What to Look Out for When Price Shopping for Chimney Cleaning

May 1, 2025

Before you ask for the price of a chimney, it’s important to take a look at the cost of NOT getting the chimney cleaned.  A chimney cleaning helps to prevent chimney fires.  It can be $3000-$10,000, depending on the damage and the chimney to repair a chimney after a chimney fire!  You also have to think of what the cost of getting your drapes, carpets, and furniture cleaned if you start up a fire and the chimney smokes back into the room and stinks up the whole house, who knows what that cost would be, but it’s definitely more than a chimney sweep and inspection.  You can avoid those unwanted emergency expenses by doing the regular maintenance and cleaning of your chimney without having to do it yourself.   

Here’s what you should watch for when comparing chimney cleaning prices so you don’t end up with more problems than you started with.

Beware of “Too Good to Be True” Deals

If you come across chimney cleaning services offering prices that seem suspiciously low, it’s a good idea to pause and dig a little deeper. Some companies advertise rock-bottom prices just to get their foot in the door. Once they’re there, they might pressure you into costly “emergency repairs” or upsell you on services you may not actually need. It’s not uncommon for these surprise charges to far exceed what a reputable company would have charged from the start.

Always ask what’s included in the price. A legitimate chimney sweep should be upfront about what their service entails, whether that’s a visual inspection, soot removal, or creosote cleaning. Transparency from the beginning can save you time, stress, and money in the long run.

Ask About Licensing and Experience

Not every chimney cleaning business is created equal. Before you agree to a service, check to see if the company is certifiedby a recognized organization like the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Certification shows they’ve received proper training and stay up to date with safety standards and techniques.

Experience also matters. A company that’s been in business for yearsis more likely to have dealt with a wide variety of chimney issues and knows how to handle them safely and effectively. Plus, they’ve had time to build a reputation, which you can check through online reviews and referrals.

Look Into What’s Actually Being Cleaned

Some chimney cleaning services only take care of the flue and call it a day. But a thorough chimney sweep should check and clean the entire chimney system, including the firebox, smoke chamber, damper, and cap. When price shopping, ask what parts of the chimney the service covers. 

Don’t Skip the Inspection

Some companies offer cleaning without any inspection, but this can be a big mistake. A professional inspection is crucial for spotting cracks, blockages, or structural damage that could pose serious risks to your home and health. Ideally, your chimney cleaning should include at least a basic visual inspection. Unfortunately, many inexperienced “chimney sweeps” skip going onto the roof, missing key issues like water intrusion or a broken chimney, problems that can only be properly identified through a personal, physical inspection, not a drone.

Ask About Insurance and Guarantees

Accidents happen, even with experienced professionals. That’s why it’s best to make sure the company you hire is fully insured. If they aren’t and something goes wrong during the cleaning, you could be left holding the bill for damage or injury.

It’s also a good sign if the company stands behind their work. Ask if they offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee or follow up if something isn’t quite right. Reputable businesses are confident in their work and want you to feel good about the service you receive.

When it comes to chimney maintenance, peace of mind is everything. At Chimney Clean Company, Inc., we provide honest pricing, certified expertise, and thorough service that keeps your home safe and your fireplace running smoothly. Give us a call todayto schedule your cleaning and see the difference for yourself!

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Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.