The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both recommend an annual chimney inspection, and cleaning if needed, to keep your chimney and fireplace in good condition and prevent fire hazards. Most homeowners are under the assumption that they only need to have an inspection done if they burn a lot of wood, but the components of a chimney system can be affected by settling and the extreme freezing and thawing that we get here in Minnesota. Our one to two hour chimney inspections not only check for creosote build up, but we are also verifying that there are no signs of deterioration and problems before they become a safety concern or a costly repair.