Chimney Sweep Prices, Explained

The Base Price

A standard sweep from our crew starts from $210. For most single fireplaces we work on in Pasadena and the towns around it, that is the whole bill.

What Is in That Price

The base sweep covers more than a brush up the flue:

• - Drop cloths and a vacuum set up at the hearth before anything is touched
• Brushing the flue from the top or the bottom, depending on access
• Clearing soot and creosote from the smoke shelf and smoke chamber
• Cleaning the firebox and checking the damper opens and closes fully
• A look at the cap, crown and flue tile from the roof
• Photos of anything that worries us, sent the same day

What Can Add to It

A few things take extra time and are priced before we start:

• - Old nest material packed on the smoke shelf, which has to be pulled by hand
• Glazed creosote, a hard shiny layer that brushes cannot shift
• A second or third flue on the same visit
• A damper that is rusted shut or bent
• A missing or broken cap that should be replaced while we are on the roof

None of these get added quietly. If we find one, you see a photo and a written price, and you decide.

Sweep or Inspection?

People often ask which one they need. They are different jobs.

A sweep is cleaning. An inspection is a written check of how the chimney is built and what shape it is in. Our basic inspection is $52, and it covers what we can see from the firebox, the attic and the roof. A camera inspection, $370, sends a small camera up the full flue and is the one to get for a home sale, after a flue fire, or after real shaking.

Many homeowners pair a sweep with the basic inspection each fall. If the sweep shows anything that needs a closer look, we say so and price it.

How Often?

NFPA 211, the national standard most chimney work follows, says a chimney should be inspected every year and swept when it needs it. In practice:

• - If you burn wood most winter weekends, sweep once a year before the season
• If you burn a few fires a year, every other year may be enough
• If the fireplace is never used, it still needs a look every year, since that is where nests and leaves collect

Gas fireplaces need attention too. They do not make creosote, but their vents collect nests, leaves and debris like any other flue.

Signs You Are Overdue

Watch for these between visits:

• - A campfire smell in the room after rain
• Smoke rolling into the room when the fire starts
• Black flakes on the hearth or grate
• Twigs, leaves or droppings in the firebox
• A fire that is hard to start or keep going

Questions to Ask Any Sweep

Whoever you hire, it is fair to ask:

• - Are you licensed and insured?
• Is the price fixed, or does it change once you arrive?
• Will you check the top of the chimney, or only the inside?
• Will I get photos of what you find?

Good answers to those four questions tell you most of what you need. Our form is the easiest way to get a written price for your own fireplace if you would like one in hand.

Getting Ready for the Visit

There is not much to do. Let the fireplace go cold for a day ahead of time. Shift chairs and rugs out of the way between the front entry and the fireplace, and take photos and vases down from the mantel shelf. If the roof is hard to reach from the driveway, tell us where a ladder can go. Pets are happiest in another room, since the vacuum is loud.

Why Fall Fills Up

Most people remember the chimney on the first cold night. By late October the schedule across the valley is full. Late summer and early fall are the easiest times to book, and the flue is clean before the first fire.

What a Sweep Visit Looks Like

From arrival to clean-up, most sweeps take a little over an hour. Canvas goes down along our walking route, plastic gets taped over the firebox, and a HEPA vacuum hums the entire time the brush is moving, so the soot ends up in a bag rather than on your sofa. One of us works from the roof, or from below on a steep or tiled roof that is risky to walk.

When the brushing is done, we vacuum the smoke shelf and firebox, check the damper, and clean up the cloths. Before we leave, you get a short walk-through at the hearth and the photos come by email that same day.

Why the Cheapest Quote Can Cost More

Very low prices on sweeps are often a lead-in for a sales pitch at the door. The sweep is quick and shallow, and then a long list of urgent repairs appears. Be wary of any company that will not put repair prices in writing, or that wants to start work on the same visit. A good sweep shows you a photo of the problem and leaves the decision to you.

Book Your Sweep

Ring us when you have a minute, mention roughly how often you burn and when the chimney was last cleaned, and we will find a time that suits you.