Frequently Asked Questions

We arrive in the window we gave you, lay drop cloths from the door to the hearth, and run a brush through the flue to break loose creosote and soot. Then we clean the smoke chamber, damper, and firebox. After the sweep, we inspect the chimney's structure and run a camera through the flue if needed. You get a photo report showing what we found. The whole visit usually takes an hour to ninety minutes, and the house stays clean.

Yes. That's the point of The Kingswell Way: show you the flue. After every sweep, we can put a camera in and show you exactly what the inside looks like. If we're recommending a liner repair or masonry work, you'll see the proof on screen, not just hear about it from a technician. This is the standard Nathan Corliss runs the Los Angeles branch by. Nothing gets recommended that we can't show you.

The National Fire Protection Association says chimneys should be inspected at least once a year and cleaned as needed. For homes that burn wood through fall and winter in Los Angeles, that usually means an annual sweep before the burning season starts. Gas-only fireplaces can sometimes go longer, but they still need periodic checks for blockages and rust. If you can't remember the last time yours was done, that's your answer.

Creosote keeps building up. Over time it hardens into a glaze that's harder to remove and more flammable. Birds and squirrels move in and block the flue. Then smoke backs up into the house, or worse, a chimney fire starts above the fireplace. In Los Angeles, the shift from cool nights to hot dry days also causes masonry to shift and crack, which goes unnoticed until water starts leaking in. A skipped year is a gamble with a known downside.

Most standard sweeps finish in about an hour to ninety minutes. Very heavy buildup or a blocked flue adds time, as does a roof that's hard to navigate. We'll give you a realistic arrival window when you book and call if anything changes. The goal is to be in and out within a normal workday window and leave no trace except a clean chimney and a written report of what we found.

Very little. Clear the area around the fireplace so we can lay drop cloths and work freely. If the firebox is full of old ash, that's fine; it's part of what we clean. If you've had a fire in the previous twelve hours, let us know when you book, just so we time the visit safely. Leave the rest to us. Most homeowners are surprised at how quickly it goes and how tidy the process is.

Yes. We run a vacuum at the firebox while brushing to catch most of the soot as it falls. Drop cloths and floor protection go down before we start, and we do a final cleanup pass before we leave. The Kingswell Way includes leaving the place cleaner than we found it. That's not a slogan; it's the standard the crew works to on every job in Los Angeles.

We work with established manufacturers like HeatShield, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney for repair materials and replacement parts. The exact product depends on what your chimney needs. For liner repair, HeatShield's cerfractory system lets us resurface a flue without full replacement in many cases. For caps and dampers, Olympia Chimney and Gelco build dependable hardware. We pick the right tool for the problem and only install what we'd put in our own homes.

Yes, HeatShield is one of the systems we use to repair damaged flue liners. It works by applying a specialized coating that restores the flue's integrity without tearing out the old liner, which saves significant money and disruption compared to full replacement. Not every liner qualifies for this repair, which is exactly why we camera-inspect before recommending it. We'll show you the footage and explain your options in plain language.

We install caps and dampers from manufacturers like Olympia Chimney and Gelco, choosing equipment sized for your flue and matched to Los Angeles conditions. A proper cap keeps rain, birds, and embers out. A working damper stops the house from losing conditioned air and keeps the fireplace efficient. We'll measure, quote a written price, and install the right hardware, then check it before we leave.

Every professional working under the Ashby Chimney name is required to hold the license and insurance their state and local jurisdiction requires. We carry insurance appropriate for the work and can provide proof on request. Los Angeles homeowners should never let an uninsured person onto their roof or into their chimney. Ask any contractor you're considering for credentials before booking. We're happy to show ours.

The Los Angeles branch is led by Nathan Corliss, who runs this location to the Kingswell standard. He holds the team to the same plain-spoken promises the brand is known for: a written price before the work, a real arrival window, a clean job site, and a written guarantee on the work. If something isn't right, you have someone to call who cares about making it right.

Chimney sweeping is a specialized trade, and the crew working under the Ashby name in Los Angeles is focused on chimneys, fireplaces, and their components. We're not general contractors picking up a side job. The work involves rooftop access, flue inspection, and safety-critical components, and we treat it that way. When we recommend a repair, we can show you why, on camera, and then let you decide.

Stop using the fireplace until it's inspected. Water entering a masonry chimney in Los Angeles causes progressive damage: cracked mortar, spalling brick, and rust in the damper and liner. If you see water stains on the ceiling near the chimney or hear water dripping inside, call us at (213) 652-7061 to schedule an inspection. We'll camera the flue, find the entry point, and give you a written plan and price before any repair work begins.

We do our best to fit urgent chimney problems into the schedule as quickly as possible. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and a live coordinator answers calls during those hours. Explain what's happening and we'll see how soon we can get someone to you. For a suspected chimney fire, call 911 first, then us for the follow-up repairs.

Yes, and we'd recommend booking early. Most Los Angeles homeowners start using their fireplaces when the first cool nights hit, which means fall is our busiest time. Getting your sweep done in late summer or early fall means you'll be ready the first night you want a fire. If you're already using the fireplace and realize it hasn't been done, don't wait; we'll get you on the schedule at (213) 652-7061.

The Kingswell Guarantee is a written promise on every job: a fair price in writing before work begins, a real arrival window, a clean work site, and a written guarantee on the work itself. If a repair fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. The guarantee isn't verbal; it's on paper, and it's the same standard every Kingswell location works to. That's what you're buying when you hire us.

Yes. Repairs come with a written warranty specific to the work performed. The coverage depends on what was repaired, but the principle is always the same: if it fails within the stated period, we return and make it right without a second invoice. That applies to crown work, liner treatments, cap installations, and masonry repairs. Ask us to put the exact terms in writing when we quote your job, and we will.

Call (213) 652-7061 during our office hours, Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. A live coordinator will take your information, help you pick a date and arrival window, and answer any questions before we come out. You'll get the written price before we start, and the whole thing is covered by The Kingswell Guarantee. It's that simple.

Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Los Angeles, serving Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.