By Johnathan Mason, Ace Chimney Service.
Standing in the firebox with a torch, you can see the damper, the smoke shelf, and a short way up. Everything above that — which is most of the chimney and all of the part that matters for safety — is out of sight. A camera scan is how that gap gets closed, and it changes a lot of conversations with Oakwood Hills homeowners.
What the equipment is
A purpose-built chimney camera on a flexible rod or cable, with its own lighting, fed up the flue from the firebox or down from the top. The operator watches the full internal surface on a screen. It is the same idea as a plumbing camera, adapted to a hot, sooty, vertical environment.
What it finds
Cracked or spalled flue tiles. Open or missing mortar joints between tiles, which are a direct path for heat and gases into the surrounding structure. Gaps where a previous repair was done badly. Heat damage from a past chimney fire, including the puffed, honeycombed creosote that indicates one happened. Blockages, nests, and fallen tile shards sitting on the smoke shelf. Offsets and obstructions that explain a poor draft. Deteriorated liner sections in metal systems. None of this is visible from the room.
When a scan is called for
A property sale or purchase, where it is part of the recognised Level 2 standard. After any suspected chimney fire. Before installing a wood stove or insert, or changing fuel. After an earthquake, lightning strike, or major weather event. When there is an unexplained leak, smell, or draft problem. And any time a sweep sees something from below that needs the full picture. Our chimney inspection page explains where it fits.
Sweeping usually comes first
A camera cannot see through creosote. Heavy deposits have to be removed before the tile surfaces can be evaluated, which is why sweeping and scanning are commonly done in the same visit and in that order. If someone offers a camera scan on a flue that clearly needs cleaning, the results will not mean much.
What you should get from it
Straight answers, and ideally imagery you can keep. A scan should tell you whether the flue is safe to use as it is, what needs repair, and what can reasonably wait — and the difference between those three should be stated plainly. If the liner is compromised, relining is the usual remedy, and you should be told why rather than simply quoted.
Ace Chimney Service has 29 years in the trade, is insured and bonded, and gives the price up front before any work starts. Seven days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM, across Crystal Lake and McHenry County. Call (815) 320-0883.
Frequently asked questions
Is a camera scan included in a standard sweep?
Not always. A basic visual inspection does not require one; a Level 2 inspection does, and it is often added when something needs a closer look.
Can cracked flue tiles be seen from the fireplace?
Almost never. Cracks and open joints are typically well above the smoke chamber and out of sight from below.
Do I get to see the footage?
You should be shown what was found and given imagery or a written report describing it.
Does the chimney need cleaning before the scan?
Yes if there is significant creosote, because deposits hide the tile surface the camera is there to evaluate.
How long does a scan take?
Usually well under an hour for a single flue once the chimney is clean and accessible.
Will it find the source of a leak?
It helps considerably, though leaks also involve the crown, cap, and flashing, which are checked from outside.
Is a cracked tile always a reason to reline?
Not automatically. Severity, location, and how the chimney is used all factor in, and that should be explained rather than assumed.
Do metal liners need scanning too?
Yes. Metal corrodes, separates at joints, and suffers heat damage, all of which show on camera.
Published September 17, 2026