How Can Flue & Hearth Notes Help My Business?

​A generic form doesn't work for all chimneys, especially since every chimney is different. We based Flue & Hearth Notes™ (FHN)) on the inspection points in the 211 Annex. The Annex represents the links in each installation. These points are the chimney industry Standard of Care. FHN It is built-in modules based on specific areas in the chimney and or fireplace. These are often the transition areas. FHN is also available in English and Spanish.
 
Flue & Hearth Inspection Notes™ printed NCR forms are also available in Spanish.
​

Multiple Transitions & Inspection Points
Each chimney system has multiple transitions. Transitions could be the firebox to the smoke chamber or the smoke chamber to the liner, and so forth. Within each transition, there is a multitude of things to check. For example, there are multiple inspection points to check from the smoke chamber to the liner: Cored brick? Are there missing mortar joints? Combustibles in the smoke chamber? Lack of parging? Poor joints? Debris on the smoke shelf? Animals on the smoke shelf? Damper obstruction? Poor transition at the smoke chamber to flue joint? These are just some of the inspection points, and this is just one transition example. If there are ten transitions in a fireplace system and just five points per transition, that's fifty inspection points in a fireplace and chimney.  ​

Streamlining Your Business
In addition to streamlining and including all points, you can use this repeatable process to prioritize the category of defects such as Operational Ready Condition, Operational Deficient Condition, or Hazardous Condition. Prioritizing makes it easier to determine what needs repairing first to bring it to an operational condition. You can schedule other less time-sensitive maintenance items for later months or following years. Spacing potential repairs makes it easier for the homeowner to afford.

Inspection Points in Organized Modules
The Flue and Hearth Notes™ Inspection Process breaks it down into modules that drill down on specific areas. These modules make it easy to scan from the top or the bottom. There are many inspection points in the NFPA 211 Annex Inspection Points. Not only are they hard to remember, but they're also hard to organize into a report. Flue & Hearth Notes™ makes it easy to follow format allows you to start anywhere within the system and can be used by a newer sweep or your best sweep. It keeps all sweeps on the same page and eliminates forgotten inspection points. In addition, it keeps your sweeps and office staff on the same page. This process streamlines your operation. It's a repeatable process you can use to train new employees.

Quick and Easy to Use
Despite the many inspection points, these Flue & Hearth Notes™ check-off forms are quick and easy to use. As you move through each transition, it's easy to check off the boxes or circle the letters.
You have as many as four choices within the checkboxes: 
Y = Yes, 
N = No,
 P = non-applicable, 
C = non-accessible.
​Some are fill-in-the-blanks. Some of our customers have completed their form in 10-15 minutes. Because the information is specific, It removes hesitation and guesswork.