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.
Caps & crowns
Masonry repair
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Before
AfterLevel 1 Inspection in Marietta, GA
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Marietta, GA covers the accessible portions of your chimney system – the firebox, smoke chamber, damper, flue liner, and exterior crown and cap – using visual examination and a camera scan of the flue. It’s the right starting point when your fireplace has been in regular use, nothing major has changed with the system, and you want to confirm it’s safe to keep using. At Emberly Chimney Cleaners Marietta, every Level 1 inspection runs $149-$199, that price is in writing before anyone knocks on your door, and you leave with a photo record of exactly what we found.
We’ve been doing this since 2009, and we’ve run the camera down more than 38,000 chimneys across metro Atlanta. In Marietta specifically, we see a few patterns that repeat: clay tile liners that have taken on moisture through Georgia’s freeze-thaw cycles and started to spall or crack along the joints, smoke chambers with parged surfaces that are eroding, and creosote buildup that looks manageable from the firebox opening but tells a different story when the camera reaches the upper flue. A flashlight pointed upward from the firebox doesn’t catch any of those things reliably. A camera scan does.
If you’re also due for a cleaning, our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Marietta page explains how we handle both in a single visit – which is how most of our Marietta customers schedule it. Or call us directly at (470) 288-2763 to talk through what you need first. A live person picks up, every time, around the clock.
When You Need a Level 1 Inspection
Not every situation calls for the same level of inspection. A Level 1 is appropriate when the chimney is being used for its intended purpose, no changes have been made to the system, and there’s no reason to suspect hidden structural damage. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Annual fireplace maintenance before the burning season. Marietta’s heating season runs roughly October through March. A Level 1 inspection before you light the first fire of the year confirms nothing has shifted, cracked, or been built up in the flue over the summer – including bird or squirrel nests, which are common in our area once fireplace use drops off in spring.
- Buying or selling a home in Marietta. If you’re purchasing a home in East Cobb, Kennesaw Road corridor, or anywhere in Cobb County with a wood-burning or gas fireplace, a Level 1 inspection gives you a documented, camera-verified record of the chimney’s condition at the time of sale. Sellers use it for the same reason – it’s harder to negotiate a chimney allowance against a written inspection with photos attached.
- After a chimney fire or heavy creosote season. If you’ve had an unusually active burning season, or if you noticed a strong odor, odd sounds, or visible smoke in the room, a Level 1 inspection with camera scan will locate creosote progression before it crosses into Class III – which is when glazed, tar-like deposits in the flue become a serious fire hazard and require chemical treatment or liner replacement rather than a standard sweep.
- Gas fireplace verification. Homeowners in West Marietta and the Smyrna border areas who converted from wood-burning to gas sometimes skip inspection years because they assume gas is clean. Gas appliances still produce combustion byproducts, and the liner and venting system still need to be checked annually for blockages, corrosion, and proper draft.
- Post-storm or high-wind check. Severe weather moves through Marietta and the broader Cobb County area with real force. After a storm with significant wind or hail, a Level 1 covers the cap, crown, and upper exterior – checking for cap displacement, crown cracking, and mortar joint separation that creates water entry points.
- Restarting use after an extended break. If the fireplace hasn’t been used for two or more years – common when people move into a home they bought as a renovation project – a Level 1 before the first use confirms the system is still intact and clear.
Our Level 1 Inspection Process
Here’s what actually happens when our tech arrives at your Marietta home. No surprises, no upsells mid-visit.
- Written price and scope delivered before work starts. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard – what we call H.A.V.E.N. “Have it in writing” – you see the exact dollar amount, what’s included, and what the warranty covers before the inspection begins. That written scope doesn’t change when the tech is already in your home. If something we find during the inspection points toward additional work, we write that up separately for your review. You decide; we don’t proceed without your written approval.
- Exterior check of cap, crown, and upper structure. The tech works top-down. We check the chimney cap for displacement or corrosion, the crown for cracking or erosion, mortar joints on the exterior for separation, and the flashing at the roofline for gaps. In Marietta, the combination of clay-heavy soil and seasonal temperature swings puts real stress on crowns and flashing – we see crown cracking regularly in older homes in the Historic Marietta district and in neighborhoods built in the 1980s and 1990s west of the Square.
- Firebox and smoke chamber examination. Inside, we check the firebox floor and walls for spalling brick or deteriorating mortar, the throat damper for full operation and sealing, and the smoke chamber for parge coat integrity. A smoke chamber with a rough or deteriorating surface disrupts draft and accelerates creosote accumulation – something that’s easy to miss on a visual-only look but shows up clearly when you’re looking at it from the right angle with proper lighting.
- Camera scan of the flue liner. This is where a Level 1 at Emberly differs from what most Marietta sweep companies call a Level 1. We run a camera through the full length of the flue, recording footage as we go. The camera finds liner cracks, clay tile joint separation, and creosote staging that a mirror and flashlight simply cannot confirm. Clay tile liners – the most common type in Marietta homes built before 2000 – can have a hairline crack invisible from the firebox that shows up immediately on camera. A cracked liner lets heat and gases migrate into the surrounding masonry; that’s a fire and carbon monoxide risk, not a maintenance footnote.
- Creosote classification and written findings. Based on what we find in the flue, we classify creosote buildup: Class I is light and dusty, removed by standard brushing; Class II is harder, tar-like, and requires more aggressive mechanical cleaning; Class III is glazed and brittle, and standard sweeping won’t touch it – it needs a chemical solvent and often a full liner evaluation afterward. You get the classification in writing, not as verbal shorthand.
- Photo record and documented report delivered same day. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires a documented photo record on every job – it’s not optional, and it’s not an upgrade. You get the images before we leave. That record is useful for insurance documentation, future inspections, and real estate disclosure. We’ve been building that photo archive into every visit since 2009.
BeforeAfterLevel 1 Inspection Pricing in Marietta
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Marietta runs $149-$199 for a single fireplace system. That price includes the camera scan, the written findings report, and the photo documentation. It does not include cleaning or repairs, which are quoted separately in writing if they’re needed.
| Service | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Inspection (single flue) | $149 – $199 | Includes camera scan and photo record |
| Level 1 Inspection + Basic Sweep (Class I creosote) | $249 – $329 | Combined visit, written price before start |
| Second fireplace/flue (same visit) | $99 – $129 | Discounted when done same day |
| Written estimate on repairs found | $0 | Always included; no obligation to proceed |
A few things affect where you fall in that range: the height and accessibility of your chimney, whether your home is a single-story ranch in the Whitlock Avenue area or a two-story on the hillier streets near Kennesaw Mountain, and how long the flue run is. We’ll confirm the exact price when you call – but it won’t change after we’re on your property. That’s not a promise we make; it’s a documented standard.
If you’ve already gotten a written estimate from another company, bring it to us. We offer a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate – no fee, no pressure. Call (470) 288-2763 to schedule. Estimates are free and phone calls reach a live person.
What You Walk Away With
After a Level 1 inspection with Emberly Chimney Cleaners Marietta, you have:
- A written summary of every component checked – cap, crown, flashing, firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue liner – with condition noted in plain terms, not codes or shorthand.
- Camera footage findings, including the liner condition, any cracks or joint separations, and the creosote classification.
- A photo record, delivered the same day, archived under your address. If you call us in three years, we can pull up what your liner looked like in this visit and compare it to what we find then.
- A written repair estimate if anything needs attention, scoped in detail with materials sourced through our buying network – which includes suppliers like Gelco and Olympia Chimney, specifically because procurement at that scale keeps our material costs, and your prices, honest.
- The 365-Day Done Right Promise on any work you authorize: if it’s not right, we make it right.
If the inspection is clean, you get documentation that says exactly that. If it’s not, you get a written scope of what’s needed and what it costs before you make any decision.
Why Camera Documentation Is the Standard, Not the Upgrade
Most chimney companies in Marietta offer a “Level 1 inspection” at a low entry price and define it as a visual check from below. Under NFPA 211, a Level 1 inspection should cover the accessible portions of the chimney interior and exterior – and “accessible” is where the interpretation differs. A flashlight inspection from the firebox opening is technically accessible; so is a camera lowered the full length of the flue.
Emberly made the camera scan default in 2009, not because regulators required it then, but because a liner crack that isn’t documented is a liner crack the customer doesn’t know they have. In Marietta’s older housing stock – particularly the brick homes built in the 1960s through 1980s in neighborhoods like Brumby, Indian Hills, and the streets closest to the Marietta City Square – we find clay tile liners that are functional-looking from below and visibly damaged when the camera reaches the joint between the second and third flue sections. That gap matters. It means heat from the fire is not fully contained inside the liner, which is the liner’s entire job.
The photo archive from that first camera scan also serves a secondary purpose: it’s a baseline. When we come back next year, or when a new buyer’s inspector pulls the records, there’s a documented starting point. That’s Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, and it has been continuous since the company’s first year of operation.
Serving Marietta and Surrounding Cobb County Communities
Emberly Chimney Cleaners Marietta runs Level 1 inspections throughout Marietta and the surrounding areas, including East Cobb, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Acworth, and Powder Springs. Our background-checked, uniformed technicians are assigned by name to your job and send a text when they’re on the way. If you want to know who is coming to your home before they arrive, that’s standard – not a feature you have to request.
Marietta’s housing stock ranges from mid-century brick ranches to newer construction in planned communities off Sandy Plains Road. The inspection findings vary accordingly: older homes tend to show liner wear, spalling firebox brick, and crown erosion; newer homes more often turn up installation shortcuts or cap sizing issues. We document what we find, either way, and tell you in plain terms what it means and what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Our broader home page covers the full range of services we provide and explains the Haven Standard in detail if you want the full picture before you call.
FAQs – Level 1 Inspection in Marietta
How much does a Level 1 chimney inspection cost in Marietta, GA?
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Marietta costs $149-$199 for a single flue, with the price confirmed in writing before the inspection starts. That range includes the camera scan of the flue liner and a same-day photo record – both of which are standard at Emberly, not add-ons. If a second fireplace is inspected in the same visit, it runs $99-$129 additional. Call (470) 288-2763 for your exact written price – no commitment required.
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection covers the accessible portions of the chimney – firebox, smoke chamber, damper, exterior cap and crown, and the interior flue liner via camera – and is appropriate when the system is being used normally and nothing structural has changed. A Level 2 Inspection goes further: it’s required when the home is being sold, after a chimney fire, or when any change has been made to the appliance or fuel type, and it includes a more thorough evaluation that may access concealed spaces. If you’re not sure which applies to your situation, call us and we’ll tell you directly.
Do I need a chimney inspection if I have a gas fireplace?
Yes. Gas fireplaces still produce combustion byproducts, and the flue and venting system can develop blockages, corrosion, or draft problems that aren’t visible without a camera scan. We see this regularly in Marietta homes that converted from wood-burning to gas – owners often skip inspection years assuming gas is maintenance-free, and that’s when small problems in the liner or vent connection go undetected. An Annual Sweep and Level 1 inspection is appropriate for gas appliances just as it is for wood-burning ones.
Can you do the inspection and cleaning in the same visit?
Yes, and most of our Marietta customers schedule it that way. When you combine a Level 1 inspection with a standard sweep, we quote both in writing upfront and handle it in one appointment. If the inspection finds something beyond a standard Soot Removal – Class II or Class III creosote, for example – we’ll tell you before we start any additional work and write up a separate scope for your review. Nothing proceeds without your sign-off. Call (470) 288-2763 to schedule both at once.
Schedule a Level 1 Inspection in Marietta
If your fireplace hasn’t been inspected this season, or if you’ve been relying on a “looks fine from here” check for the last few years, call (470) 288-2763 to schedule a Chimney Cleaning & Sweep with Level 1 inspection. We’ll confirm your written price on the call, assign a named tech, and send a text when they’re on the way. The camera goes down the flue, the findings go on paper, and the photos go to you the same day. That’s how every inspection at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Marietta works – no exceptions, no surprises.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Marietta, serving Marietta.