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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AfterLevel 2 Inspection in Alpharetta, GA
A Level 2 chimney inspection is a camera-scan examination of your entire flue system – liner, smoke chamber, firebox, and all accessible attic and crawl space passages – performed to NFPA 211 standards and documented with photos before the technician leaves. In Alpharetta, Emberly Chimney Cleaners prices this service between $199 and $349 depending on flue height and configuration, and a written price is in your hands before any work starts. If you’d rather talk through it first, call us at (678) 679-0171 – a live person picks up every time, around the clock.
Our Chimney Sweep in Alpharetta service includes a Level 2 scan as the default inspection method – not a flashlight look from the firebox opening, not a quick visual from the rooftop. We’ve worked that way since 2009, and we’ve applied it to more than 38,000 chimneys across the metro. The camera record that comes back up with the tech is what makes the difference: you see exactly what we saw, in the same sequence we saw it, and the written report matches the photos frame by frame.
Alpharetta’s housing stock creates some inspection patterns worth knowing. The corridors along Old Milton Parkway and the neighborhoods feeding into the Windward community see a lot of two-story and cape-cod floorplans with tall, straight flues – easier to scan but prone to mortar joint erosion at the top where the flue meets the crown. The older sections near downtown Alpharetta, particularly the streets off Canton Street, have more masonry fireplaces built in the 1980s and early 1990s. Those flues regularly show early-stage spalling – where the liner tiles begin to fracture and shed fragments – and occasional smoke chamber corbeling that has shifted slightly over three decades of thermal cycling. None of that is cause for alarm on its own, but it’s the kind of detail a camera finds and a flashlight misses.
When You Need a Level 2 Inspection
- You bought the home after 2015 and have never had a camera inspection. A real estate transaction triggers a mandatory Level 2 under NFPA 211, and many sellers provide a visual-only report that doesn’t meet that standard. If the paperwork from closing doesn’t say “NFPA 211 Level 2” and show camera footage, the inspection didn’t happen.
- You had a chimney fire, even a small one. A flue fire – sometimes nothing more than a loud roar and a smell of hot metal – can crack liner tiles invisibly. Cracks that look minor on the surface can allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to migrate into the living space. This is the scenario where a Level 2 camera scan is non-negotiable, not optional.
- The flue liner or appliance type changed. If a previous owner switched from a wood-burning insert to a gas log set, or if a new liner was installed without a documented pre-installation scan, you need a Level 2 before the next burn season. In Alpharetta we see this frequently in the older Preston subdivision homes where gas conversions were common in the mid-2000s.
- You’ve noticed smoke in the house or a draft that reverses. Backdrafting in North Fulton County homes is often blamed on tight modern construction, but the actual cause is frequently a partially blocked flue – debris, a damaged damper plate, or a bird nest from one of the Carolina wrens or chimney swifts common to this area. The camera tells you which one.
- The chimney took impact damage. A fallen tree branch, a lightning strike, or even the seismic micro-activity that occasionally affects the Alpharetta area can shift the flue structure without producing obvious exterior cracks. If anything contacted the chimney, a Level 2 scan shows whether the interior liner moved with it.
- Insurance or your HOA requires documented proof. Several Alpharetta-area HOAs, particularly in the Avalon corridor and the Cherokee County boundary communities, now ask for a written inspection report as part of annual property reviews. A Level 2 report with photo documentation satisfies that requirement; a verbal “looks fine” does not.
Our Level 2 Inspection Process
- Written price before we touch anything. When you call or book online, you receive a flat written price for the Level 2 inspection – specific to your flue count and configuration, not a vague range – before a technician is dispatched. This is Haven Standard Clause 1: have it in writing, always. You’ll also get the technician’s name and a text when they’re on the way.
- Exterior evaluation first. The technician starts at the roofline – crown condition, cap integrity, mortar joints, any visible flashing separation at the chimney’s base where it meets the roof deck. In Alpharetta’s climate, freeze-thaw cycles between November and February are the primary driver of crown cracking, and we note the exact crack location and depth before going internal. For homes with a cricket (the small peaked structure that diverts water away from the chimney base), we check for signs of water infiltration behind it.
- Camera scan of the full flue length. A high-resolution inspection camera goes down the flue from the top – or up from the firebox when rooftop access is restricted. The scan covers every inch of the liner: tile joints, corbeling in the smoke chamber, the smoke shelf, and the firebox back wall. We record the footage continuously so the report reflects the actual sequence, not selected stills. Any spalling, offset joints, mortar loss, or foreign material is timestamped and noted. Safety note: the camera work and what follows it – liner evaluation, smoke chamber repair assessment – requires a trained technician. If the scan reveals cracks in the liner, do not operate the appliance until the repair scope is confirmed in writing. High-temperature flue failures can be severe.
- Firebox and smoke chamber inspection. With the camera data captured, the technician examines the firebox interior directly: damper plate movement, smoke chamber corbeling condition, any efflorescence (white salt deposits that indicate water migration through the masonry), and firebox floor integrity. We use the trade’s actual terms in the written report – “smoke shelf debris accumulation,” “corbeling offset at third course” – and define each in plain English in the same line so you’re not translating a technical document.
- Written findings report with photos, delivered before the technician leaves. The report names what we found, assigns a condition rating using NFPA 211 language, and shows the photo or camera still that corresponds to each finding. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this documented photo record on every job. If repairs are needed, a written scope and written price for that work is included in the same document – you are never handed a verbal recommendation and told to call for a quote.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise applied from day one. The inspection report becomes part of your property’s permanent record with us. If a finding was noted and the recommended repair was completed by our technicians, the 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the work. If a follow-up question comes up six months later about something in the report, call (678) 679-0171 and we’ll pull the file.
BeforeAfterLevel 2 Inspection Pricing in Alpharetta
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Alpharetta runs $199 to $349 for a single flue. That price includes the camera scan, the written findings report, and the documented photo record – there is no separate charge for documentation. Second flues on the same visit are typically $99 to $149 each, depending on configuration.
| Service Item | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Level 2 Inspection, single flue | $199 – $349 |
| Each additional flue, same visit | $99 – $149 |
| Level 2 Inspection bundled with chimney cleaning (same visit) | $279 – $449 |
| Written findings report and photo record | Included – no separate charge |
| Free Second Opinion on any written competitor estimate | $0 |
A few things affect where your price lands within that range. Flue height is the main variable: a two-story colonial in Windward with a 20-foot flue takes more camera time to scan thoroughly than a single-story ranch near downtown Alpharetta. Access complexity matters too – a chimney that requires rooftop entry on a steep pitch takes longer to set up safely than one we can scan from the firebox. We’ll confirm the exact price on the phone or via the booking form before scheduling. That number doesn’t change when the tech arrives.
If you’ve already received a written estimate from another company, bring it to us. The Free Second Opinion applies to any written quote, and we’ll tell you plainly whether the scope matches what the camera actually shows – and price the same work against their number.
What the Camera Finds That a Visual Inspection Misses
The phrase “visual inspection” gets used loosely in this industry. A Level 1 visual inspection – the kind appropriate for a system that hasn’t changed and has no known history of problems – covers accessible portions of the exterior and interior. That means the technician can see the first few feet of liner from the firebox and the top of the flue from the roof. The middle section, often 8 to 15 feet of liner on a typical Alpharetta home, is not visible from either end.
That middle section is where most of the interesting findings live. Offset joints – where one liner tile has shifted slightly out of alignment with the one below it – create a ledge where creosote accumulates faster than in a straight flue. A Class III creosote deposit (the glazed, tar-like form that’s harder to remove and more hazardous than earlier-stage deposits) can build up at an offset point even in a flue that’s had an Annual Sweep. The camera shows the offset, the deposit class, and the extent. The flashlight shows neither.
In Alpharetta specifically, we see a pattern in homes built between 1988 and 1996 – a construction window that produced a lot of masonry fireplaces with clay tile liners. Those liners are now 30 to 38 years old. Clay tile has a design life, and thermal cycling over three decades produces hairline cracks at the mortar joints that don’t show any symptoms until combustion gases find a path through them. The camera finds those cracks before the carbon monoxide detector does.
Materials we use for liner work following an inspection – when repair is needed and the customer approves the written scope – come from suppliers including Copperfield and Olympia Chimney, procured through Haven’s buying network. We name the material, the manufacturer, and the reason for the selection in the written scope before any work begins.
FAQs – Level 2 Inspection in Alpharetta
How much does a Level 2 chimney inspection cost in Alpharetta?
A Level 2 inspection in Alpharetta costs between $199 and $349 for a single flue, with the written findings report and documented photo record included at no additional charge - see our How Much Does Chimney Sweep Cost? (2026 Price Guide) - Alpharetta, GA for full details. A second flue inspected on the same visit adds $99 to $149. The price is confirmed in writing before the technician is dispatched – it doesn’t change at the door. Call (678) 679-0171 for a written price specific to your home’s flue count and configuration.
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and a Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection covers accessible portions of the exterior and interior and is appropriate for a system with no known changes, no operational problems, and no history of events like a chimney fire. A Level 2 inspection adds a camera scan of the full flue interior – every inch of liner, smoke chamber, and accessible attic and crawl space passages – and is required by NFPA 211 any time the appliance or fuel type changes, a property is sold, or a Level 1 reveals a potential hazard. In practice, a Level 2 is also the right call any time you want documented proof of condition rather than a professional’s word for it.
Do I need a Level 2 inspection when buying a home in Alpharetta?
Yes. NFPA 211 specifically identifies a real estate transaction as a condition requiring a Level 2 inspection. Many home inspectors include a “fireplace visual” in their report, but that’s not a Level 2. If the inspection report from closing doesn’t reference NFPA 211 Level 2 and include camera footage or still photographs of the liner interior, the standard wasn’t met. Alpharetta’s resale market has a high proportion of homes with wood-burning fireplaces, and we see a steady volume of post-closing Level 2 requests from buyers who discovered the inspection performed at closing didn’t cover the flue interior. It’s cleaner to know before you take possession. Call (678) 679-0171 to schedule before or during the contract period.
How long does a Level 2 inspection take?
For a single flue on a typical Alpharetta home, plan on 60 to 90 minutes from setup to written report in hand. Two-flue systems or configurations with restricted rooftop access run closer to two hours. The written findings report and photo documentation are produced on-site; you won’t be waiting days for emailed results. If repairs are recommended, the written scope and price for that work come with the report before the technician leaves.
Scheduling a Level 2 Inspection in Alpharetta
If you’re ready to schedule, or if you want a written price before committing, call us at (678) 679-0171. A live person answers every call, day or night – not a voicemail, not a web form. Tell us your address, flue count, and the last time you had Chimney Sweep service, and we’ll give you a specific written price on that call. Estimates are free, the price is flat, and it doesn’t change when the tech shows up.
Emberly Chimney Cleaners has been doing this work in Alpharetta since 2009. Every inspection comes with a written price before work starts, a documented photo record when it’s done, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise behind the findings. If you have a written estimate from another company, bring it – we’ll review it at no charge and tell you whether the scope is right.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Alpharetta, serving Alpharetta.