Chimney Sweep · Cupertino to the whole Bay Area · 7 days
Chimney sweep, $149. Soot and creosote out before the first fire of the season.
Firebox, smoke shelf, damper and the full flue swept under vacuum, then a visual check of what we can see. Masonry and prefab fireplaces.
- Insured · Owner-operated · Flat prices published online · Same-day available, same-week appointments, 7 days
How much does chimney sweep cost?
A chimney sweep costs $149 per flue. The price includes cleaning the firebox and smoke shelf, checking the damper, sweeping the full flue with rotary brushes while a vacuum captures the soot, and a visual look at the flue and cap. Wood-burning masonry fireplaces and prefab (metal) fireplaces are the same price.
Creosote is what wood smoke leaves on the inside of a flue, and enough of it will burn. We seal the fireplace opening, run rotary brushes up the flue from the bottom with a vacuum on the firebox, then clean the smoke shelf and damper where the heaviest deposits settle. You see what came down.
Most Bay Area fireplaces built after the 1980s are prefab metal units with a round flue pipe. Older homes in Palo Alto, Willow Glen and the older parts of Fremont have masonry chimneys with clay tile liners. We sweep both. We do not do repairs, so if we see a cracked tile or a missing cap we tell you and you bring in a mason.
What's included
- Firebox opening sealed and vacuumed
- Full flue swept with rotary brushes sized to the flue
- Smoke shelf and smoke chamber cleaned
- Damper operation checked
- Visual look at the flue interior and the cap from the roof where accessible
- Soot and debris removed, hearth cleaned
What's not
- Repairs of any kind: liners, caps, crowns, dampers, mortar. That is a mason's job.
- Camera (Level 2) inspections. We look, we do not scope.
- Gas fireplace service or gas log cleaning.
- Animal removal. We will tell you if we find a nest.
Process
How the visit goes
- 01
Seal the opening
A fabric seal goes over the fireplace opening with the vacuum hose through it, so soot stays in the flue and the vacuum.
- 02
Sweep the flue
Rotary brushes on flexible rods go up the full flue from the firebox while the vacuum runs.
- 03
Smoke shelf and damper
We clean the shelf and chamber by hand and work the damper through its range.
- 04
Look and report
We look up the flue with a light, check the cap from the roof where we can, and tell you what we saw.
Warning signs
Signs it is time
Smoke comes into the room
A flue that used to draw and now smokes is narrowed by deposits or blocked at the cap.
Black flakes on the smoke shelf
Glossy or flaky black deposits are creosote. Flaky is the stage before glazed.
A campfire smell in summer
Warm weather pulls the creosote smell down the flue into the house.
You burn most winter weekends
Regular wood burning through a Bay Area winter earns a sweep every season.
Local pages
Chimney Sweep by city
CupertinobaseSan Jose20 minSunnyvale12 minSanta Clara15 minMountain View15 minPalo Alto20 minLos Altos12 minCampbell15 minSaratoga12 minMilpitas25 minMenlo Park25 minFremont30 min
Not listed? We cover the whole Bay Area. See every city or call and ask.
FAQ
Chimney Sweep: questions people ask
How much does a chimney sweep cost?
How long does a chimney sweep take?
How often should a chimney be swept?
Will sweeping make a mess?
Do you inspect the chimney?
Can you fix a broken damper or missing cap?
Do you clean gas fireplaces?
Two minutes on the phone gets you a firm number.
Tell us the service and your city. We count vents with you, give you the price, and hold a slot. Open 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.
10% off for new customers. Mention the website when you book. First visit only, any service.