NFPA 211 is explicit: a Level 2 chimney inspection is required any time a home changes ownership. This isn't a recommendation — it's the national fire safety standard. And it exists for a specific reason: chimney problems that are invisible to the eye inside the firebox can be catastrophic if left unaddressed.
What the General Inspector Misses
A licensed general home inspector performs a visual assessment of the chimney — they look at the exterior masonry, check the firebox for obvious cracks, and note whether a cap is present. What they don't do is send a camera up the flue.
The flue is where the critical issues hide. Cracks in the clay tile liner allow combustion gases to migrate through the masonry into the wall framing. Collapsed tiles create obstructions. Evidence of past chimney fires — puffy, expanded creosote deposits and heat-cracked tiles — is visible only on video scan.
What a Level 2 Inspection Includes
A Level 2 inspection covers everything in a Level 1 inspection plus a video camera scan of the full flue interior from top to bottom. The camera records every crack, every separated joint, every area of deterioration. You receive a written report with timestamped images documenting the condition.
This report is accepted by lenders, insurers, and real estate attorneys. If the inspection reveals significant defects, you have documentation to negotiate repairs before closing or factor the repair cost into your offer.
A Level 2 inspection costs a fraction of what a cracked liner repair runs. Discovering the defect before closing — not after — is the entire point.
When to Call a Professional
Schedule a Level 2 inspection as part of your due diligence period — not as an afterthought. Most purchase contracts allow for inspection contingencies. If the chimney inspection reveals significant defects, you have leverage to negotiate before you're the legal owner of the problem.