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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AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Selma
A chimney inspection in Selma typically costs $189 – $389 depending on the level of inspection, and a Level 2 camera inspection runs $249 – $489. Most inspections take 45 to 90 minutes, and you get a written report with photos before we leave. Call (830) 251-4560 for a flat price before we book anything. We’re part of the Garrison Partners family, founded in 2002, which means every Flint Chimney Sweep job runs on the same Garrison Standard: a written price before work starts, a background-checked uniformed technician, and a one-year written guarantee on any repair.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Selma’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Selma homeowners don’t have time for chimney companies that show up late, move the price at the door, or leave a mess in the living room. We hear those stories on a lot of first calls. Our response time to Selma is typically 1 to 2 business days for scheduled inspections, and the technician who arrives is background-checked, uniformed, and carrying the exact price you already approved. No one on our crew has ever surprised a customer with a number that wasn’t in writing first.
Local knowledge makes a real difference here. Selma sits along the I-35 corridor, and the wind coming off that stretch carries a lot of grit. We know what that does to chimney caps and flues because we see it every week. Our technicians are trained to spot the difference between a flue that’s actually blocked and one that’s just packed with wind-driven dust from nearby construction. That one distinction has saved Selma homeowners thousands in unnecessary liner work.
When you call, a live person answers. 24/7. No voicemail tree, no callback form, no waiting until Monday. And every inspection comes with the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if we miss something or the repair doesn’t hold, we come back at no charge for a full year.
Chimney Flue Inspection in Selma
Chimney Flue Inspection in Selma means running a camera up the inner liner to see exactly what’s coating the walls, blocking the path, or cracking inside the flue. The flue is the vertical passage that carries smoke and combustion gases out of the house. When it’s compromised, you can’t always tell from the firebox. That’s why a visual check from the roof or through the damper often misses the problem. Our tech was called to a two-story home off Cibolo Valley Drive after the homeowner noticed a weak draft and ash blowing back into the firebox. We ran a Level 2 camera inspection and found first-degree creosote coating the flue liner above a partially blocked chimney cap, plus a crumbling chimney crown. After brushing the flue and documenting everything with a photo report, we gave a firm quote for the crown repair and advised rescheduling the cap replacement for spring. A flue inspection in Selma typically runs $189 – $389, and you get a photo report you can actually read.
Camera Runs the Length of the Flue
We feed a waterproof camera the full length of the liner, from firebox to cap. The screen shows us exactly where the creosote buildup is, whether the liner tiles are cracked, and if any animal nesting has taken hold. You see the same footage we do. If we recommend a repair, you’ll have the pictures to back up that recommendation.
Flue Blockage and Draft Failures
Selma’s wind-driven grit from the I-35 frontage packs chimney caps and the top section of flues. A restricted draft mimics a blocked liner until a camera inspection reveals the true culprit. Often a good brushing clears it. We don’t sell a liner replacement when the real fix is a cap cleanup.
Chimney Fire in Selma
Chimney Fire in Selma is the result of creosote buildup reaching ignition temperature inside the flue. It happens fast, and it often starts without the homeowner ever realizing the chimney was loaded with second-degree creosote. The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection precisely because buildup accelerates silently. In Selma, where many homeowners burn infrequently and skip inspections for years, animal nests and mortar flaking can develop even without regular fires. Then a rush call comes after a chimney fire scare.
Signs You’re Headed Toward a Fire Event
Loud cracking or popping sounds during a burn, dense smoke in the room, a strong hot tar smell near the fireplace, or dark puffy residue falling into the firebox are all warnings. If you’ve seen any of those, stop burning immediately and schedule an inspection. A Level 2 camera inspection will show exactly how much creosote has accumulated and whether the flue liner is still intact.
Carbon Monoxide Risk
A partially blocked flue doesn’t just create fire risk. It can push carbon monoxide back into the house instead of up and out. CO is invisible and odorless. An inspection with a draft check and a visual of the entire flue path is the straightforward way to confirm your chimney is actually moving gases out. This is not a scare tactic. It’s a mechanical check, same as testing a gas line.
Trusted Brands We Service in Selma
We specify and install professional-grade chimney materials from brands like DuraFlex, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield. These are the names reputable masons and sweep companies have used for years, and we stock parts locally for Selma customers so turnaround on common repairs stays fast. If your chimney has a DuraFlex liner or an Olympia cap, we know the exact installation specs and can repair them properly rather than rigging a mismatched part. The brand on the box matters because flue clearances and liner tolerances are specific. Chimney Inspection work in Selma often turns up brands the homeowner didn’t know were installed, and we’ll tell you exactly what you have and what it needs.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Selma Homes
- Wind-packed grit from I-35 construction. Selma’s constant corridor wind drives fine dust and debris into caps and upper flue sections. The chimney looks blocked, but a camera inspection usually shows it’s just compacted grit that a brush can clear.
- Clay soil shifting and cracked fireboxes. Selma sits on expansive clay that moves with moisture swings. Footings shift, and hairline cracks open in the firebox or chimney crown. Water gets in, and spalling starts. A less thorough sweep might call it a rebuild. We show you the actual crack on camera before anyone quotes masonry work.
- Nests and animal entry above the damper. Birds and squirrels find Selma chimneys just as attractive as any other. Nests above the damper restrict airflow, and droppings corrode dampers and liners. We see it on infrequently used fireplaces more than anything else.
- Second-degree creosote on lightly used chimneys. Even a handful of fires a season can produce hardened creosote. Selma homeowners who burn only on cool evenings are often surprised by what the inspection shows. It’s a maintenance issue, not a moral one, and we treat it that way.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Selma, TX
A Level 1 visual inspection in Selma runs $189 – $249. A Level 2 camera inspection with photo documentation runs $249 – $489 depending on the height of the flue and accessibility. Level 3 inspections, which involve partial demolition to access hidden sections, run $500 – $1,500 and are rare. What affects the price: roof pitch, flue height, cap condition, and whether we’re also doing a sweep at the same visit. You get a written price before any work starts. If we find something during the inspection that needs repair, you get a separate written quote. Nothing gets added to the invoice without your approval. Call (830) 251-4560 for an exact quote. Estimates are free, and the person who answers can walk you through which level your chimney likely needs. We also serve the wider region around Selma with the same flat-price process.
We Also Serve Cities Near Selma
Flint Chimney Sweep handles inspection appointments across the I-35 corridor and beyond. That includes Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth. If you’re just outside Selma, call and we’ll confirm scheduling and pricing for your area. Same written guarantee, same Garrison Standard, same flat price before work begins.
Serving Selma, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Selma 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 Selma
Once a year, regardless of how often you burn. The reason is creosote and animal activity develop even in lightly used fireplaces, and Selma’s wind delivers extra grit into flues that sit dormant. If you burn more than a dozen fires a season, or if you’ve never had a camera inspection done, start now and then settle into an annual rhythm. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll schedule it.
A camera shows the full inner wall of the flue liner, top to bottom, in real time. A basic sweep removes creosote, but it doesn’t reveal cracked tiles, separated liner sections, hidden nests above the damper line, or water stains behind the cap. In Selma, where wind compacts grit into the upper flue, a camera is often the only way to tell a simple cleaning from a structural issue. You get the photos. Call (830) 251-4560 to book a Level 2 inspection with camera documentation.
You get a written price before we book the appointment. That price is the price. We don’t move it once we’re on the roof or in the firebox. If the inspection reveals a needed repair, that’s a separate written quote for your approval. You never pay for something you didn’t agree to in advance. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll quote you over the phone.
Loud cracking sounds during a fire, visible smoke spilling into the room, a strong acrid smell even when the fireplace is cold, or black puffy creosote falling into the firebox all point to risk. For carbon monoxide, headaches or nausea when the fire runs can indicate backdrafting. The fireplace may look fine from the outside. A camera inspection is the only way to confirm. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll get eyes on it.
Sometimes, yes. If we find first-degree creosote or a minor cap blockage, a sweep fixes it and you’re safe to use the chimney. If we find cracked flue tiles, a separated liner, or significant water intrusion at the crown, burning before repair is unsafe. We’ll tell you plainly which category you’re in, with photos to back it up, and we won’t push a repair that can safely wait. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll walk you through what we found.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Selma, TX.