Chimney inspection is a vital part of home maintenance. Once upon a time, an inspection was something that involved simply peering up and down the chimney, with the inspector getting as up close and personal with the chimney pipes as possible. Today, high powered chimney inspection lights, combined with a chimney inspection camera or chimney inspection video camera allows professional chimney specialists to do a thorough job in less time; a great chimney camera also allows pros to identify problems before they become majorly expensive fixes. Let's take a quick look at some popular chimney inspection camera types.
Complete Chimney Scanning Systems
Probably the most comprehensive inspection tool available, all in one chimney scanning systems include a chimney camera integrated with a laptop so inspectors can see every nook and cranny of a chimney system, or even get inside a dryer vent or other pipe to see whether any problems exist. Complete custom chimney scanning systems are available, and so are upgrades to existing chimney scanning camera systems.
Available in black and white or with color monitors, these systems are often battery operated and come with everything from a handy protective padded carrying bag to a water resistant camera with sixty feet of handle. Spare fuses, chargers, centering devices, and additional accessories are often part of the package.
Still Cameras and Video Cameras
Inspectors use both still cameras and video chimney cameras to enhance overall perspective and provide necessary photos both for showing homeowners what's going on inside a chimney, and for providing insurance agencies with necessary footage to support claims. These cameras are extremely versatile, plus they are waterproof. They're capable of panning and tilting to properly inspect all aspects of a chimney, and they can capture evidence of earthquake damage that is hard to see with a light and the naked eye only. For home inspectors interested in conducting pool studies, peering into pipes that are encapsulated in slab cement, or conducting drain investigations or even electrical conduit studies, cameras like these are absolutely indispensable.
Excellent chimney inspection cameras from top manufacturers are available at prices that begin well below one thousand dollars. These cameras are designed to stand up to regular professional use, and learning to use them is simple. Many are designed to be attached to a Prokleen chimney rods and brush, although some have independent handles. Some are designed to be lowered into the chimney, while others allow inspectors to begin in the firebox and work their way up into the flue system.
If you're on the fence about chimney inspection camera equipment, or if you have questions about the way various aspects of this type of equipment works, you should contact either a manufacturer or knowledgeable supplier to find out whether one of these systems would be of any benefit. The cameras allow inspectors to see things they might miss otherwise, and they make the job of inspecting a chimney a whole lot faster, easier, and less messy.
