How much does a chimney inspection and sweep cost?

Short answer

A chimney inspection and sweep costs $150 to $350 and takes 60 to 90 minutes. There's no DIY version worth attempting, because the job is to look up a flue for cracks and creosote and then brush it clean, and both need the tools and the eye of a chimney sweep. What you can do for free is the look from the hearth with a flashlight and a watch on the smoke and the smell. The fee comes once a year for a fireplace that's used, and it's the one that stops chimney fires.

Cost breakdown

The DIY column is the flashlight look, which costs nothing. The pro column is a sweep's visit, which covers the inspection of the firebox, the damper and the flue, the sweeping, and a report of anything that needs repair.

What drives the cost

• The inspection level. A basic visual inspection with the sweep is the low end. A camera inspection of the flue, which is the right choice after a chimney fire or before buying a house, costs more.
• The creosote. A flue swept every year brushes out quickly. One with years of glazed creosote takes chemical treatment or a rotary tool, and costs more.
• The chimney. A tall chimney, a chimney with multiple flues, or one with a difficult roof adds time.
• What's found. A cracked flue liner, a damaged crown or a rusted damper are repairs on top of the visit, and a liner is the expensive one.
• Gas fireplaces. A gas fireplace needs the yearly inspection but rarely needs sweeping, so its visit is at the low end.

DIY vs. pro

This is a pro-recommended job, and the cost is a yearly fee. How often to have a chimney inspected is once a year, and mid-season as well if you burn more than a cord of wood. Book it in late summer, before the sweeps are busy and before the first fire.

What's yours to do costs nothing: the flashlight look at the firebox and damper, a check that the cap is on and the flue is clear of nests, and attention to smoke that comes into the room or a smell that lingers. Any of those means the chimney isn't drawing, and it's a reason to call the sweep before lighting another fire. A chimney fire costs far more than every inspection the chimney will ever have.

FAQ

How much does a chimney sweep cost?

$150 to $350 for an inspection and sweep, more with a camera inspection or heavy creosote.

How often does a chimney need sweeping?

Once a year for a fireplace that's used, and mid-season too if you burn more than a cord of wood. A gas fireplace needs the inspection but rarely the sweep.

Is a chimney inspection worth it if I rarely use the fireplace?

Yes, at a lower frequency. Animals nest in unused flues, caps rust, and crowns crack, and the first fire of the year is when you find out.

Can I sweep my own chimney?

The tools exist, but the inspection is the valuable part, and a cracked liner or a damaged crown isn't something a brush finds. Pay the sweep.