The inspection levels aren’t marketing tiers, they’re scopes defined by the CSIA and referenced in NFPA 211, and the trigger for Level 2 is one word: change. When the system, the fuel, or the ownership changes, a visual once-over is no longer enough evidence.
The five triggers
What the camera adds that eyes can’t
A Level 1 sees the accessible ends of the system. The Level 2 camera travels the flue itself and finds what’s in between: cracked or shifted clay tiles, gaps at liner joints, glazed creosote bonded to the walls, and blockages sitting on the smoke shelf. We record the run and hand you the footage, documentation is the whole point of a changed-condition inspection.
What it isn’t
A Level 2 doesn’t involve demolition, no walls opened, nothing dismantled beyond normal access panels. When findings suggest concealed structural damage that even the camera can’t confirm, that’s the rare case for a Level 3 investigation, and we’ll show you exactly which finding led there before recommending it.
Timing and cost logic
Plan for more time on site than a Level 1, the camera run and additional areas take it from under an hour to roughly two on a typical Dallas home. Pricing is fixed and quoted before booking; what moves it is access and whether a sweep is needed first, a camera can’t see through heavy soot. On real-estate timelines we prioritize scheduling and deliver the report same or next day, book here.
Frequently asked questions
Does a clean Level 2 report help sell my house?
Meaningfully. A documented, camera-verified report answers the buyer’s inspector before they ask, and it takes the fireplace off the negotiation table entirely.
My insurer asked for an inspection after a claim, which level?
Almost always Level 2, insurers want documented interior condition, not a visual opinion. Send us the claim requirements and we’ll match the report to them.