Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
Ask the inspector to identify the readily accessible chimney, fireplace and connected-appliance portions included in the proposed inspection. Request the findings and any access limits in writing, keeping separate any cleaning or repair work recommended afterward.
What may be involved
- inspection tools
- camera light
- written findings
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Los Altos
Local exposure
Santa Clara County sits inside the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, whose Regulation 6 Rule 3 governs wood burning. The District’s own FAQ describes winter months starting 1 November through the end of February, and says Winter Spare the Air Alerts are issued when pollution reaches unhealthy levels — roughly 20 days each winter, when burning is not allowed. It also states that excessive smoke is not allowed beyond a 20-minute start-up period, and describes a Sole Source of Heat exemption for households whose only heat is a registered EPA-certified device. Check the alert status before you light a fire. This District FAQ was last updated in October 2017; confirm the current rule and alert status with the District.
Source ↗Local context
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Burn Wise pages say fire officials recommend getting a wood-burning appliance, chimney and vent professionally inspected each year to keep them in safe working order, and the US Fire Administration likewise says to have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected at least once a year. Ask what an inspection will actually look at and what you receive in writing afterwards. Annual guidance is not a finding about the condition of your own chimney.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
If smoke is entering the room, stop using the fireplace and arrange an assessment.
