Chimney Inspection for Hillsborough Homes

Chimney inspection in brief

A chimney inspection looks at the whole system. Inside, that means the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue liner. Outside, it means the crown, cap, flashing and masonry. Where the flue can't be seen directly, a camera shows the liner's joints, cracks and buildup. You get a plain account of what's sound, what needs attention and what's unsafe to use as-is. The steps, inspection levels and what each one covers are laid out in how chimney inspection works.

What Hillsborough's records and rules mean for your chimney

Most homes here were built before 1980

The Town of Hillsborough's 2014-2022 Housing Element states that almost all of the town's housing was built before 1980 and almost half before 1970 (source: Town of Hillsborough - 2014 Housing Element (2014-2022), adopted October 13, 2014).

That matters for an inspection because chimneys wear with age. Mortar joints, crowns, flue tiles and dampers all go through decades of heating cycles and weather. Earlier owners may also have relined, patched or converted a fireplace without leaving records. In an older chimney, a camera look down the flue is often the only way to see cracked tiles or gaps between liner sections. A fireplace that seems to work fine can still have damage that lets heat or smoke reach parts of the house it shouldn't.

A spark arrestor is required before title can transfer

Hillsborough Municipal Code 15.03.171 requires chimneys to be retroactively fitted with a spark arrestor before title can transfer when a property is sold (source: Town of Hillsborough - Municipal Code Title 15, Section 15.03.171 Retroactive spark arrestor compliance).

This applies to owners selling a home, and the rule says chimneys, plural. A house with a second fireplace or a wood stove flue needs every chimney top accounted for. An inspection early in the sale process confirms whether each chimney has an arrestor and what shape it's in, so a missing or rusted one doesn't come up in the last days before closing. If one is missing or worn out, we can fit it as part of chimney cap installation in Hillsborough.

Fire hazard severity zones and clearance around the chimney

Central County Fire Department reports that the State Fire Marshal's 2025 Local Responsibility Area maps identified fire hazard severity zones within the Town of Hillsborough, and its self-survey checklist says to trim tree limbs back 10 feet from chimneys and stove pipes (source: Central County Fire Department - Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) page).

During an inspection we check the chimney top from the roof. We'll note any branches inside that 10-foot clearance, along with the condition of the spark arrestor screen. A torn or clogged screen and an overhanging limb are a bad pairing. The trimming itself is up to you. We'll tell you where the problem is so you can deal with it before you light a fire.

Choosing the right visit

• Selling or buying a home: a Level 2 inspection is generally recommended when a property changes hands. It adds a camera look through the flue, checks the spaces the chimney passes through and confirms the spark arrestor on each chimney.
• After an earthquake: cracks, shifted bricks or a loose crown can be hard to see from the ground. Learn what causes chimney damage after an earthquake and why an inspection comes before the next fire.
• You already know the top is bare: if the cap or arrestor is missing or rusted through and the rest of the chimney is working without problems, chimney cap installation for homes in Hillsborough may be the more direct job.
• Leaks, cracked masonry or a damper that won't close: the inspection identifies the cause first, and repairs are then estimated as a separate job.

More for Hillsborough homeowners

Inspection levels, camera work and what a written report includes are covered in our full chimney inspection service. Repairs, caps, cleaning and the rest of the work we handle in town are listed under Hillsborough. We inspect gas and wood-burning fireplaces from all major brands. To book, call or request an estimate.