Redford, Wayne County
Chimney inspection in Redford
Redford Township used to reach farther east. Detroit annexed that part in the 1920s, and what stayed in the township filled in with brick houses in the 1950s. Most of those houses have changed owners since, and the chimney is the part buyers see least.
How the township got its shape
Old Redford and Brightmoor were part of Redford Township until Detroit annexed them in the 1920s. In 1926 the township became a charter township, and the annexations stopped. Building in what was left came in a rush after the war, and about 60 percent of the houses there now went up in the 1950s.
That gives Redford a lot of houses the same age, and a lot of them have been bought and sold more than once. Here's why people book an inspection:
- You're buying, and the seller has no record of chimney work.
- The furnace or water heater was replaced and you're not sure what still vents into the chimney.
- A storm came through, or you had a chimney fire.
- The fireplace hasn't been used in years and you'd like to start.
Level 1 and Level 2
A Level 1 inspection is $49, and the $49 is credited toward any repair or service we do afterward. We check the firebox, the damper, the flue as far as we can see it, and the chimney from the roof.
A Level 2 is $149. It adds the chimney in the attic, the basement and any crawl space, plus a camera through the flue. That's the one for a home sale, a change to the heating system, or after a fire or storm. A camera can be added to a Level 1 for $75. Our guide to chimney inspection levels lays out the difference, and what a chimney inspection costs covers the prices.
Down in the basement
On a Redford house with a basement, the base of the chimney is often right next to the furnace. A Level 2 looks at the cleanout door, the furnace and water heater vent pipes where they enter the chimney, and the brick around them. Water at the cleanout, rust on the vent pipe or a white crust on the brick are signs we follow up the flue with the camera.
If the fireplace flue turns out to need sweeping, we can do that on a cleaning visit.
Questions
We're selling our Redford house. Should we have the chimney inspected before we list?
It helps. Buyers' inspectors often note the chimney and recommend a closer look, and that can come up late in the sale. A Level 2 inspection before you list is $149. It covers the chimney in the attic and basement and puts a camera through the flue, so you know about any problem while you still have time to decide what to do about it.
The furnace company says our chimney flue needs a liner. Can you check that?
Yes. A Level 2 inspection puts a camera through the flue, so you can see the tile joints and any cracks yourself. We tell you what we see and whether we agree the flue needs work, and you get the photos. If it does need work, you get a written quote. The $149 is the same either way.
Chimney inspection in Redford
Pick a day and a 3-hour arrival window online. If you'd rather talk it through, call (248) 266-9991.