What is Chim-Scan?

It can be quite difficult to properly diagnose a chimney problem when you don’t have the proper equipment to get the job done right. Licensed and certified professionals who are trained in chimney science and diagnostics are able to get to the source of the matter and offer a report that is clear and helpful. Once the homeowner has the report, the repairs can be planned and completed so that more damage isn’t sustained in the wait.

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Expert Diagnostics With Chim-Scan

Chimney professionals use a special CCV camera system designed to go inside the flue and offer a view where most cannot look. Using the Chim-Scan system, chimney experts are able to inspect even the most out-of-reach places. Chim-Scan inspections result in HD quality images and document the general condition of the chimney interior. This is the only real way to verify chimney safety and diagnose chimney damage.

Masonry and Pre-Fab Chimneys

Chimney professionals can use a Chim-Scan system to inspect your chimney whether it’s a pre-fab chimney or a masonry one. They are used when a real estate inspection is needed, to verify repairs have been done properly, to complete a level two inspection and more. In order to get the most of the inspections, there are a few different models that work with certain types of systems or after certain serious damage has occurred. When it’s time to have the system inspected, there’s no need for you to fret over the decisions. Your chimney sweep will determine how to best scan the system and provide the most detailed report possible.

Chimney Inspections in Jacksonville

Whether your fireplace and chimney have been acting up, or you simply need your annual inspection to ensure the safety and efficiency of your system, we can help. Residents in and around Jacksonville depend on Hudson Chimney for comprehensive chimney care year-round. We travel from Jacksonville South to Crescent City and from Lake Butler and Gainesville to St. Augustine, covering a large area and many cities. When there is a problem that needs to be diagnosed or a repair that needs to be made, we handle it with expert care and professional courtesy. For the convenience of our customers and the safety of our communities, we offer three levels of inspection that provide the best diagnostics and lowest cost to our customers.

  • Level One – This is the chimney inspection necessary under the best of conditions when the chimney system has been used in the same way with no changes and no problems. A level one inspection is required annually for safety and efficiency and includes all readily accessible portions of the chimney interior and exterior.
  • Level Two – When the chimney has had a problem functioning properly when repairs or changes have been made, or after a natural occurrence like a fire, earthquake, or tornado, a more thorough inspection is necessary. A level two inspection is also required before the sale or transfer of property, but this is not the same as a home inspection, as a home inspector will not properly assess a chimney and fireplace system. A level two inspection includes all accessible portions of the system (including those found by way of doorways in attics, basements, and crawlspaces) and a video scan for detailed diagnostics and reporting.
  • Level Three – When a problem is detected in a lesser-level inspection, your chimney sweep will recommend a level three inspection. This is a thorough inspection designed to access suspected hazards even if it requires minor demolition. Your technician may have to remove panels and even masonry to access a suspected hazard and repairs usually follow a level three inspection.

If you schedule your annual inspection and a problem is discovered, it will be handled swiftly by our team at Hudson Chimney. Our technicians are CSIA certified and have the knowledge and experience to handle any job, big or small. Our goal is safety for our customers. This keeps our friends and neighbors warm, and our communities safe from accidental fires. Because we know the seriousness of the matter, we also know the solution. When it comes to chimney safety, prevention is key. The only way to prevent chimney accidents, hazards, and costly damages is to schedule important routine services for your chimney now. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) asserts that chimneys must be inspected annually and cleaned regularly for safety and efficiency. The chimneys that are dangerous are those that are neglected, affected by unseen damage, or used improperly. When one of our experts takes a look at your system on a regular basis, we catch the damage, we correct the problems, and we answer questions and share all the newest information available.

Our dedication to your safety and comfort season after season, year after year, is why we continue to choose and trust Chim-Scan closed circuit internal evaluation system. When we can’t see the damage, it doesn’t get addressed. This is why homeowners trust Hudson Chimney, and we trust Chim-Scan.

Call us at 904-282-4159 to schedule your appointment with our Chim-Scan technology.

We Restore, Repair & Rebuild Masonry Chimneys

Did you use your fireplace this winter only to realize that you have damaged masonry? A fireplace and chimney may seem to work, while efficiency has actually gone down, and water is in the chimney. Masonry damage, big or small, should be repaired as soon as it’s noticed in order to avoid expensive repairs and hazards in the future.

 

Winter Damagemason repairing a red brick fireplace

A common call we get in the spring here at Hudson Chimney is for masonry repairs due to winter damage. Cold temperatures during the winter months can wreak havoc on a masonry chimney, especially if there are any cracks or gaps in the masonry. A little damage in the fall can lead to serious water damage and structural damage by spring. Once spring arrives, so does the rainy and stormy weather, adding more damage to the already damaged chimney.

Common winter damage includes:
-Spalling masonry in which mortar is cracked and bricks are falling away, leaving gaps and openings in the masonry.
-Stains on the surface of the masonry which indicate water penetration or a damaged cap.
-Crown damage from snow, ice, water, and sun exposure which allows water into the system from cracks and gaps.

 

Trust Hudson Chimney

For over 30 years, Hudson Chimney has been the choice for comprehensive chimney care in Jacksonville and the surrounding area. If you reside in Jacksonville, Florida, and you need masonry repairs, look no further than the team at Hudson Chimney. We are experienced masons and bricklayers and can repair and rebuild your masonry chimney no matter the type of stone, size of the chimney, or amount of damage. Being from the Jacksonville area, we know what it means to maintain masonry near a shoreline, with salty air and tropical winds.

Our chimney sweeps are experienced at repairing masonry through tuckpointing, a process in which the damaged section of masonry is removed, and then replaced using new mortar of equal strength, consistency, and color. When we repair your masonry with tuckpointing, the repair should be seamless. Following a repair, we protect our work with an industrial water repellent that will protect your chimney year after year. Living on the coast, even the panhandle.

 

Prevent Masonry Damage

It is easier and cheaper to prevent damage rather than repair it. We can help you prevent masonry damage by performing routine chimney maintenance and services. For instance, we recommend annual chimney inspections for every fire appliance and chimney regardless of performance, and routine chimney sweeps as needed to keep the system clean of soot and creosote. We also waterproof masonry with ChimneySaver’s Water Repellent to protect masonry year after year. This solution is 100 percent vapor permeable, protecting against water while allowing the chimney to breathe.

If you haven’t had your chimney serviced this year, or if you’ve never had it waterproofed, you can schedule these important services today and avoid masonry damage.

Call Hudson Chimney today at 904-282-4159.