Chimney Cap Installation
Stainless steel caps for brick chimneys and stainless chase tops for chimneys wrapped in siding.
Chimney Inspection in Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Elite Chimney Sweep handles chimney inspection in Grand Rapids, MI, with a camera scan of the whole flue and a written report with photos emailed to you.
Last updated
What a Chimney Inspection Finds That a Flashlight Can't
A chimney inspection in Grand Rapids typically costs $175 to $279 and takes 45 minutes to an hour for one fireplace. On the screen it looks like a slow ride up the inside of a pipe, and every crack, gap and patch of soot shows up in a picture we can hand you.
We lay tarps and runners from the door to the fireplace, then send up a camera that rotates 360 degrees so the whole flue gets scanned. A digital report with photos is emailed to you, along with repair options. You decide what comes next, and that's the whole story.
Call (616) 317-7774 for a chimney inspection.
Questions?Contact UsChimney Inspection Levels and Options in Grand Rapids
NFPA 211, the national fire-code rulebook for chimneys, sets three inspection levels. Which one you need depends on what has changed at the house between looks.
Level 1 Chimney Inspection
The basic yearly look for a chimney used the same way as before. We check every part we can reach, inside and outside, and make sure the flue is clear of soot buildup and blockages.
Level 2 Inspection With Camera Scan
Needed after a change of fuel, a new liner, a storm or a chimney fire, and when a house is sold. It adds a video scan of the full flue plus a look in the attic and crawl space.
Level 3 Chimney Inspection
The dig-in-and-look level, and a rare one. When a Level 1 or 2 points to a hidden problem, a Level 3 opens a wall or the masonry to reach it. We talk to you before anything gets opened.
Home Sale Chimney Inspection
Buying or selling in Grand Rapids? A Level 2 is the one a buyer's home inspector usually wants. The emailed report with photos can go straight to your agent or the buyer.
Inspection After a Chimney Fire or Storm
A roar in the flue, a cap that blew off, a limb across the crown. We scan the liner first, because a crack in the liner is where heat can reach the wood framing.
Inspection With a Chimney Sweep
Most people book both in one visit. We clean the flue first so the camera sees clean tile, then scan. The details are on our chimney sweep and repair page.
Chimney Inspection Prices in Grand Rapids
- Level 1 inspection: typically $175 to $279
- Level 2 with camera scan: typically $250 to $400
- Sweep plus inspection: typically about $330
- Level 3: quoted after the Level 2 scan shows what needs opening
- Time on site: 45 minutes to an hour for one fireplace
Typical Grand Rapids ranges for 2026, not a quote. Repair prices come with your emailed report.
What Every Inspection Visit Includes
- Tarps and runners from the door to the fireplace
- A camera scan that rotates 360 degrees up the whole flue
- The damper checked and the firebox looked over
- The crown, flashing and mortar joints checked from the roof when we can reach it safely
- A digital report with photos emailed to you
- Repair options explained, with quotes if anything turns up
How Often Should a Chimney Be Inspected in Grand Rapids?
Once a year. NFPA 211 says every chimney gets looked at at least once a year, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (the group that trains and tests sweeps) says the same. West Michigan makes the case for itself: about 75 inches of snow a year and a lot of freezing and thawing on every brick.
| Level | When you need it | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Same fuel, same use, nothing has changed | Check everything we can reach, inside and out |
| Level 2 | New liner, new fuel, a sale, or after a fire or storm | Level 1 plus a camera scan of the whole flue and the attic and crawl space |
| Level 3 | A hidden problem found by a Level 1 or 2 | Open a wall or the masonry to reach it, after we talk to you |
What Happens During the Visit
We start at the front door. Tarps and runners go down, and we ask you to slide furniture about five feet back from the firebox. If anything fragile sits on the mantel, take it down. Pets do better in another room when a vacuum is running, so we ask for that too.
The camera goes up from the firebox while we watch the screen. If the roof is safe to reach, we also look at the crown, flashing and mortar joints from the top. Then we show you the scan, because it makes more sense with someone pointing at it.
Do I Need to Be Home?
We like an adult, 18 or older, at home so we can show you the screen. If that doesn't work, you can leave instructions for us to come in. Plenty of customers do.
Chimney Inspection Before You Buy or Sell a Home in Grand Rapids
A Level 2 is what the standard calls for when a property is sold or transferred. Heritage Hill and the older streets on the east side have chimneys more than a century old with clay flue tile, and the scan on those turns up cracked tile more often than it does in a 1990s subdivision. Find that before closing and it's a number you can talk about. Find it after and it's your number.
What the Camera Usually Finds
- Cracked or missing pieces of clay flue tile
- Gaps at the joints between tiles
- Soot buildup past 1/8 inch, about the thickness of a dime
- A flue blocked by leaves or a nest
- A damper rusted shut or stuck partway
Each one lands in the report with a photo. It works like the X-ray at the dentist: you don't guess about the cavity, you look at the picture.
When an Inspection Leads to a Repair
Most inspections end with "you're fine, see you next year." When they don't, the fix is usually one of three: a chimney liner for cracked tile, tuckpointing for open mortar joints, or crown repair for a cracked top. We'd rather show you the crack on the screen and let you sleep on it than quote a liner from the driveway.
Every Visit Ends With a Written Report
A digital report of the camera scan with photos, and repair quotes you can read at the kitchen table. Nothing gets booked until you say so.
Before you book
Chimney Inspection Questions
Is a Chimney Inspection the Same as a Sweep?
No. A sweep cleans the soot out. An inspection looks at the condition of the whole chimney. We do both in one visit because the camera sees more in a clean flue.
Do Gas Fireplaces Need an Inspection?
Yes. Gas leaves almost no soot, but a cracked liner or a blocked flue is still a problem. Switching from wood to gas, or the other way, also calls for a Level 2.
Does the Report Come With Photos?
Yes. It is a digital report emailed to you after the visit, with the scan photos, what we found at each part of the flue and the repair options if anything turned up. Keep it for your records, your insurance agent or the next buyer of the house.
What If the Chimney Is Fine?
Then we say so and see you next fall. The report still goes out with the photos, so you have a clean record of the flue. We would rather tell you the chimney is fine than sell a repair you do not need, and most years that is exactly how the visit ends.
Questions we hear
Chimney Inspection FAQs
How much does a chimney inspection cost in Grand Rapids?
A chimney inspection in Grand Rapids typically costs $175 to $279 for a Level 1, and a Level 2 with a full camera scan runs about $250 to $400. A sweep plus inspection usually lands near $330. The final number depends on how many flues you have and how easy the roof is to reach.
How long does a chimney inspection take?
About 45 minutes to an hour for one fireplace, and 1.5 to 2 hours when we inspect two or more. Most of that time goes to laying tarps, running the camera up the flue and showing you the screen. The written report with photos is emailed to you after the visit.
How often should a chimney be inspected?
Once a year, before the season you burn. NFPA 211 and the Chimney Safety Institute of America both say at least every 12 months. Wood burners often need a sweep at the same visit, because soot 1/8 inch thick, about the thickness of a dime, is the point where cleaning is overdue.
Do I need a Level 2 inspection when buying a house in Grand Rapids?
Yes, in most cases. NFPA 211 calls for a Level 2 inspection when a property is sold or transferred, and it includes a camera scan of the flue. Skipping it can hide a cracked liner that costs $2,200 to $5,000 to replace after closing.
Can you inspect a chimney from the roof only?
A roof look catches the crown, flashing and mortar joints, but it can't see inside the flue. That takes the camera from the firebox. We do both, because a chimney can look perfect outside and hide cracked tile inside. A 20 minute roof check alone leaves half the chimney unchecked.
What happens if the inspection finds a problem?
You get a photo in the emailed report, the repair options and a quote. Small items like a loose cap or a few crumbling joints often run $250 to $750. A cracked liner costs more. Nothing gets scheduled until you say so, and many reports end with nothing to fix.
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
Our Other Chimney Services
Chimney Crown Repair
Hairline cracks sealed and coated, or a broken-up crown rebuilt with a sloped slab that sheds water.
Chimney Leak Repair
Flashing, crown, brick or cap: we trace the water first, then fix the part that is letting it in.
Chimney Liner Installation
Cracked clay tile sealed with HeatShield, or a new insulated stainless steel liner the full height of the flue.
Chimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds that take down only the brick that has failed and lay it back up straight.
Chimney Tuckpointing
Crumbling mortar joints ground out and repacked, loose bricks replaced, the top of the stack made tight again.
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