Apopka’s median home was built in 2002 and 54.5% of homes date from 2000 or later, so most chimneys an inspection sees here are framed chases around a metal flue. That decides what an inspection here looks at first.
Brick chimney or framed chase: what gets checked
| Feature | Masonry chimney | Factory-built system |
|---|---|---|
| Flue | Clay tile joints, cracks, missing sections | Metal pipe sections, joints, rust |
| Firebox | Firebrick and mortar joints | Refractory panels and the rating plate |
| Top | Crown, cap, flashing | Chase cover, storm collar, cap |
| Water and debris signs | Efflorescence, damp brick, nests on the smoke shelf | Rust streaks, wet panels, debris at the cap screen |
| Gas units | Gas logs: clear flue, damper clamped open | Direct-vent: termination and cap |
Flue
- Masonry chimney
- Clay tile joints, cracks, missing sections
- Factory-built system
- Metal pipe sections, joints, rust
Firebox
- Masonry chimney
- Firebrick and mortar joints
- Factory-built system
- Refractory panels and the rating plate
Top
- Masonry chimney
- Crown, cap, flashing
- Factory-built system
- Chase cover, storm collar, cap
Water and debris signs
- Masonry chimney
- Efflorescence, damp brick, nests on the smoke shelf
- Factory-built system
- Rust streaks, wet panels, debris at the cap screen
Gas units
- Masonry chimney
- Gas logs: clear flue, damper clamped open
- Factory-built system
- Direct-vent: termination and cap
The local picture in Apopka
On a young chase, an inspection looks at the listing label, the refractory panels, the metal flue and the chase cover and cap. A chase cover doesn’t have to be old to cause trouble: rust streaks below the top of the chase or water in the firebox after rain are the signs to act on.
When to book an inspection
- Once a year, as NFPA 211 recommends, whether or not the fireplace is used much
- Before the first fire in a house that’s new to you, or a fireplace idle for years
- When water, rust, stains or a musty smell show up; see why water comes through a chimney
- After a hurricane, tropical storm or nearby lightning: the storm-damage inspection
- During a purchase or before listing: the home-sale chimney inspection
What counts as a safety finding
- Cracked, missing or displaced flue tile, or separated metal flue sections
- A blocked flue or a smoke shelf full of debris
- Cracks or gaps in the firebox that expose the brick or metal behind
- Loose brick at the top of the chimney
- Signs of heat damage or a past chimney fire
These mean the fireplace shouldn’t be used until they’re repaired. Questions about the fireplace alone, such as doors or glass, can go to a fireplace-only inspection instead.
What happens after the inspection
If everything is sound, nothing else is needed until next year. If the flue needs cleaning, flue sweeping comes first. Cracks, loose brick or a failed crown lead to repair for cracked or damaged masonry; water getting in leads to the leak repair service. Nothing is scheduled until you’ve decided.
Inspections around Apopka
- Anywhere in Apopka, including Errol Estates: mention the fireplace type and what prompted the inspection
- Nearby: inspection visits in Ocoee, Altamonte Springs chimney and flue checks and inspecting chimneys in Winter Garden
- Everything else for the house: services for homes in Apopka
For the full background, see chimney inspection explained in depth and Florida inspection and sweep intervals.
References (2)
References behind the local data for Apopka.