Rochester Chimney Sweep · Glossary
chimney sweep and inspection glossary
Plain-English definitions for the technical terms you'll see in quotes, proposals, and inspection reports. Bookmark this when you're comparing bids.
- CSIA Level 1 inspection
- Standard annual inspection — visual exam of accessible interior + exterior. Required for routine use of an unchanged appliance.
- CSIA Level 2 inspection
- Required after a chimney fire, system change, or property sale. Adds camera scan of the flue interior.
- CSIA Level 3 inspection
- Requires removal of walls or chimney parts. Done when L2 reveals a hidden hazard.
- Flue
- The duct inside the chimney that carries combustion gases up + out. Lined or unlined.
- Liner
- A material inside the flue (clay tile, stainless steel, or cast-in-place) that protects the masonry + makes the flue gas-tight.
- Creosote
- Sticky black byproduct of incomplete wood combustion that accumulates on flue walls. Stage-1 brushes off; Stage-3 needs chemical treatment or replacement.
- Cap
- The metal cover at the top of the chimney. Keeps out rain, birds, leaves, debris.
- Crown
- The concrete or mortar slab on top of the chimney that sheds water away. Cracks here = water in the masonry.
- Damper
- A valve at the top of the firebox that opens to vent smoke and closes to block cold air when not in use.
- Smoke chamber
- The transition area between firebox and flue. Improper construction here = smoke leak into the room.