Chimney Inspection in Marietta - One Flat Price, You See What We See

Trusted Chimney Inspection for Marietta Homeowners

A chimney inspection in Marietta typically costs between $129 and $450 depending on the level of inspection your fireplace and flue system needs. Most basic (Level 1) inspections run $129 to $250, while camera-assisted Level 2 inspections usually fall between $250 and $450. Ashby Chimney Marietta has been inspecting chimneys across Cobb County since 2002, and our owner Nathan Corliss has built this company around one thing: telling homeowners the truth about what’s happening inside their flue, with camera evidence to back it up. Call (478) 796-8742 and we’ll schedule your inspection at a time that works for you, with a written price before we ever climb a ladder.

Call (478) 796-8742

Fireplace Inspection

A Fireplace Inspection is a full evaluation of your firebox, damper, hearth, and the visible portion of your chimney to confirm the system is safe to burn. In Marietta, where winter nights dip into the 30s and fireplaces get regular use from November through February, creosote buildup and cracked firebrick are the two most common problems we find. Ashby Chimney Marietta performs a Fireplace Inspection as part of every Level 1 visit, and the price for a standalone inspection typically ranges from $129 to $250. We look at clearances, smoke staining, damper operation, and the condition of the refractory panels that line your firebox.

Firebox and Panel Condition

The refractory panels inside your firebox absorb and reflect heat. When they crack, heat can reach the framing behind them. Nathan Corliss and our technicians check every panel, and we show you any cracks on camera before we talk about repairs.

Damper Operation and Seal

A damper that won’t fully close costs you heated air all winter and can let rain in during summer storms. We test the full range of motion and check the seal, then adjust or lubricate as needed at no extra charge during an inspection.

Chimney Inspection Services

Chimney Inspection Services at Ashby Chimney Marietta cover everything from a quick visual check to a full video scan of the entire flue system, with prices from $129 to $450 depending on depth. We recommend an annual inspection for any home in Marietta that burns wood at least a few times per season, even if the fireplace seems fine. Creosote deposits can form in a single winter, and hairline cracks in a flue liner won’t announce themselves. Every inspection includes a written condition report, and every problem we photograph goes into that report so you can see exactly what we see.

Annual Safety Check

This is the baseline inspection most homeowners need before burning season starts. We check the cap, crown, flue interior, damper, and firebox, then give you a written go/no-go on burning. If we find a hazard, we put it in writing.

Post-Repair Verification

If you’ve had liner work, crown repair, or masonry done by another company, we can verify the job was done right. More than a few Marietta homeowners have called us after a repair to find the previous contractor missed a gap or used the wrong material.

Chimney Flue Inspection

A Chimney Flue Inspection zeroes in on the interior passage that vents combustion gases out of your Marietta home: the clay tile or stainless steel tube running from your firebox to the chimney top. Flue damage is invisible from the ground, which is why this inspection relies on a camera pushed through the full length of the flue. Typical cost runs $250 to $450 when done as a standalone service. In older Marietta neighborhoods like Whitlock Avenue and Church Street, where many chimneys date to the 1950s and 1960s, we regularly find cracked clay liners caused by decades of thermal expansion and the freeze-thaw cycles of north Georgia winters.

Clay Liner Condition

Clay tile liners crack under repeated heating and cooling, and Georgia’s humid summers followed by dry winters accelerate the cycle. A cracked liner cannot contain the heat and gases moving through it. We map every crack and gap on camera.

Stainless Liner Check

We work with DuraFlex and HeatShield stainless liner systems and inspect them for buckling, separation at seams, or corrosion. A properly installed stainless liner should last decades, but installation errors show up quickly in an inspection.

Chimney Fire

A Chimney Fire happens when creosote inside your flue ignites, producing temperatures that can exceed 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes. Signs you’ve had one include honeycomb-textured creosote, warped metal components, cracked flue tiles, or roof damage near the chimney. After any suspected chimney fire, the National Fire Protection Association recommends a Level 2 inspection before the fireplace is used again, and in Marietta we perform these for $250 to $450. Ashby Chimney Marietta has inspected hundreds of chimneys after fire events, and Nathan Corliss will tell you plainly whether the system is still safe or needs liner replacement.

Post-Fire Damage Assessment

Chimney fires don’t always leave visible damage from the outside, which is why a camera scan is essential. We look for cracked liners, compromised mortar joints, and heat damage to surrounding framing. The written report documents everything.

Creosote Risk Reduction

The best way to prevent a chimney fire is to remove the fuel. Regular sweeping removes creosote before it reaches a combustible thickness. We’ll tell you exactly how often your burning habits require sweeping, and put that recommendation in writing.

Level 2 Chimney Inspection

A Level 2 Chimney Inspection is the NFPA-recognized standard when you’re buying or selling a home in Marietta, changing fuel type, replacing an appliance, or after any event that may have damaged the chimney. It includes everything in a Level 1 inspection plus a video scan of the flue interior, along with checks of the attic, crawlspace, and exterior portions of the chimney. At Ashby Chimney Marietta, a Level 2 Chimney Inspection runs $250 to $450. Real estate transactions in Cobb County commonly require this level, and we provide the written report you need to close with confidence.

Real Estate Due Diligence

We work directly with homebuyers, sellers, and their agents across Marietta, East Cobb, and West Cobb. Our reports clearly state what passed, what didn’t, and what it would cost to fix. No hedging, no vague language a lender will reject.

Attic and Chase Access

Chimney problems often start where the flue passes through the attic or where the chase meets the roofline. We access these areas when safe, checking for water staining, framing clearance issues, and deteriorating flashing. Most inspection companies skip this.

Chimney Leak

A Chimney Leak in Marietta homes most often comes from a failed chimney cap, cracked crown, damaged flashing, or a compromised flue liner taking on water. Rain is frequent in Cobb County, and the chimney is the highest point of your roof, catching the brunt of every storm system that rolls through. Ashby Chimney Marietta investigates chimney leaks as part of our inspection service, with the inspection running $129 to $450 depending on how much of the system needs to be evaluated. We trace the water path and show you the source on camera before any repair is quoted.

Flashing and Crown Evaluation

Roof flashing around a chimney fails at the seams and corners first, and a cracked crown lets water pool at the top of the flue. We check both closely. Our repair quotes include the specific materials we’ll use from Olympia Chimney and Famco.

Water Entry Points Inside the Flue

If moisture has been getting into the flue, you’ll often see efflorescence (white mineral deposits) or spalling brick inside the smoke chamber. A camera inspection shows how deep the problem goes. We’ll tell you if a waterproofing treatment like Gelco can solve it or if structural repair is needed.

Chimney Camera Inspection

A Chimney Camera Inspection uses a high-resolution video camera to scan the interior of your flue from top to bottom, capturing real-time footage of every inch of clay, steel, or masonry. It’s the difference between a guess and a diagnosis, and it’s why we include camera work in every Level 2 inspection at $250 to $450. Ashby Chimney Marietta invested in camera equipment years ago because Nathan Corliss got tired of telling homeowners something was wrong without being able to show them. Now every customer sees the footage themselves before a single repair decision is made.

What the Camera Shows

You’ll see cracks, gaps between flue tiles, creosote thickness, animal nests, debris, and water intrusion, all recorded to permanent media. If the flue is clean and sound, you’ll see that too. Either way, you leave the inspection knowing exactly what’s inside your chimney.

Why Visual Checks Fall Short

A flashlight and a mirror can only see so far around the bends and offsets typical in Marietta chimneys. Smoke chamber defects, mid-flue cracks, and disconnected liner sections are all invisible without a camera. We find these problems regularly in homes where another company gave a clean bill of health.

Brands We Service

When we repair flue liners, we use HeatShield cerfractory sealant systems because they’re proven in the field and come with manufacturer support we can rely on. We’ve installed and serviced HeatShield across dozens of Marietta homes, and we stock the materials so projects don’t stall waiting on a shipment.

For flashing, caps, and crowns, we work with Olympia Chimney and Famco components. These aren’t parts we grabbed off a discount shelf; they’re the brands professional chimney contractors have trusted for decades. Whether you have a HeatShield liner, an Olympia cap, or any other make of chimney system, we can inspect it and service it properly.

Signs You Need a Pro Right Now

• You smell smoke in the house hours after the fire is out. That means the flue isn’t drafting properly and combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, may be entering your living space. This is a call-us-today situation, not a wait-until-fall situation.
• You see black, puffy creosote buildup on the damper or smoke shelf. This is the fuel that chimney fires run on, and buildup this thick can ignite at normal fireplace temperatures. An inspection will tell you exactly how much removal is needed before you burn again.
• Water is staining the ceiling near your fireplace or chimney chase. Water has already passed through a failed component and is now working on your framing and drywall. The longer it runs, the more expensive the repair gets.
• Brick faces are flaking or popping off inside your firebox. That’s spalling, and it means moisture and heat have compromised the masonry. Loose brick in a firebox is a falling hazard and a sign the refractory panel behind it may be failing too.
• The damper is stuck, rusted, or won’t seal. You’re losing conditioned air every day the damper is stuck open, and a rusted damper often points to water getting in from above. We can repair or replace most dampers the same day.

Our Process, Step by Step

1. 1
   Book the visit and get a written price. Call (478) 796-8742 and talk to a live person, not a recording. Tell us what you’re seeing, and we’ll give you a written price for the inspection before the tech ever arrives.
2. 2
   Meet your technician. Nathan Corliss or one of our background-checked, uniformed technicians arrives in the scheduled window. You’ll know exactly who’s walking into your home before they ever ring the bell.
3. 3
   We inspect from top to bottom. We’ll be on the roof checking the cap, crown, and flashing, and inside checking the firebox, damper, and smoke chamber. For Level 2 inspections, the camera goes through the entire flue.
4. 4
   Review the footage and the report together. We show you what the camera saw and explain what it means in plain language. If repairs are needed, you get a written quote with the exact materials we’ll use, from brands like HeatShield and Olympia Chimney.
5. 5
   Get the written guarantee. Every repair we complete includes a written guarantee backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If a covered repair fails within the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s the Kingswell Way: say the price, show up in the window, leave it cleaner, put the guarantee in writing, come back if it fails.

How Much Does Chimney Inspection Cost in Marietta?

Our Service Area Near Marietta

Ashby Chimney Marietta serves all of Cobb County and the surrounding areas, including Kennesaw, Dallas, Woodstock, Acworth, Smyrna, Mableton, Vinings, Fair Oaks, Powder Springs, Norcross, and North Druid Hills. Most inspections are scheduled within a few days, and we show up within the confirmed window. If you’re in Kennesaw, take a look at our Chimney Inspection in Kennesaw page. In Dallas, we’ve got you covered at Chimney Inspection in Dallas. And if you’re closer to home, you’re already on the right page for Chimney Inspection in Marietta.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Inspection in Marietta

Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Service in Marietta Today

You deserve a chimney company that shows you the problem before asking you to pay for the fix. Ashby Chimney Marietta has been doing exactly that since 2002, and Nathan Corliss stands behind every inspection and every repair in writing. Call (478) 796-8742 for a free estimate, a written price, and an inspection that tells you the truth. If you’re also interested in maintenance, we offer Chimney Sweep in Marietta and Fireplace Repair in Marietta services too. Back to home anytime.

Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Marietta, serving Marietta since 2002.