A cracked chimney crown
Keep any existing contractor photos and note indoor moisture or fallen fragments. Do not climb up to measure a crack.
Observe → document → ask
Start with what your chimney is doing.
These guides help you describe a problem and request the right investigation. They do not diagnose a chimney remotely.
For active fire, a carbon-monoxide alarm or immediate danger, leave the building and contact emergency services.
A missing or damaged chimney cap
Photograph the chimney from the ground if the top is visible. Note fallen metal or newly visible debris without approaching unstable materials.
Poor chimney draft or changed performance
Record changes you already noticed during operation and any building or appliance modifications. Do not reproduce the problem with another fire.
Excessive soot or unusual deposits
Take a photograph of accessible visible material without disturbing it. Identify the fuel and appliance for the professional.
Smoke coming into the room
Record whether smoke appears during lighting, steady burning or refueling, and whether exhaust fans were running. Do not repeatedly light fires to recreate the symptom.
Water in the fireplace
Photograph the first visible wet area and note rainfall, wind direction and whether the appliance was operating. Keep the roof inspection for a professional.
Persistent chimney odors
Note when the smell occurs, whether the weather is damp and whether fans or heating equipment are operating. Carbon monoxide has no smell: odor cannot rule it in or out.
Flaking or crumbling chimney bricks
Take photos from the ground and record where fragments collect. Keep people away from falling debris.
Animal activity or debris in the flue
Note noises, visible nesting material or fallen debris from a safe location. Do not reach into the flue or attempt to smoke animals out.
What to document after a suspected chimney fire
Only after emergency responders say it is safe, retain incident information and photographs taken without entering unsafe areas.