Chimney Sweep in Kentwood, MI

Grand Rapids Elite Chimney Sweep offers chimney sweep in Kentwood, MI, with camera inspections and repairs, from 1960s brick ranches near Plaster Creek to newer two-story homes.

Last updated October 2026

Chimney Sweeping and Repair in Kentwood

Kentwood incorporated in 1967, carved out of what was left of Paris Township so Grand Rapids and Wyoming could not annex any more of it. Most of its homes came after that, which makes this a younger chimney town than the old east side. Think of the liner, the tube inside the chimney, as the dryer duct for your fireplace: when it cracks, heat goes somewhere it should not. In Kentwood we check the liner first and the brick second.

Chimney sweeping, with the camera running up every flue we sweep
Liner repair and installation for cracked clay tile
Leak repair, flashing and breathable waterproofing
Level 2 inspections for buyers and sellers, see chimney inspection

Call (616) 317-7774 for chimney work in Kentwood.

Questions?Contact Us

Before We Pull Up in Kentwood

Most Kentwood sweeps are one fireplace and finish in about an hour. Tarps and runners go down first, and we sweep from the inside of the house with a HEPA vacuum running.

Leave a clear walkway to the fireplace and keep fragile pieces off the mantel. Furniture should sit about five feet from the opening, and anyone 18 or older can be home to watch the camera screen with us. Our camera scan on a Kentwood ranch runs 45 minutes to an hour. We book 2 Kentwood visits a day at most, so our crew is never rushing.

Types of Chimney Work We Do in Kentwood

Liner Repair and Stainless Relining

A clay flue liner is made of 2-foot tiles, and heat plus water crack them over the years. If the camera finds cracks, we choose between a sealant that coats the old clay, called HeatShield, and a full stainless steel 316Ti liner dropped down the flue. Michigan requires a permit for a new liner and we pull it for you. Read more on chimney liner installation.

Chimney Sweep in Kentwood and the Camera Report

We sweep from the fireplace upward with wire brushes and a HEPA-filtered vacuum, then run a rotating camera the full height of the flue. The digital report lands in your inbox with photos of anything odd, and repair quotes if there is something to quote. A clean flue gets a short report and a "see you next fall."

Leaks Around the Chimney

A stain on the ceiling by the fireplace gets blamed on the roof about half the time, and the chimney is the real culprit. Flashing, the metal strip where the chimney meets the roof, is the usual suspect, then a cracked crown, then dry brick. We trace the water to its source before we sell anything. Details on chimney leak repair.

Inspections for Buyers and Sellers

Kentwood has a steady stream of family homes changing hands. A Level 2 inspection, the camera one, is the level used on a property sale, and we email the report so it can go straight to your agent. The basic chimney inspection levels are laid out on its own page.

Caps and Chase Tops on Newer Chimneys

A cap is the lid with mesh sides that keeps birds, rain and stray sparks out of the flue. Kentwood homes from the 1990s onward often have a framed chimney with a steel chase top gone rusty at the seams. We replace it with stainless steel and fit a mesh-sided cap on masonry flues. See chimney cap installation.

Crowns and Brick in the Damp Spots

Crowns on shaded or low-lying lots stay wet longer, and a wet crown cracks sooner. We check the overhang, coat the crown when it is sound and rebuild it when it is not. A coating typically runs $350 to $700. Learn more about chimney crown repair.

What Chimney Work Costs in Kentwood

Typical 2026 ranges for a Kentwood home, shown as a guide. We confirm the number after the camera has looked.

Job	Typical Kentwood home	Typical price
Sweep plus inspection	Two-story, one fireplace	about $330
HeatShield liner repair	1970s ranch, clay liner	$2,500 to $4,500
Stainless 316Ti liner, full length	Two-story, wood-burning	$2,200 to $5,000
Flashing and waterproofing	Any roof	$350 to $1,200
Cap, stainless steel	Masonry chimney	$250 to $750

Kentwood Homes and the Damp Near Plaster Creek

Low Ground Keeps Brick Wet Longer

Plaster Creek runs through the city, and houses on low ground near it hold humidity. Brick that stays damp grows white salt streaks, called efflorescence, and starts to flake. That flaking is spalling, the face of the brick peeling off after water freezes behind it. On a house near the creek last fall the lower courses were sound and the top three rows looked like old cardboard.

A Mix of Eras

The 1960s ranches have clay liners and plain brick chimneys. The 1990s two-stories often have a framed chimney with a metal liner and a chase top. Each fails in its own way, so we carry both kinds of fix in the truck. We are opinionated about one thing: if the flue is fine, we would rather say so than sell a repair.

The Short Version of a Repair Visit

What a Good Kentwood Quote Looks Like

A good quote names the part, the fix and the price in plain words. Ours comes with the camera photos attached, so you can point at the crack and ask questions. If something is optional, we mark it optional. If it can wait, we say how long, usually one more winter at most, and we do not push.

The camera finds the problem and you see it on the screen
We quote the repair in writing and explain what each line is for
You pick the work, or you say no and keep the report

Walking west, we also cover Walker, and the old farm roads there give us a different crop of chimneys.

Questions we hear

Chimney Sweep FAQs for Kentwood Homeowners

How do I know if my Kentwood chimney liner is cracked?

You usually do not, until a camera looks. Warning signs include pieces of clay in the firebox, smoke smell in the house when the fireplace is cold, or a damp ceiling near the chimney. A camera scan costs $175 to $279 typically and shows every tile joint on screen.

Does Michigan require a permit for a new chimney liner?

Yes, a liner installation needs a permit in Michigan, and we pull it as part of the job. The permit protects you at resale, because the inspector can see it was done to code. Stainless liners in Kentwood typically run $2,200 to $5,000 for a full-length install.

Should I sweep a gas fireplace in Kentwood?

Gas fireplaces make almost no creosote, so they need inspecting more than sweeping. We look at the burner area, the vent and the liner once a year. A basic inspection is $175 to $279 typically, and it catches blocked vents and cracked liners before they matter.

How long does a chimney leak repair take?

Most flashing or crown fixes take half a day to a full day, plus a day of dry weather to set. Tracing the leak is the slow part. Typical costs in Kentwood run $350 to $1,200 for flashing and waterproofing, depending on roof pitch and how much metal has to come off.

Is November a bad time to book a chimney sweep?

It is the busiest. Searches for chimney sweeps in Grand Rapids hit about 480 a month in November and December, versus about 70 in summer. September and early October are quieter, and you get your chimney cleared before the first real fire of the year.

Can I watch the camera scan?

Yes, and we encourage it. The camera shows the flue on a screen as it travels up, so you can see cracks or clean tile with your own eyes. An adult 18 or older at home makes the visit easier, and the emailed report gives you photos afterward.

Crew member with a clipboard on a front porch

Careful Chimney Crews in Grand Rapids, MI

(616) 317-7774 Contact Us

What Our Customers Are Saying

Learn more about how we work.

PhotosWith every reportThe camera scan comes back as pictures you can keep, so you can show a roofer, an agent or your spouse.Contact Us

Joanne P.Wyoming
The fireplace smelled like a campsite every humid July. Dale's crew swept it, ran the camera and showed me a cracked tile on the screen before they quoted anything. Smell's gone.
Mark & Ayesha T.East Grand Rapids
Three weeks before closing our inspector flagged the chimney. They did a Level 2 with the camera, emailed the report with photos that same afternoon, and our agent used it in the negotiation.
Sue W.Kentwood
They put tarps down from the front door to the hearth and used a vacuum that actually kept the soot in the fireplace. I've had sweeps leave black footprints in my hallway before. Not this time.
Imran K.Walker
Water stains on the ceiling by the chimney every spring. They found the flashing had pulled away, fixed it, and checked the crown while they were up there. Dry through the whole thaw.
Peter H.Grandville
Honest. Told us the flue was in good shape and to see them next fall. Didn't try to sell us a liner. That's why we'll call them when it does need work.
Dana R.Byron Center
The crown on our ranch was crumbling and the mortar was sandy. They explained the order they'd do it in and why, and the bill matched the quote to the dollar.

Where We Do This Work

Chimney service requests

Book Your Sweep, Inspection or Repair Quote

Leave your name, number and a line about the chimney. We call you back during office hours to set a time.

Camera scan with every sweep
Written report with photos
CSIA-certified sweeps on the crew