What Our Dallas Fireplace Inspection Covers
A fireplace inspection looks at the parts of the fireplace you live with every day. It runs alongside our chimney inspection, so the whole system gets checked in one visit.
- Firebox. Cracked firebrick, gaps in mortar joints, warped or cracked panels in metal units.
- Damper. Whether it opens all the way, closes tight and is free of rust.
- Smoke chamber. Creosote buildup and rough or cracked walls above the damper.
- Hearth and surround. Cracks in the hearth extension and gaps where heat can reach wood.
- Clearances. The distance from the opening to the mantel, trim and nearby framing.
- Glass doors and screens. Fit, seals, cracked glass and loose frames.
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that heating was the second leading cause of home fires in 2021. Its heating fire safety guide tells homeowners to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional, and to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from the fireplace.
Gas Fireplace Inspection
Gas fireplaces are everywhere in Dallas. Many homes from the 1980s on were built with them, and many older brick fireplaces were converted to gas logs. Gas is cleaner than wood, but it is not maintenance-free.
On a gas fireplace we check:
- The burner and gas logs. Clogged ports, cracked logs and logs set in the wrong spot, which can cause soot and odors.
- The pilot, thermocouple or igniter. Weak flames and slow starts.
- The vent or flue. Nests, debris and loose pipe joints that can block exhaust.
- The damper clamp. On vented gas logs in a wood fireplace, the damper must stay partly open.
- The glass front. Cracks, missing gaskets and the safety screen.
Gas fireplace glass can get hot enough to burn skin in minutes, and it stays hot long after the flames are off. Keep kids and pets back, and keep the safety screen in place if your unit has one.
Every home with a gas fireplace or a wood fireplace should also have working carbon monoxide alarms. Our Winter Safety Package ($149, regular $318, through February 28, 2027) adds a smoke and CO alarm test and a dryer vent cleaning to the sweep and Level 1 inspection.
If a part has failed, our gas fireplace repair page explains the fixes we do most often.
Wood-Burning Fireplace Inspection
Older brick homes in Lakewood, the M Streets and Lake Highlands often still have their original wood-burning fireplace. These fireplaces work well for decades, but firebrick and mortar wear out with heat.
We look for cracked or loose firebrick, mortar that crumbles when touched, and gaps at the back of the firebox. Heat can pass through those gaps to the framing behind the wall. If we find damage, firebox repair replaces the bad brick or panels so the heat stays where it belongs.
Factory-Built Fireplaces and Clearances
A factory-built fireplace is a metal box set into a wood-framed wall, with a metal flue running up a chase. It is tested and listed as a complete system. That means the parts, the gas logs and the clearances must match the maker’s manual.
Common problems we find on factory-built units in North Dallas and Plano:
- Cracked or missing refractory panels inside the firebox
- Wrong gas logs or a log set added that the unit was never listed for
- Rusted chase covers letting water drip into the firebox
- Insulation, boxes or decorations stored too close to the unit in the attic
For masonry fireplaces, building codes generally keep combustible trim at least 6 inches from the opening, with more room for a mantel that sticks out farther. We measure the clearances on every fireplace inspection and note anything that is too close.
Signs You Need a Fireplace Inspection
Book a fireplace inspection if you notice any of these:
- A gas smell, or a pilot that keeps going out
- Black soot on the glass, the logs or the wall above the opening
- Smoke or odors coming into the room
- Cracked firebrick or panels in the firebox
- Glass doors that rattle, stick or have cracked glass
- A new mantel, TV or shelf added close to the fireplace
- More than a year since the last inspection
- You just bought a home and do not know when the fireplace was last checked
Fireplace Cleaning
An inspection often shows a firebox full of ash, sooty glass or dirty gas logs. Our fireplace cleaning clears the firebox and grate, cleans glass doors and brushes off the gas logs, with drop cloths and a HEPA vacuum the whole time.
Chimney Inspection With Every Fireplace Check
The fireplace and chimney work as one system, so we check both. Our chimney inspection covers the flue, crown, cap and flashing from the roof. If you are selling a home, adding an insert or had a chimney fire, ask about a Level 2 chimney inspection with a full video scan of the flue.
Book a Fireplace Inspection in Dallas
Chimney Sweep Keepers Dallas is a veteran-owned, family-run company at 6041 Village Bend Dr, near White Rock Lake. We are CSIA certified, licensed, bonded and insured. We answer 7 days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM and often have same-day visits. Call (469) 206-2085 to book your fireplace inspection, or see our fireplace repair services.
