A fireplace sells a house in November. Buyers walk into a living room in Oakville, Richmond Hill or Whitby, see a mantel and picture winter nights by the fire. What they rarely picture is the chimney behind it, the venting on the roof or the furnace that may share that same flue. During a home inspection I look at the fireplace and chimney as part of the whole house, because problems there can involve water, structure and combustion gases all at once. Below are the most common mistakes buyers make, and what to do instead. Your inspector is Yama Nehan, a Certified and Registered Home Inspector with about 15 years of home inspection experience and a construction engineering degree from George Brown (Building Renovations). He is also a licensed contractor with about 20 years of construction experience and the owner of Nehan Construction, and that practical construction experience is one of the main reasons clients pick him. Yama Nehan is the only one trusted to do the inspections himself. Home inspections start from $499; the final price depends on the property. Call 647-704-7100 or book an inspection online.
Key takeaways
- A fireplace is a system: the firebox or gas unit, the damper or vent, the chimney or vent pipe, the roof flashing and the cap all have to work together.
- Many older masonry chimneys in the GTA also vent a furnace or water heater. When the furnace is replaced with a high-efficiency model, the water heater can be left alone in a chimney that is now too big for it.
- A gas fireplace still needs a working vent, intact glass and clear exterior termination. “It’s gas, so it’s fine” is a common mistake.
- A home inspection is visual and non-invasive. I check what is visible and accessible, but I do not do a full flue camera scan or sweep. When the signs call for it, I recommend a qualified chimney sweep or fireplace technician.
- Working smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas matter in any home with a fireplace or other fuel-burning appliance.
- Inspection-first: Golden Home Inspections reports on condition and does not use the inspection to sell repairs.
Why fireplaces and chimneys matter in Oakville, Richmond Hill and Whitby
These three cities have a lot of homes where the fireplace is a selling point. Older parts of Oakville and Richmond Hill have 1950s to 1980s houses with brick chimneys and wood-burning fireplaces, some converted to gas inserts over the years. Whitby has everything from older brick homes near the downtown to 1990s and 2000s two-storeys with direct-vent gas fireplaces in the family room. Each type has its own weak points, and the age of the house usually tells me where to look first. For city-specific details, see home inspection in Oakville and home inspection in Richmond Hill.
7 fireplace and chimney mistakes buyers make
1. Assuming the fireplace works because it looks clean
Sellers often clean and stage the fireplace before listing. A freshly painted firebox or new glass doors says nothing about the flue, the damper or the chimney crown. I check whether the damper opens and closes, look for cracked firebrick and gaps in the mortar joints inside the firebox, and look up the flue as far as I can see with a flashlight. Heavy creosote, debris or daylight where there shouldn’t be any are all reasons to get a chimney sweep in before closing.
2. Only looking at the chimney from the driveway
Most chimney problems are up high. From the roof or with a camera on a pole, depending on safe access, I look for a cracked or missing concrete crown, spalled or loose brick, missing mortar, a leaning stack, rusted or missing caps and poor flashing where the chimney meets the roof. Then I check inside: water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney, and in the attic around the chimney, often show a flashing or crown problem before it is visible outside. If snow or ice blocks safe roof access, the report says so.
3. Forgetting the furnace and water heater may share the chimney
This one surprises a lot of buyers. In many older GTA homes, the furnace and water heater originally vented into the same masonry chimney as the fireplace (through a separate flue) or into a chimney of their own. When an older furnace is replaced with a high-efficiency model that vents out the side wall through plastic pipe, the water heater may be left venting alone into a large, cold masonry flue. That can lead to poor draft and condensation inside the chimney, which damages the masonry and can let combustion gases spill back into the basement. I check how each appliance vents, look for rust, staining or moisture at the vent connection and the base of the chimney, and recommend a licensed gas technician when the venting looks wrong.
4. Treating a gas fireplace as maintenance-free
Gas fireplaces are simpler than wood-burning ones, but they are not maintenance-free. I look at the glass for cracks, check that the unit lights if the pilot is on and the seller allows it, look for soot on the glass or logs (a sign it may not be burning cleanly), and check the outside vent termination. A direct-vent cap that sits too close to a window, a deck, a gas meter or ground level, or one that has been boxed in by a later renovation, is worth a closer look by a licensed gas technician.
5. Missing signs of a DIY or undocumented insert
Some older wood-burning fireplaces have had gas or wood inserts added. An insert generally needs the right liner running up the chimney and proper clearances to combustibles such as mantels, trim and framing. I look for a visible liner at the top of the chimney, the clearances around the unit and the mantel, and any paperwork the seller can provide. If I can’t confirm the installation, the report recommends asking the seller for the installation records and having a fireplace technician confirm it before you rely on it.
6. Ignoring the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Ontario’s Fire Code requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas, and carbon monoxide alarms next to sleeping areas in homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. I note where the alarms are, whether they look missing or past their replacement date, and recommend testing or replacing them on move-in day. It’s one of the cheapest safety upgrades you can make.
7. Not asking what was in the old flue or around the chimney
In some older homes, the original furnace or water heater vent pipe, the insulation around the chimney in the attic, or old fireplace parts may be made of materials that should be tested before anyone disturbs them. I note suspect materials in the report rather than guessing, and if testing makes sense you can arrange it through home hazard testing in Toronto and the GTA.
Wood-burning vs gas vs electric: what a home inspector checks
| Fireplace type | What I look at | Common findings | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood-burning masonry | Firebox, firebrick and mortar, damper, visible flue, hearth, chimney crown, cap, flashing | Cracked firebrick, stuck damper, creosote, cracked crown, missing cap, water stains beside the chimney | Chimney sweep or fireplace technician to clean and do a full flue check before use |
| Gas insert in an old fireplace | Glass, operation (if the pilot is on), liner at the chimney top, clearances, mantel distance | No visible liner, soot on glass, no installation records | Licensed gas technician to confirm the installation and service the unit |
| Direct-vent gas fireplace | Glass, operation, outside vent cap location and condition, nearby windows and decks | Vent cap too close to openings, blocked or damaged cap, soot | Licensed gas technician for service and vent check |
| Electric fireplace | Whether it operates, the outlet or wiring it’s connected to | Plugged into an extension cord or overloaded circuit | Electrician if the wiring looks improvised |
Buyer checklist: fireplace and chimney
- Ask the seller what type of fireplace it is, when it was last used and when it was last cleaned or serviced.
- Ask for any installation or service records for gas units and inserts.
- Look for water stains on the ceiling or walls next to the chimney.
- Look at the chimney from the street with binoculars or zoom on your phone: is it straight, with brick intact and a cap on top?
- Check that each floor has a smoke alarm and that there are carbon monoxide alarms near the bedrooms.
- Ask how the furnace and water heater vent, especially if the furnace was recently replaced.
- Budget for a chimney sweep or gas technician visit before your first fire.
A situation we often see
A buyer loves an older house with a brick fireplace in the living room. The furnace was upgraded a few years ago and vents out the side wall, but the water heater still vents into the old masonry chimney. At the base of the chimney in the basement there is white staining and crumbling mortar, and the cleanout door is rusty. None of this is visible from the living room. The report explains what the staining usually means, why the water heater venting should be checked by a licensed gas technician, and that the chimney may need a liner. The buyer goes into the deal knowing what to ask about instead of finding out after the first cold snap.
What a home inspection covers, and what it doesn’t
A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive look at the accessible parts of the house. For the fireplace and chimney, that means the firebox, damper, visible flue, hearth, mantel clearances, vent caps, the chimney exterior and the roof flashing where it can be reached or seen safely. I do not sweep the chimney, run a camera down the full length of the flue, or take apart gas units. In winter, snow and ice can limit roof access, and the report notes anything I couldn’t see. For more on that, read what a home inspector can check in winter. You get the report within 24 hours, with photos and plain-language notes.
Choose your inspector carefully. Ask about their certifications, how many years they have been inspecting, and to see a sample report.
Frequently asked questions
Does a home inspection include the fireplace and chimney?
Yes, as a visual inspection of the accessible parts. I check the firebox, damper, visible flue, chimney exterior, cap, flashing and any signs of water or venting problems. A full flue inspection with a camera is done by a chimney sweep or fireplace technician.
Should I get a separate chimney inspection when buying a home in Oakville or Richmond Hill?
If you plan to use a wood-burning fireplace, or the home inspection finds cracks, creosote, stains or a missing liner, it’s a good idea to have a chimney sweep or fireplace technician do a full check before your first fire.
Is a cracked chimney crown a big problem?
It lets water into the chimney, and in Ontario’s freeze-thaw cycles that water breaks down brick and mortar over time. It’s usually a manageable repair when caught early, but it shouldn’t be ignored.
Can you test a gas fireplace during the inspection?
If the pilot is on and the seller allows it, I operate it with the normal controls. I don’t relight pilots or take units apart, and I’ll recommend a licensed gas technician if anything looks off.
How much does a home inspection cost in Whitby, Oakville or Richmond Hill?
Home inspections start from $499, and the final price depends on the size, age and type of property. Call 647-704-7100 for a quote.
Book your home inspection
Buying in Oakville, Richmond Hill, Whitby or anywhere in the west, north or east GTA? Yama Nehan will check the fireplace, chimney and venting as part of a full home inspection, explain what he finds in plain language, and send a clear report within 24 hours. Book your inspection online, call 647-704-7100, or email contact@goldenhomeinspections.ca. Golden Home Inspections is based in Toronto, Ontario.
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