211 specifies that a Level 2 inspection is required at every real estate transaction where a chimney exists. In practice, Tacoma home inspectors often note the chimney as “beyond scope” and recommend a chimney specialist. That specialist should be performing a Level 2 - camera included - not a visual-only look. If your general home inspection flagged the chimney and didn’t include camera documentation, what you received was a Level 1, and that doesn’t meet the transfer standard. Call (253) 447-5982 and we can schedule the proper inspection before or after closing.
Schedule Your Level 2 Inspection in Tacoma
If your chimney needs a camera inspection - whether you’re buying a home in the Stadium District, had a fireplace event in North End, or just want documented proof of your liner condition before another Tacoma winter - call Level Two Chimney Tacoma at (253) 447-5982. A live person answers around the clock. You’ll get a written price before anything starts, a photo record when it’s done, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise on every job. The inspection is the place to start; everything else follows from what the camera actually shows. We’ve been doing this since 2009 across Tacoma and the surrounding South Sound, and the record of what we found is part of what you’re paying for.
For context on how a Level 2 inspection fits into a full chimney cleaning visit, the home page has a quick overview of the services we cover.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Tacoma, serving Tacoma.