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.
Trusted Chimney Sweep for Los Angeles Homeowners
A chimney sweep in Los Angeles typically costs between $189 and $330 for a standard fireplace with a straight flue, and most sweeps take 60 to 90 minutes from setup to cleanup. That’s the number you should expect to hear from any honest company, and it’s the number we’ll put in writing before we touch a single brush. If you’ve been quoted double that for a “deep clean” over the phone, something’s off.
Ashby Chimney Los Angeles has swept chimneys across the LA basin since 2002. Nathan Corliss runs our shop, and he’s built it on a simple idea: you should know exactly what you’re paying and exactly what you’re getting before the work begins. We serve homeowners from Sherman Oaks to Chimney Sweep in Brentwood territory with background-checked technicians, upfront written pricing, and a written guarantee on every job we finish. Phones ring to a live person, 24/7, at (213) 652-7061.
Chimney Sweep Services
Our Chimney Sweep in Los Angeles covers the full removal of creosote, soot, and debris from the flue, smoke chamber, damper, and firebox so your fireplace vents properly and burns safely. Most Los Angeles homes with regular wood-burning fireplaces need this once a year, especially after a winter of fires. At Ashby Chimney Los Angeles, we arrive with a written price, lay down drop cloths from the front door to the hearth, run a HEPA-filtered vacuum throughout the job, and leave your home cleaner than we found it. A standard sweep runs $189 to $330 depending on flue size, height, and how much buildup has accumulated.
Traditional Fireplace Sweep
We use rotary brushes sized to your exact flue dimensions, loosening creosote from the liner walls and pulling it down into a sealed vacuum system. You’ll get a written report with photos of what came out and the condition of the flue when we’re done.
Two-Story and Roof-Access Sweeps
Many LA homes have steep rooflines or chimneys that can’t be swept from the firebox. We carry full ladder and roof-access equipment, and our technicians are trained to work safely on tile and Spanish-style roofs common in the area. No job gets turned down because it’s awkward to reach.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Cleaning
Chimney Cleaning is the physical removal of creosote (the flammable tar that condenses from wood smoke), bird nests, leaves, and other blockages from your chimney system. In Los Angeles, the dry Santa Ana season means accumulated creosote poses a real fire risk, and the wetter coastal winter months mean debris and animal nests can clog flues and push carbon monoxide back into the home. We inspect first, clean second, and tell you honestly if the chimney is safe to use. Most chimney cleaning jobs fall between $189 and $330, but if you’ve never had the chimney serviced or you’ve burned a lot of unseasoned wood, the price can climb because the labor does.
Creosote Removal by Stage
Stage 1 creosote is dusty and brushes away. Stage 2 is flaky and harder. Glazed Stage 3 creosote – the shiny, tar-like coating – requires chemical treatment or mechanical scraping, and we’ll show you exactly what we’re dealing with before we start. We use products from Gelco when chemical treatment is the right call.
Nest and Debris Extraction
Birds, squirrels, and raccoons love LA chimneys. We’ve pulled everything from pigeon nests in Mid-Wilshire to basketball-sized debris from chimneys in Chimney Sweep in Sherman Oaks. If an animal is present, we pause and advise you on humane removal before continuing.
Fireplace Cleaning
Fireplace Cleaning focuses on the firebox itself – the brick or stone chamber where the fire burns – plus the damper, smoke shelf, and hearth surround. This is separate from the flue, and a dirty firebox can keep smoking out your living room even when the flue is squeaky clean. We clean the firebox by hand with brushes and a HEPA vacuum, remove ash completely, and clean the damper plate so it opens and seats properly. Expect $189 to $250 for a standard fireplace cleaning, with the price depending on firebox size and how much ash and soot has built up since the last service.
Masonry Fireplace Cleaning
Brick fireplaces hold smoke stains, soot, and sometimes mildew from LA’s coastal humidity. We use gentle masonry cleaners that lift soot without damaging mortar joints. We’ll also check for cracked firebrick – we regularly see it in older homes in Hancock Park and Larchmont – and flag it if it needs attention.
Prefab Fireplace Cleaning
Metal prefab fireboxes need a lighter touch. We remove ash and soot, clean the refractory panels, and check that the unit’s listed clearances are still intact. If the panels are cracked from heat stress, we’ll tell you plainly and quote a replacement using Olympia Chimney components.
Chimney Services
Chimney Services is the umbrella term for everything we do that keeps your chimney working safely: sweeping, cleaning, inspections, minor repairs, cap installation, and waterproofing. For most LA homeowners, a sweep and a Level 1 inspection done together are the core of an annual chimney service visit. We quote each service separately and in writing, so you know the sweep costs $189 to $330, an inspection runs $150 to $250, and you decide what you want us to do. No bundling pressure, no mystery line items.
Combination Sweep and Inspection
Doing both at once saves you a second trip fee, and we recommend it for anyone who hasn’t had the chimney looked at in two years or more. The inspection covers the same ground a sweep can’t: liner condition, clearances, crown integrity, and exterior masonry. You leave with a full written report.
Chimney Cap and Screen Installation
A quality cap with a stainless screen keeps rain, birds, and embers out. We stock and install caps from Famco, sized to your flue. It’s the single best dollar-for-dollar upgrade to prevent future blockages in Los Angeles, where nesting season runs long.
Chimney Sweep Certified
Chimney Sweep Certified means your technician has passed formal training and testing through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) or holds equivalent certification, and that the company carries liability insurance for the work performed. Ashby Chimney Los Angeles holds that certification, and every technician who walks through your door has passed a background check and wears a company uniform with a visible name tag. You’ll never wonder who’s in your house. Certification matters because a chimney sweep who doesn’t understand draft, clearances, and liner materials can do more harm than good – and in a city as old and architecturally varied as Los Angeles, you need someone who’s seen it all.
Continuing Education
Our technicians complete ongoing training each year on code updates, new liner technologies, and safety standards. When building codes shift – and LA’s seismic and fire codes do shift – we update our procedures accordingly.
Verifiable Credentials
Ask us for our certification number and insurance certificate any time. We’ll produce both without hesitation. It’s part of the Kingswell Guarantee: you should never have to take a contractor’s word for anything that can be documented.
Gas Fireplace Cleaning
Gas Fireplace Cleaning removes dust, pet hair, carbon buildup, and the white mineral film that collects on the glass and logs of vented and ventless gas fireplaces. Gas units don’t produce creosote, but they still gather debris that can cause odors, reduce heat output, and clog the pilot assembly. A gas fireplace cleaning in Los Angeles runs $150 to $225, and we recommend it every one to two years depending on use and pet ownership. We’ll clean the glass with non-abrasive ceramic cooktop cleaner, vacuum the burner and controls, check the pilot and thermopile, and test for proper flame color so you know the unit is burning efficiently.
Factory-Built Gas Units
We service direct-vent and B-vent gas fireplaces from the major brands, cleaning the burner tubes, adjusting the air shutter, and verifying the millivolt or electronic ignition is working as designed. If the logs have shifted or crumbled, we’ll tell you and show you photos.
Ventless Gas Fireplaces
Ventless units require special attention to oxygen depletion sensors and combustion air. We test the ODS system on every ventless cleaning, and we’ll be straight with you if the unit isn’t performing safely. Your family’s air quality is not something we take lightly.
Chimney Maintenance
Chimney Maintenance is the ongoing care - guided by our Chimney Sweep Maintenance Checklist for Los Angeles Homeowners - that extends the life of your chimney and catches small problems before they become expensive structural repairs. It includes annual sweeping, periodic inspections, cap repair, crown sealing, and flashing maintenance. A well-maintained chimney in Los Angeles can last the life of the house; a neglected one can need $5,000 in masonry work within a decade. We recommend a sweep and inspection every year for wood-burning fireplaces and every two years for gas units. Costs vary: a standard maintenance visit with a sweep runs $189 to $330, and individual repairs are quoted separately, in writing, before we begin.
Seasonal Maintenance Timing
The best time for chimney maintenance in Los Angeles is late summer or early fall, before the first fires of the season. We book out weeks in October and November, but our phones are answered 24/7 so you’re never stuck leaving a voicemail. August and September appointments are easiest to get.
Long-Term Maintenance Records
We keep records of every visit, including photos and notes, so we can track changes in your chimney over time. When you sell your home, your buyer will appreciate knowing the chimney was maintained. We can provide a maintenance history document on request.
Brands We Service
We work on chimneys built with HeatShield ceramic coating systems, which are increasingly common in Los Angeles homes where old clay liners have been resurfaced rather than replaced. We’re trained in the HeatShield application and repair process, and we can assess whether your existing HeatShield liner is holding up or needs attention. If it’s failing, we’ll show you the camera footage before recommending anything.
We also install and service components from Olympia Chimney and Famco, two of the most established names in chimney caps, dampers, and venting hardware. Whether you have a HeatShield liner, an Olympia damper, a Famco cap, or any other major brand, our technicians can service it. We stock common sizes and order specialty parts with quick turnaround, so you’re never waiting weeks on a part the supply house keeps in stock.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke backs up into the room. This means the flue isn’t drafting, which could be a blockage, creosote buildup, or a damper problem. Beyond the smell, you’re breathing particulates, and a blocked flue sends carbon monoxide into the house. Don’t keep using the fireplace until someone looks at it.
- You see shiny, tar-like buildup on the damper or firebox walls. This is glazed creosote, and it burns hot enough to ignite a chimney fire. Los Angeles fire seasons have made every homeowner more aware of what a flying ember can do. This is the most preventable chimney hazard there is.
- You smell a campfire odor when the fireplace hasn’t been used in weeks. That smell means creosote and moisture are combining inside the flue, and humidity from the coast makes it worse in neighborhoods like Santa Monica and Venice. The smell also signals that air is moving the wrong way through your home, pulling flue gases inward.
- You’ve heard scratching or chirping in the chimney. Birds and squirrels will set up housekeeping in a chimney with no cap or a damaged one. Nests block the flue, and droppings carry histoplasmosis. We’ll remove the nest and install or repair a cap to keep it from happening again.
- Water stains appear on the ceiling or walls near the chimney. That’s a flashing, crown, or masonry leak, and Los Angeles rain – when it comes – gets driven sideways against exposed chimneys. Unchecked moisture rots framing and cracks masonry. Get it looked at before the next storm, not after.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
You call us at (213) 652-7061. A live person answers, day or night. We ask about your fireplace type, roughly how long it’s been since the last cleaning, and what you’re seeing. We’ll book a time window that works for you and confirm it by email.
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We arrive on time, in uniform, with a written price in hand. Before any work starts, we walk the job with you, show you the written quote, and explain exactly what we’ll do and what it will cost. The number on the invoice will match the number you approved. Always.
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We lay down protection and inspect first. Drop cloths go from the door to the hearth. We run a Level 1 inspection by video camera so you can see the inside of your flue with your own eyes before we clean it. If we find damage, you’ll see it on the screen, and you’ll get a copy of the footage.
- 4
We sweep and clean the entire system. The flue, smoke chamber, damper, firebox, and hearth get cleaned. Our HEPA vacuum runs the entire time, and we keep the dust in the chimney, not your living room. If there’s a nest or animal, we stop and talk to you before proceeding.
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We walk the finished job with you and hand you a written guarantee. You’ll see what came out of the chimney, inspect the firebox and damper, and get a written report with before-and-after photos. If a repair fails during the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, every time.
How Much Does Chimney Sweep Cost in Los Angeles?
A standard Chimney Sweep in South Gate or elsewhere in Los Angeles runs $189 to $330 for a single-flue, single-story chimney with normal creosote accumulation. Two-story homes and chimneys with difficult roof access push the price to the $250 to $400 range because the labor and safety equipment requirements go up. If you’ve never had the chimney swept, or you burn a lot of unseasoned wood, or there’s a nest to remove, expect to pay toward the higher end. We’ll tell you exactly why, in writing, before we start.
What affects the price the most: flue height (two-story is more work than one), creosote stage (glazed creosote takes significantly more labor than dusty stage 1), and whether the chimney has a cleanout access at the bottom or must be swept entirely from the roof. The best way to avoid overpaying: get a written price that itemizes the labor, and run from anyone who won’t put a number on paper. A free estimate from us includes a camera inspection so you know what you’re paying for before you agree to it. Call (213) 652-7061 for a no-obligation quote on your specific chimney – we’ll tell you the price range on the phone, not after we’ve set up ladders.
Our Service Area Near Los Angeles
We serve Los Angeles and the surrounding neighborhoods: Sherman Oaks, Brentwood, Santa Monica, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Westwood, South Gate, Gardena, and Bell Gardens. Most appointments happen within three to five business days, and our phones are answered around the clock at (213) 652-7061. If you’re in the Westside or the Valley, check our home page for service area details, or read our Chimney Sweep in Los Angeles overview for more on what we cover.
Serving Los Angeles, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Los Angeles area - including our Chimney Sweep - Bell service - and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Sweep in Los Angeles
A chimney sweep is the process of removing creosote, soot, and blockages from the inside of your chimney flue using specialized brushes, rods, and HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment. It’s the core service that prevents chimney fires and keeps carbon monoxide venting out of your home. In Los Angeles, an annual sweep is the standard recommendation for any wood-burning fireplace. Call (213) 652-7061 to schedule one.
A standard chimney sweep takes 60 to 90 minutes from the time we lay down the first drop cloth to the time we walk you through the finished job. If you add on a Level 1 inspection or we’re dealing with heavy creosote or a nest, plan for up to two hours. We’ll give you a solid time estimate on the phone when you book, and we stick to our arrival window.
A standard sweep in Los Angeles runs $189 to $330, with two-story or heavily soiled chimneys landing at $250 to $400. The exact quote depends on flue height, creosote stage, and access difficulty. We put it in writing before we begin, and the price you approve is the price you pay. Call (213) 652-7061 for a specific quote on your home.
Yes, we clean and service both vented and ventless gas fireplaces throughout Los Angeles. Gas fireplace cleaning runs $150 to $225 and covers the glass, logs, burner, pilot, and controls. We test every unit for proper flame color and carbon monoxide safety before we pack up.
Our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (213) 652-7061. If you have a chimney fire, smoke backing up into your home, or water pouring through the chimney, call us right away and we’ll tell you what to do and get someone out as fast as possible. We never put you through a voicemail loop when something’s wrong.
Every repair comes with a written guarantee, and if a covered repair fails during the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge. That’s our 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s included with the job, not sold as an add-on. You’ll leave every visit with a piece of paper that says exactly what we did and what we’ll stand behind.
Clear a path from the front door to the fireplace and move furniture at least five feet away from the hearth. If you can, stop using the fireplace 24 hours before your appointment so the firebox and flue are cool. Don’t worry about ash – we’ll remove it completely, and we bring all the floor and furniture protection we need.
Schedule Your Chimney Sweep Service in Los Angeles Today
You’ll get a written price before we start, a technician in uniform who shows up on time, and a written guarantee when the job’s done. Nathan Corliss has run Ashby Chimney Los Angeles this way since 2002, and he’s not about to change now. Call (213) 652-7061 for a free estimate – a real person answers, any hour, any day.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Los Angeles, serving Los Angeles since 2002.