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 Storrs
A chimney inspection in Storrs, CT typically runs $189 to $389 depending on the level, and most inspections take under an hour on site. That price gets you a written report with camera photos when the scope calls for it, plus a straight answer on what needs doing now and what can wait. Flint Chimney Sweep has been inspecting chimneys since 2002, and we dispatch uniformed, background-checked technicians from our Hartford office to homes throughout Storrs. Call (830) 251-4560 and a live person answers, any hour, any day.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Storrs’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Storrs homeowners call us because the price we quote over the phone is the price on the invoice. No add-ons at the door, no surprise liner quote after a “quick look.” Every inspection ends with a written report and camera photos you can actually see, so when we tell you the crown needs resurfacing or the liner has hairline cracks, you’re looking at the evidence yourself. That’s The Garrison Standard, and it applies to every job we run in Storrs.
Our technicians know the housing stock around UConn; Capes and colonials off Route 195, older farmhouses on South Eagleville Road, and newer builds near Mirror Lake. We’ve pulled squirrel nests, rusted caps, and cracked flue tiles out of Storrs chimneys for years at this point. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every repair we recommend, in writing, for a full year. If a covered repair fails, we return at no charge. No argument, no second invoice.
Hank Delano leads our inspection team and sets the tone for how we operate. Written price before any work starts, every job. Free return visit if a repair fails within the guarantee period. Live person on the phone 24/7. That’s the whole deal, and it’s why homeowners in Storrs keep our number saved.
Fireplace Inspection in Storrs
Fireplace inspection in Storrs is about more than glancing up the flue with a flashlight; it’s a systematic check of the firebox, damper, smoke shelf, flue liner, crown, cap, and flashing. Given what Storrs winters do to masonry, the freeze-thaw cycling alone justifies a close look every year or two, even if you barely burned. A standard fireplace inspection in Storrs runs $189 to $279 when the flue is clean and accessible.
What We Check
The firebox gets examined for cracked refractory panels and mortar joints opening up. The damper gets tested for full operation. The flue gets checked for creosote buildup, animal nesting, and any sign of liner damage, and the crown and cap get looked at from the roof when safe access allows. We document what we find with photos.
When You Actually Need One
You need a fireplace inspection before buying a home in Storrs, after any chimney fire, after a noticeable change in draft or smoke behavior, or after a few seasons of little use. Storrs homes that sit vacant during UConn breaks often develop issues nobody notices for weeks. Squirrels move in, caps rust through, mortar freezes and crumbles. An inspection catches that early.
Chimney Inspection Services in Storrs
Chimney Inspection Services in Storrs cover three levels recognized by the industry: Level 1 for routine annual checks on systems that haven’t changed, Level 2 when the home is being sold or after an event like a chimney fire or storm, and Level 3 when a Level 2 reveals hidden damage that requires opening up part of the structure. A Level 2 inspection in Storrs runs $289 to $389 and includes camera documentation of the entire flue interior. We also offer standalone Chimney Inspection for homeowners who want the flue scoped without a full sweep.
Camera Inspection
We run a camera down the flue on most Level 2 inspections in Storrs. It shows you exactly what the liner looks like: glazed creosote, cracked tiles, separated joints, rusted-through metal. You get the photos, not just our word. That makes a real difference when a chimney sat unused through two UConn semesters and you’re wondering what happened in there.
Real Estate Inspection
If you’re buying or selling a home in Storrs, a Level 2 inspection is the standard scope. Connecticut contracts often hinge on chimney condition because liner replacement is expensive. We get the report to you quickly and we write it in plain English: what failed, what it costs to fix, and what can wait.
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 Storrs
When repairs come out of an inspection, we install products from manufacturers whose warranties and specs we trust: DuraFlex liners, HeatShield resurfacing systems, and Copperfield caps. We keep common parts ready for Storrs jobs so a straightforward cap replacement or liner measurement doesn’t drag into a two-week wait. If your inspection turns up a rusted cap or eroded crown, we can quote the fix with the brand name on the line item, so you can verify exactly what you’re buying.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Storrs Homes
- Cracked crowns from freeze-thaw cycles. Storrs winters swing above and below freezing constantly, and water gets into every small fissure in the masonry crown. It freezes, expands, and cracks the crown wider. We see this on homes all around the UConn campus, and it has nothing to do with how much you burned.
- Animal nests in flues nobody touched all winter. Homes on Hunting Lodge Road and South Eagleville Road often sit empty when students and faculty leave for breaks. Squirrels and birds find the flue before anyone notices the cap is gone. We pull nests out regularly.
- Rusted or missing caps. The cap is the first thing to go on a Storrs chimney. Snow loads, ice, and constant wet weather from October through April eat through cheap caps in a few years. A rusted cap isn’t a cosmetic problem; it lets rain straight down the flue.
- Hairline spalling on masonry. Older brick chimneys on Storrs farmhouses often show face spalling: the brick surface flaking off in thin layers. Water absorption, freezing, and thawing do the damage. We catch it during inspections before it becomes a structural issue.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Storrs, CT
A standard Level 1 inspection in Storrs runs $189 to $249. A Level 2 inspection, which includes the camera run, runs $289 to $389. Level 3 work is quoted after we see what the Level 2 found, because it involves opening parts of the chimney structure. The word estimate doesn’t apply at Flint; we give you a flat price before we book the appointment, and that’s the number on the invoice. If we find a repair, we quote it separately with photos, and you decide. No pressure, and no work starts without a written price you approved. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free quote on your Storrs inspection.
We Also Serve Cities Near Storrs
Our Storrs technicians also cover Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, and Hartford. If you own property in any of those areas, the same written pricing and guarantee apply. One call to (830) 251-4560 books the appointment and gets you the flat rate.
Serving Storrs, CT - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Storrs 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 Storrs
Once a year is the right interval, even if you burn half a cord the whole winter. Freeze-thaw damage, animal nesting, and crown deterioration happen whether or not the fireplace gets used. In Storrs specifically, we see cracked crowns and rusted caps on chimneys that haven’t burned in years. The inspection isn’t about soot; it’s about water and wildlife. If your chimney sat unused through UConn breaks, call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll check it before it becomes a liner job.
A Level 1 is a visual check of accessible parts when nothing has changed. A Level 2 adds camera inspection of the full flue interior and is required for real estate transactions or after an event like a chimney fire. A Level 3 means opening up masonry or other structure to access hidden damage. Most Storrs homeowners need a Level 1 annually and a Level 2 when buying or selling. We’ll tell you which one applies to your situation, and you get the flat price before we book.
We inspect the liner, firebox, damper, smoke shelf, crown, cap, and flashing. The inspection is a separate service from the sweep, and it includes a written report. On Level 2 jobs you get camera photos of the liner so you can see cracks, spalling, or creosote glazing yourself. A sweep alone won’t catch a failing liner, and in Storrs older homes that’s exactly where the expensive problems hide.
It’s a flat price, agreed before you book, and the invoice matches it. Not an estimate, not a ballpark that grows at the door. If the inspection reveals a repair, that repair gets its own written quote with photos, and you approve or decline. No surprise numbers. That’s The Garrison Standard, and it’s non-negotiable on every Storrs job.
We don’t promise same-day dispatch, because a proper inspection is a booked appointment with a set window. What you get is a live person when you call, a flat price given up front, and a technician who shows up inside the window. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll get you scheduled, usually within a few days depending on the season.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Storrs since 2002.