One record for the life of the chimney

A Chimney Health Passport is a homeowner-maintained record of each fireplace, stove, flue and exterior chimney. It helps you give contractors accurate history, compare changing conditions and preserve useful evidence when the property changes hands.

What to record

Create one page or folder per system and update it after every visit.

  • Appliance type, fuel and installation details
  • Flue, liner and chimney identifiers
  • Inspection and cleaning dates
  • Reports, images and inaccessible areas
  • Repairs, materials, contractor and warranty
  • Observed smoke, odor, moisture or draft changes
  • Quotes declined or work deferred, with the reason

Use it when comparing contractors

Share the relevant history—not sensitive personal data—when requesting service. Ask the contractor to identify what changed since the prior report. Store the new findings alongside the estimate and invoice so future recommendations have context.

Use one identifier per system

A home can have more than one appliance, chimney or flue. Give each system a simple nickname such as “living room fireplace, east flue” and use it consistently in every entry. Ask contractors to identify the same system in their reports so photos and recommendations do not become mixed.

Record the appliance make and model if safely available, the fuel, known installation information and document references. Leave uncertain details marked unknown. A useful passport does not turn guesses into an apparent service history.

Keep observations separate from recommendations

For each visit, write down what work was completed, what was observed and what follow-up was recommended. Record inaccessible areas and whether a concern was confirmed or needs further investigation. Link to photo filenames in your own folder rather than relying on a vague memory of what a picture showed.

For a repair, keep the accepted proposal and any authorized change alongside the final invoice. Note warranty terms and the contact procedure for a problem. A service entry should make it possible to reconstruct what was agreed, not just the amount paid.

Keep a portable copy

The free Passport tool can save entries in your browser when you explicitly choose Save. It does not upload reports, create an account or synchronize between devices. Browser storage can be cleared, so print or save a PDF and keep original reports separately.

If you move or replace a device, take the portable records with you. Share only the relevant system history with a contractor. Avoid storing payment details, identity documents or other information that does not help explain chimney condition.

Sources, authorship and context

Published 2026-09-24 by Chimney Sweep Ratings editorial. Service images are AI-generated illustrations.

Technical background: CSIA homeowner resources. Our comparison questions and worksheets are editorial guidance; an on-site professional determines the applicable scope.

About the Editorial Desk · Government and industry safety references · Editorial standards and corrections · Service scope library · Problem library

Clear answers

Questions homeowners ask

Is a Chimney Health Passport an official certificate?

No. It is an organized homeowner record and does not replace a professional inspection, code document or disclosure obligation.

Should I include contractor reviews in the passport?

Keep factual service records, reports, invoices and your own dated notes. Public reviews can change and are better checked at their source.

Can the passport help when selling a home?

Organized maintenance records can help explain system history, but they do not replace required inspections, disclosures or professional advice.