# What a Chimney Video Scan Reveals > A chimney video scan finds internal flue cracks, creosote, and liner damage a standard inspection misses. What the camera catches. URL: https://westhartfordchimneyrepair.com/guide/what-a-chimney-video-scan-reveals/ Last-Modified: 2026-07-01 definition guide # What a Chimney Video Scan Reveals A chimney video scan finds internal flue cracks, creosote, and liner damage a standard inspection misses. What the camera catches. ![CSIA technician lowering an inspection camera into a chimney flue](/images/featured/csia-technician-lowering-inspection-camera-into-ch.webp) A chimney video scan drops a high-resolution camera down your flue and records every foot of interior. Part of our chimney inspection [/chimney-inspections/ →](/chimney-inspections/) service, it catches damage no visual check can find — and often prevents thousands of dollars of hidden problems from becoming catastrophic. ## What the Camera Sees **Cracked flue tiles.** Hairline cracks in clay tile liners are invisible from the firebox and impossible to see from the top of the chimney. A video scan finds every crack, showing exactly where the liner has failed. **Missing mortar between tiles.** Over decades, the mortar joints between flue tiles erode. Gaps of even 1/4 inch let combustion gases (including CO) into the surrounding masonry and wall spaces. **Glazed creosote deposits.** Stage 3 creosote [/guide/stages-of-creosote-buildup-explained/ →](/guide/stages-of-creosote-buildup-explained/) often forms high in the flue where visual inspection can’t reach. The scan finds it before it becomes a fire hazard. **Liner corrosion.** Metal liners corrode from the inside due to condensation from gas and oil appliances. Corrosion is invisible from either end of the chimney until the liner fails. ![Video scan screen showing a visible crack inside a chimney flue](/images/misc/video-scan-screen-showing-inside-of-flue-with-visi.webp) **Smoke chamber damage.** The corbelled area above the damper is nearly impossible to see visually. The scan camera can see and document damage in this critical safety zone. **Animal damage.** Squirrel nests, bird nests, and even the aftermath of trapped animals in flue offsets. **Prior chimney fire evidence.** Puffy honeycomb creosote and heat-damaged tile from fires you may not have known about. **Debris.** Fallen mortar chunks, cracked tile pieces, or foreign objects lodged in the flue. ## What a Visual-Only Inspection Misses A Level 1 visual inspection covers accessible parts — firebox, damper, smoke shelf (partially), exterior at ground level, top of chimney if roof-accessible. Everything between the smoke shelf and the top of the flue is essentially invisible without a camera. That’s a lot of chimney. On a typical two-story house, 20+ feet of flue interior can only be inspected with a camera. ## When Video Scans Are Required Per NFPA 211, a Level 2 inspection (which includes the video scan) is required: - **During real-estate transactions** (buying or selling) - **After a chimney fire, lightning strike, or major weather event** - **When appliances change** (oil to gas, new insert, etc.) - **When a Level 1 finds evidence needing closer look** - **After fuel type changes** ![Glazed creosote deposits deep inside a chimney flue revealed by video scan](/images/misc/glazed-creosote-deposits-revealed-by-video-scan-de.webp) ## When Video Scans Are Smart Even Without a Trigger - Chimney hasn’t been video-scanned in 5+ years - Older masonry chimney with clay tile liner - Home you recently bought and don’t have documentation for - Insurance company requesting recent chimney inspection documentation - You’re about to invest in a new fireplace insert or stove ## What You Get After the Scan - Written inspection report with pass/fail on each NFPA 211 checkpoint - Annotated photos from the scan - Video recording available on request - Clear recommendations categorized as urgent, recommended, or optional - Quotes for any needed repair work ## Cost Range Level 2 inspection with video scan typically runs $250–$500 in central Connecticut. See our Level 2 cost guide [/guide/level-2-chimney-inspection-cost-ct/ →](/guide/level-2-chimney-inspection-cost-ct/) for the detailed breakdown. ## Book a Scan Ready to actually see what’s inside your chimney? See our chimney inspection service [/chimney-inspections/ →](/chimney-inspections/) or contact us [/contact/ →](/contact/) . Related Service ## Chimney Inspections & Video Scans Annual and Level 2 chimney inspections with interior video scans. Real-estate ready reports and CSIA-certified findings. Learn About Inspections [/chimney-inspections/ →](/chimney-inspections/) ## Common Questions ### What can a chimney video scan see? + Internal flue cracks, missing mortar between tiles, glazed creosote, liner corrosion, animal damage, and structural issues invisible from the firebox or roof. ### Is a video scan worth it? + Yes. It catches hidden hazards early and is required for Level 2 inspections during home sales, after chimney events, and after appliance changes. ### Does a standard inspection include a camera? + A Level 1 inspection does not. A Level 2 inspection specifically adds the interior video scan. We recommend Level 2 every few years even without a triggering event. ## Related Guides ### Level 2 Chimney Inspection Cost in CT cost [Level 2 Chimney Inspection Cost in CT →](/guide/level-2-chimney-inspection-cost-ct/) ### When Do You Need a Level 2 Chimney Inspection? qualifier [When Do You Need a Level 2 Chimney Inspection? →](/guide/when-do-you-need-a-level-2-inspection/) ## Ready to Take the Next Step? Book a sweep, schedule an inspection, or ask us a chimney question. We reply within one business day. Schedule Now [/contact/ →](/contact/) Call (860) 305-5234 [tel:+18603055234 →](tel:+18603055234)