Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
See the difference
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After
Before
After
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AfterHow Much Does Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost in Alamo Square?
A standard chimney sweep in Alamo Square runs $189 to $329 for a single flue on a typical wood-burning fireplace, and most homes land near $240. Add a camera inspection and you’re looking at $300 to $475. If your fireplace hasn’t been swept in more than two seasons, or you burn often through the winter, budget toward the higher end because creosote buildup takes longer to clear safely.
Those numbers reflect what we actually charge for the Victorian-era masonry flues and mid-century prefab inserts common around the Panhandle and the Painted Ladies blocks. Gas appliance venting is usually cheaper to clean. A reline or a structural repair is a different job entirely, and we’ll explain the split below so you know which category you’re in before anyone climbs a ladder.
Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what each piece of the work costs in the Alamo Square market this year. We quote the sweep and any repair separately, so you’re never paying for structural work bundled into a cleaning invoice.
| Service | Typical Price Range (Alamo Square, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard sweep, single flue (wood-burning) | $189 – $329 |
| Gas appliance vent cleaning | $139 – $229 |
| Additional flue (same visit) | $85 – $150 |
| Video camera inspection | $110 – $195 |
| Creosote removal, heavy / third-degree | $295 – $650 |
| Chimney cap supply & install (Gelco) | $145 – $310 |
| Animal / debris nest removal | $95 – $210 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $119 – $199 |
| HeatShield liner resurfacing | $1,450 – $3,200 |
| Full reline, DuraFlex system | $2,800 – $5,900 |
What pushes a sweep from $189 toward $329? The big drivers are flue height, how much creosote has built up, roof access, and whether your chimney has a clean-out door at the base or has to be swept from the top only. A glazed third-degree creosote layer is a genuinely harder job than routine soot and gets priced accordingly, because clearing it takes rotary tools and more time. On the repair side, a HeatShield resurfacing is a technician-applied system, not a patch, which is why it sits well above a cosmetic fix.
What Affects Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Pricing in Alamo Square
- Flue condition and creosote grade. A lightly sooted flue from a once-a-week fire cleans quickly. A flue that’s been closed up for years with layered, glazed creosote takes rotary equipment and a second pass, and that’s the single biggest swing on a cleaning price.
- Age and construction of the home. Alamo Square has a lot of 1890s to 1910s masonry chimneys sitting beside post-war prefab units. Older brick flues are often unlined or have a cracked clay liner, which means a routine sweep may turn up something that needs a closer look and a repair quote.
- Number of flues and appliances. A house running a wood fireplace plus a gas furnace vented through the same stack is more than one flue to clean. Each additional flue adds to the visit.
- Roof access and height. Steep roofs, narrow side returns between neighboring buildings, and tall stacks all add setup time. Alamo Square’s tightly packed lots sometimes mean ladder placement takes real planning to keep the technician safe.
- Dryer vent cleaning as an add-on. Because we handle dryer vents alongside chimney work, adding it to a chimney visit is often cheaper than booking it separately. It’s also worth knowing that lint buildup is a leading cause of dryer fires, and most sweep-only crews never touch it.
- Parts and caps. A purpose-built Gelco chimney cap sourced through trade supply costs more than a hardware-store cover but seals correctly against rain and animals instead of rusting out in a season.
How to Save on Chimney Cleaning & Sweep
The cheapest sweep is the one you don’t have to redo, so the smartest savings come from getting the timing right rather than hunting for a discount. A few practical moves:
- Book in the off-season. Late spring and summer visits are easier to schedule and we can spend more time on a thorough job without a fall backlog pressing on the calendar.
- Bundle the dryer vent. Adding dryer vent cleaning to a chimney visit is cheaper than a separate trip, and it addresses a fire risk in the same house you’re already protecting.
- Burn seasoned wood. Dry, well-seasoned firewood produces far less creosote than green or damp wood. Fewer heavy buildups means fewer escalated cleanings.
- Keep water out. A proper cap and crown keep rain from degrading the flue, which heads off the liner and masonry repairs that cost many times a sweep.
- Catch cracks early with an inspection. A camera inspection on a routine visit can find a hairline liner crack before it becomes a reline. That $110 to $195 inspection is cheap next to a $2,800-plus reline.
We give free estimates, so you can get a firm number before any work starts. Call (833) 620-7061 and we’ll walk you through what a sweep for your specific setup will run.
Why Professional-Grade Matters on a Chimney Job
Pricing is only half the question. A sweep is the entry point to your whole venting system, and what gets specified when a repair is needed matters as much as the cleaning itself. We source and install professional-grade materials, not hardware-store substitutes. That means DuraFlex liner systems for full relining, HeatShield for liner resurfacing and joint sealing, Gelco caps, and Famco and Olympia Chimney components from trade-only supply lines.
HeatShield is the clearest example of why this distinction matters. It’s a resurfacing system that requires trained application, and it’s the kind of repair a sweep-only crew simply can’t offer. If your clay liner is cracked or the flue joints have opened up, resurfacing can often restore the system to spec without tearing the chimney apart. When a full reline is the right call instead, a DuraFlex system is built to the standard, not built to last until we leave.
One thing we always flag: anything involving the flue, gas appliance venting, or the inside of a hot chimney is not a job to attempt yourself. A blocked or damaged flue can push carbon monoxide back into the house, and liner work on a roof is genuinely dangerous. We handle the inspection and the repair so you don’t have to weigh that risk on your own.
When a Sweep Turns Into a Repair (and What That Costs)
Most visits stay a cleaning. But be ready for the possibility that the sweep uncovers something structural. A few things we commonly find in Alamo Square chimneys:
- Cracked or spalled clay liners that need resurfacing or a reline.
- Missing or failed caps letting rain and animals in, which we solve with a Gelco cap.
- Deteriorated mortar joints in older masonry stacks.
- Improperly sized flues for the appliance they serve, which affects draft and safety.
We always explain what we find in plain terms before we touch anything, and we quote the repair separately from the cleaning so you can decide on your own timeline. If a repair isn’t urgent, we’ll tell you that too. The goal is a safe, code-sound system, not an upsell on the invoice.
Routine Sweeping vs. Dryer Vent Cleaning vs. Repair
These are three distinct services, and knowing which one you need keeps you from overpaying for the wrong visit. A routine sweep clears soot and creosote from the chimney flue. Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Alamo Square covers the full picture of what that visit includes. Dryer vent cleaning is separate work on a separate system, even though it’s part of the same combustion and venting safety picture. And repair is structural: liners, caps, resurfacing, joints.
Because we run all three under one company, you’re not juggling contractors for a sweep, a vent clean, and a liner fix that all relate to the same house. One call covers the sweep, the vent, and the repair. You can see the full range of what we do on our home page.
FAQs – Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost
How much does a chimney sweep cost in Alamo Square?
Most chimney sweeps in Alamo Square cost between $189 and $329 for a single wood-burning flue, with a typical job around $240. Gas appliance vent cleaning runs $139 to $229. Add a video inspection for $110 to $195 if you want a full picture of the liner’s condition. Call (833) 620-7061 for a free, exact quote on your setup.
How often should I have my chimney cleaned?
Plan on an annual sweep if you burn regularly, and at minimum once a year for any chimney in active use. If you only light a few fires a season, every other year is often enough, but a yearly inspection is still worth it because creosote and liner cracks don’t announce themselves. The cost of a $189 to $329 sweep is small next to the repair it prevents.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a chimney liner?
Repair is usually cheaper when the liner can be resurfaced: HeatShield resurfacing runs $1,450 to $3,200, while a full DuraFlex reline is $2,800 to $5,900. Resurfacing works when the liner is cracked or the joints have opened but the structure is sound; a reline is the answer when the original liner is too far gone or improperly sized. A camera inspection tells you which side of that line you’re on. Call (833) 620-7061 and we’ll tell you straight.
Does heavy creosote cost more to remove?
Yes. Routine soot cleans at the standard sweep price, but heavy or glazed third-degree creosote runs $295 to $650 because it takes rotary tools and extra time to clear safely. Glazed creosote is also the layer most associated with chimney fires, which is why we don’t leave it half-done. If you’ve had several seasons of buildup, expect the higher range, and call (833) 620-7061 for an exact quote.
Can you clean my dryer vent at the same time?
Yes, and it’s cheaper to bundle it than to book separately. Dryer vent cleaning runs $119 to $199 on its own and is often less when added to a chimney visit. Lint buildup is a leading cause of dryer fires, and most chimney companies skip it entirely. Call (833) 620-7061 to add it to your appointment.
Do you charge extra for a chimney cap?
A Gelco chimney cap supply and install runs $145 to $310 depending on the flue size and the cap style. It’s a separate line item from the sweep, and it’s money well spent because a correct cap keeps rain, animals, and debris out of a flue you just paid to clean. Ask us to check the cap condition during the sweep so there are no surprises.
Book Your Sweep
If you’re in Alamo Square and your fireplace, gas appliance, or dryer vent is due for a look, we’ll give you a clear price and explain what we find before any work begins. One call covers the sweep, the vent, and any repair, with professional-grade parts from the brands chimney pros actually specify. Reach us at (833) 620-7061 for a free estimate and a straight answer on what your chimney needs this year.
Pricing reflects the Alamo Square market as of 2026. Chimney Sweep Alamo Square offers free estimates – call (833) 620-7061.
What Our Customers Say
"Fireplace had never drawn properly since we moved in. He found the damper was only opening halfway due to a bent linkage and fixed it in ten minutes."
- Brianna Coleman"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
- Shane Brooks"Thorough sweep and a clear report. He was running late from the job before and arrived near the end of the window, though he did call to warn me."
- Steven Park