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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Medina
A chimney inspection in Medina typically runs $189 – $389 depending on the level, and most inspections here take 45 – 90 minutes from door to written report. We dispatch uniformed, background-checked technicians from our Seattle office to every Medina neighborhood, from the lakefront streets off Evergreen Point Road to the newer builds north of SR-520. You’ll get a written price before we touch the chimney, a camera inspection with photo documentation, and a straight answer on whether anything actually needs fixing. Call (830) 251-4560 to book.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Medina’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Medina homeowners call us because we put the scope of work on paper before a tool comes off the truck. That’s The Garrison Standard: written price, written guarantee, no guesswork. Hank Delano runs our operation with the same code every Garrison Partners location follows since 2002. Our Chimney Inspection team works with professional-grade materials like DuraFlex and HeatShield, and we photograph what we find so you’re never taking a technician’s word for it blind.
Response time to Medina runs 1 – 3 business days for standard inspections, which works for most homeowners. If you’re under contract on a home near Medina Park or along Overlake Drive, tell the scheduler it’s a real estate inspection and we’ll prioritize it. Our phones are answered by a live person around the clock, not a voicemail tree, so you’ll know your booking window before you hang up. This matters when a closing date is involved.
Fireplace Inspection in Medina
Fireplace inspection in Medina means we examine the firebox, damper, smoke shelf, and the visible portion of the flue. This is a Level 1 inspection when the system hasn’t changed since its last service, and it runs $189 – $249 in this area. Homes along Fairweather Bay and the older lakefront properties often have original masonry fireplaces that need a closer look at mortar joints and damper operation than a newer prefab unit off SR-520 would.
What we check in the firebox
We look for cracked refractory panels, deteriorated mortar, rust on the damper assembly, and any sign of water staining from the top down. On a recent 1920s brick colonial near Medina Square, our tech pulled the damper and found first-degree creosote flaking behind a firebox that looked clean from the hearth. That’s why the camera matters.
When Medina homeowners need this
Book a fireplace inspection before your first fire of the season, after any chimney fire, or when you notice a new smell, smoke spilling into the room, or water in the firebox after rain. Real estate transactions in Medina almost always require at least a Level 1 fireplace inspection, and many lenders ask for a Level 2 when the home is over 30 years old.
Chimney Inspection Services in Medina
Chimney inspection services in Medina cover the full flue from the firebox to the crown, and the level you need depends on what changed. A Level 1 runs $189 – $249 when the system is unchanged and used seasonally. A Level 2 runs $349 – $389 and adds full interior camera imaging, roof access, attic crawlspace checks, and attic-level flue inspection. We recommend Level 2 for any home sale in Medina, after a chimney fire, or when the flue has not been camera-inspected before.
Camera inspection and photo report
We run a camera up the full flue liner and photograph every section: clay tile joints, the smoke chamber, the crown, and the flashing where the chimney meets the roofline. You get those photos in a written report the same visit. If we see spalling clay tiles or a cracked flue liner, you’ll see it too, not just hear about it.
Real estate inspection for Medina closings
When a Medina home changes hands, buyers and sellers both want a documented chimney condition. Our real estate inspection includes the camera pass, a written condition report with photos, and a flat quote for any required repairs. The report is written, the price is written, and the buyer’s agent gets a document that stands up in negotiation.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Medina
We work with chimney systems from Famco, Copperfield, and DuraFlex, and we stock common replacement parts for these brands locally so Medina customers don’t wait on a warehouse shipment when a repair is approved. If your flue needs a liner repair, we quote HeatShield resurfacing at a flat price before you commit. The brand names matter because they tell you we’re not guessing with off-label parts; these are the same manufacturers the industry specifies by model and application.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Medina Homes
- Spalling clay tiles hidden behind a clean firebox. The firebox can look fine while the flue liner is shedding cracked tile fragments. Only a camera pass shows this, and it’s the most common surprise in older Medina fireplaces.
- Hairline cracks in the chimney crown. Water gets in, freeze-thaw cycles widen the crack, and the liner below soaks up moisture. On Medina’s lakefront homes, this is the leading cause of liner damage we find.
- Rusted flashing at the roofline. Steady damp from Puget Sound weather corrodes flashing over time, and the leak often shows up as ceiling stains far from the chimney itself. We check flashing on every inspection, not just the flue.
- First-degree creosote buildup from unseasoned wood. Many Medina properties have tree cover that shades woodpiles, so firewood stays damp. This produces flaky first-degree creosote that can clog a flue faster than most homeowners expect.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Medina, WA
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Medina runs $189 – $249. A Level 2 inspection with full camera imaging and roof access runs $349 – $389. Real estate inspections sit at the same range as Level 2, since they require the camera pass and written photo report. What moves the price within those ranges: roof pitch and accessibility, flue height, and whether the chimney is masonry or factory-built. Every inspection includes the written report and photos at no extra charge. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll give you a firm written price for your specific chimney before you book.
We Also Serve Cities Near Medina
Our technicians cover Medina and the surrounding Eastside communities. That includes Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Seattle. If you’re on the border of Medina and Bellevue, scheduling works the same: written quote first, camera inspection during the visit, photo report before we leave.
Serving Medina, WA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Medina area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Inspection in Medina
A chimney needs a Level 1 inspection once a year if you burn regularly. If you burn occasionally and the flue is in good shape with a sound liner and good draft, you can safely extend that to every two years. The honest answer is that a lightly used, well-maintained chimney does not need annual service, and we’ll tell you that plainly. Call (830) 251-4560 to talk through your burn frequency and get a straight recommendation.
A Level 1 inspection covers the accessible portions of the firebox, damper, smoke shelf, and flue without roof access or special equipment. It runs $189 – $249 in Medina. A Level 2 adds full interior camera imaging, roof access, and attic crawlspace checks, and runs $349 – $389. After a chimney fire, a real estate sale, or any structural change, Level 2 is the correct call. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll tell you which level your situation requires.
Yes. You get a written price for the inspection before we book, and the number on the invoice is the number you approved. That’s The Garrison Standard and it applies to every service call in Medina. If the inspection turns up a repair, we quote that separately in writing after you’ve seen the camera photos. Call (830) 251-4560 for a firm price on your specific chimney.
First-degree creosote is flaky and dusty, and it comes off with standard sweeping brushes. Third-degree creosote is a hardened, glossy tar glaze that forms from smoldering, low-temperature fires and usually requires chemical treatment or mechanical removal. The degree matters because it affects sweep cost and time. We photograph the creosote during your inspection so you can see exactly what we’re describing. Call (830) 251-4560 to book a camera inspection.
No. We schedule inspections for Medina 1 – 3 business days out, and we don’t promise same-day dispatch. The urgency with a chimney is seasonal, not hourly. What we do promise is that a live person answers when you call, and you’ll get a written price before you book. If you’re under contract on a Medina home and need a real estate inspection quickly, mention it and we’ll do our best to fit you in. Call (830) 251-4560 to schedule.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Medina and the Eastside under The Garrison Standard.