Chimney inspection in Pittsfield Township

Three decades of houses

We cover the northern part of the township, near Ann Arbor and I-94. If you live farther south, call and ask first.

The neighborhood off Golfside between Woodside and Ellsworth dates from the 1960s, so its chimneys are now about sixty years old. Arbor Creek, near Waters Road and Oak Valley, is 178 houses built from 1996 to 2000. In between are subdivisions from the 1980s and early 1990s. That spread means one street may have a brick chimney with a clay-tiled flue, and the next a factory-built fireplace with a metal flue in a framed chase.

What we look for

On a brick chimney like the one in the photo, we look for cracks, loose brick and white streaks, which mean water is moving through the brick. This one has a crack running sideways along a mortar joint and corner bricks pushed out near the top. Our guide to white stains and crumbling chimney brick explains where those streaks come from. Inside, we check the clay tiles for cracks and gaps. On a factory-built fireplace, we check the firebox panels, the metal flue, the chase cover and the cap.

Level 1 or Level 2

A Level 1 inspection is $49. We check what can be reached without special tools: the firebox, the flue, the outside of the chimney and the connection to any appliance. The $49 is credited toward any repair or service we do after it.

A Level 2 is $149. It adds the chimney sections in the attic, basement and crawl space, and a camera run through the flue. It's used for home sales, changes to the heating system, and after a chimney fire or storm. You can add the camera to a Level 1 for $75. Our guide to chimney inspection levels explains which to pick, and our guide to chimney inspection cost covers what the price includes.

After we look

You get photos and a plain report of what we found. If the flue needs cleaning, we can sweep the chimney for $349, which includes an inspection. Any repair gets a written price, and nothing starts until you approve it.