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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Santa Monica
Chimney inspection in Santa Monica typically costs between $189 and $429 for a Level 1 visual check, with Level 2 camera inspections running $329 to $649 depending on the flue length and access. Most inspections take 45 to 90 minutes, and we schedule Santa Monica appointments within a few days, not weeks. If you live near the ocean in Ocean Park, Sunset Park, or north of Montana, salt air changes what we look for compared to an inland home, which is why our Chimney Inspection team treats coastal properties as their own category. Call (213) 652-7061 to book a written, flat-price inspection.
Why Ashby Chimney Los Angeles Is Santa Monica’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Santa Monica homeowners call us because they want a straight answer and a written price before anyone climbs a ladder. Nathan Corliss built Ashby Chimney Los Angeles on a simple rule: show the homeowner what the camera sees, explain what it means, and put the price and the guarantee on paper. Every Santa Monica inspection includes a written report with photos from the camera run, so you’re not taking our word for anything. If we find a repair, we quote it before work starts. If we say the chimney is fine, we show you why.
Our technicians know the difference between a 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival chimney near Georgina Avenue and a 1950s bungalow flue in Sunset Park. That matters because the inspection checklist changes with the house. We carry stainless steel replacement components and marine-grade sealants on the truck for coastal jobs, which means we can often complete a minor flashing or damper repair the same day as the inspection. The Chimney Inspection in Santa Monica work we do reflects what we’ve learned from thousands of local chimneys, and we stand behind it with a written guarantee on every repair.
We’ve been at this since 2002. Phones are answered by a live person 24/7, so when you call at 7 a.m. before work or 9 p.m. after dinner, you talk to someone who can schedule you, not a voicemail.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Camera Inspection in Santa Monica
Chimney Camera Inspection in Santa Monica is the single most useful check for coastal homes because it sees what a flashlight cannot: hairline cracks in clay liners, first-degree creosote glaze forming inside the flue, and corroded metal components hidden behind the firebox. We run a high-resolution camera from the firebox up to the crown, record the footage, and review it with you on the spot. For homes within a mile of the shoreline, we specifically look at the damper plate, the flashing joints, and the flue liner for salt-driven corrosion.
When Coastal Homes Need It
If your Santa Monica home hasn’t been inspected in three or more years, or you’ve noticed rust-colored streaks on the chimney exterior, a camera inspection is the right call. Morning marine-layer fog means fires burn cooler and smokier, which deposits creosote even with intermittent use. A camera run tells us if that creosote is first-degree (normal, sweepable) or third-degree (glazed, a fire risk). Most chimney camera inspections in Santa Monica run $329 to $649, and the price is fixed before we start.
What The Camera Report Includes
After the camera run we hand you a written report with still images, our findings, and a plain-English explanation of anything that needs attention. We do not upsell from the image. If the liner is solid and the damper works, that’s what the report says. If we found spalling or a separated damper plate, we’ll show you the exact frame and explain what a repair would cost.
Fireplace Inspection in Santa Monica
Fireplace Inspection in Santa Monica means checking the firebox, the damper, the hearth, and the visible flue sections for damage that affects how the fireplace burns and what leaks into the living space. In older Santa Monica homes, fireboxes often have cracked refractory panels or eroded mortar joints that let heat reach the framing. A fireplace inspection in Santa Monica runs $189 to $429 for a Level 1 look, and we recommend it annually before the first fire of the season.
Firebox And Damper Condition
We check the firebox brick and mortar for gaps that let heat and gas escape. We also test the damper’s full range of motion, because a rusted damper near the coast either sticks open or won’t seal. If it’s gone, we’ll show you the replacement options in stainless or coated cast iron with a written quote that matches the invoice price.
What The Level 1 Look Covers
A Level 1 fireplace inspection in Santa Monica covers all the readily accessible interior and exterior components: firebox, smoke chamber, damper, cap, crown, and flashing. We also note any visible creosote buildup and whether a sweep is needed before the next fire. If the home has changed hands, or you’re seeing rust stains or moisture inside the firebox, we’ll recommend stepping up to a Level 2 camera inspection.
Trusted Brands We Service in Santa Monica
When a Santa Monica chimney needs a new damper, cap, or flashing, we use components from names that have earned their place in the trade: Famco for dampers, Olympia Chimney for caps and chase covers, and HeatShield for liner repair. We keep stainless steel damper assemblies and marine-grade flashing materials stocked for Santa Monica’s coastal conditions, which means many repairs start the same day we complete the inspection. No generic hardware-store substitutes. If we put a part in your chimney, we warranty the repair in writing.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Santa Monica Homes
- Rusted cast-iron dampers within a mile of the beach. The salt-laden air east of the Pacific eats through cast iron in under five years, and a stuck or separated damper plate almost always shows up first on a Level 2 inspection. We replace them with stainless steel units that hold up to the marine environment.
- Corroded galvanized flashing and chimney caps. Galvanized metal fails in 5 to 7 years near the Santa Monica shoreline, and once the flashing or cap corrodes through, moisture gets into the chimney chase and starts spalling bricks. We inspect these joints closely on every coastal home.
- First-degree creosote from morning marine-layer fog. Cool, damp mornings push Santa Monica fireplaces into low-temperature smoldering fires, which leaves a fine creosote glaze even when fires are infrequent. It’s invisible from the firebox and only shows up on camera.
- Spalling brick and eroded mortar in 1920s to 1950s chimneys. The original masonry on many Spanish Colonial Revivals in Santa Monica’s older neighborhoods has absorbed decades of moisture, and salt intrusion accelerates the freeze-thaw-like damage that pops brick faces and weakens mortar joints.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Santa Monica, CA
A Level 1 chimney inspection in Santa Monica runs $189 to $429. A Level 2 inspection with camera footage runs $329 to $649, and a real estate inspection on a home in escrow falls within that same Level 2 range depending on what the buyer’s agent requests. Homes close to the coast sometimes cost toward the higher end because salt corrosion means we spend extra time on the damper, flashing, and cap, but the price is always written before we start. Every inspection includes a photo report, and every repair quote is a fixed number, not an estimate that shifts at the end. Call (213) 652-7061 and we’ll give you a firm price over the phone before scheduling.
We Also Serve Cities Near Santa Monica
Ashby Chimney Los Angeles also serves Venice, Culver City, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. If you live in one of those areas, our Santa Monica team covers the same schedule and the same written-guarantee terms.
Serving Santa Monica, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Santa Monica area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Inspection in Santa Monica
Once a year, even with light use. Santa Monica’s morning marine-layer fog causes low-temperature smoldering fires that deposit creosote faster than the fire count suggests, and salt air corrodes dampers and flashing whether you burn fires or not. An annual Level 1 inspection catches first-degree creosote before it becomes third-degree and catches a rusting damper before it seizes. If the previous owner deferred maintenance, start with a Level 2 camera inspection. Book your annual check by calling (213) 652-7061.
Salt-laden marine air accelerates corrosion of cast-iron and galvanized components, particularly dampers, flashing, and chimney caps. Homes within one mile of the shore often show rusted-through damper plates in under five years, and galvanized flashing can fail in five to seven. We check these components specifically on every coastal inspection and recommend stainless steel replacements when the originals fail.
Yes, if the home is new to you, the chimney hasn’t been inspected in more than three years, or you’re seeing rust streaks, moisture in the firebox, or spalling brick. Spanish Colonial Revival homes in Santa Monica were typically built in the 1920s and 1930s with original brick and clay liners that have now had a century of moisture cycling, and a Level 2 camera run is the only way to see inside those flues. Call (213) 652-7061 for a fixed-price quote.
Yes. The marine layer keeps Santa Monica mornings cool and damp, which means fires tend to burn low and slow, and low-temperature smoldering produces creosote at a higher rate than hot, clean burns. Even a few fires per year can leave a first-degree glaze that builds up over time. A camera inspection reveals it, and a sweep clears it. Most sweeps in Santa Monica run $189 to $329, and we quote the price before we start.
Usually the damper. Cast-iron damper plates near the beach corrode the fastest, often separating from the pivot within five years. Flashing is second, especially if it’s galvanized rather than stainless. The crown tends to hold longer but will eventually crack and spall if the flashing has been leaking for years. We check all three on every coastal inspection and put the findings in writing with photos.
When you’re ready to book a chimney inspection in Santa Monica, call (213) 652-7061. We’ll give you a written price over the phone, put you on the schedule, and show you exactly what the camera sees in your chimney.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Los Angeles, serving Santa Monica and the surrounding area since 2002.