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Chimney Repair & Sweep FAQ
How do I book a chimney service with you?
Call 206-453-2045 or send the form on any page. Tell us the city, whether the chimney is brick or siding-clad, what you burn, and the symptom or service you want. We confirm a time window by phone or text. Same-day service is often available across Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and the surrounding King, Pierce and Snohomish county areas.
Is the quote really free?
Yes. Every quote is free and written, whether it is for a sweep, a leak diagnosis or a chase rebuild. There is no trip charge to look at the problem and tell you what it will cost. If you decide not to proceed, you owe nothing. We say "free quote" on purpose: it is a firm price for defined work, not a ballpark that changes on the day.
What is the free second-opinion quote?
If another company has already inspected your chimney and handed you a repair list or a price, send it to us. We will look at the chimney ourselves, tell you which items are real safety issues, which are optional, and which we would not do at all, and give you our own written price. It costs nothing and you are under no obligation to use us.
How does your price match and discount work?
Bring us a written quote from another local chimney company for the same scope of work. We match that price and then take 10 to 25 percent off it, depending on the job. The discount applies to the work you actually choose after our free second opinion, so you are never paying for items that did not need doing in the first place.
What are your current specials?
Five jobs have published starting prices: chimney sweep and inspection starting at $299, fireplace crack repair starting at $299, chase cover replacement starting at $299, chimney crown rebuild starting at $299, and chimney chase rebuild starting at $299. "Starting at" means the price for a standard situation; unusual height, access or damage is quoted in writing before we begin.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
NFPA 211 recommends an annual inspection for any chimney, fireplace or vent in use, and a Level 2 camera inspection when a home is bought or sold, after a chimney fire, or when the fuel or appliance changes. For a wood fireplace you use every winter, a fall sweep with the inspection included is the simplest way to stay on schedule.
What is the difference between a chimney sweep and a chimney cleaning?
A sweep is routine creosote and soot removal for a wood fireplace that gets regular service, usually once a year, with the inspection included. A cleaning is the heavier job: clearing blockages, nesting debris, odor sources and flues that have been neglected for years, plus wood stoves and inserts with their connector pipes. Describe the symptom and we will tell you which one you need.
Do you use dust containment during a sweep?
Yes. We run HEPA vacuum containment at the firebox while brushing so soot and creosote are captured at the source instead of drifting into the room. Drop cloths go down before any tools come in. A properly done sweep should leave the room the way we found it, and that is part of what our guarantee covers.
My chimney leaks. Is it the cap?
Sometimes, but less often than people assume. Water also comes through a cracked crown, failed flashing at the roofline, saturated brick with open mortar joints, a rusted chase cover on a siding-clad chimney, or condensation inside an oversized flue. We find the actual entry point first and quote only that repair, because a new cap on a chimney with bad flashing fixes nothing.
What is the difference between a crown, a cap and a chase cover?
The crown is the sloped concrete slab on top of a brick chimney that sheds water past the edges. The cap is the metal hood with a screen that sits over the flue opening and keeps rain, embers and animals out. A chase cover is the sheet-metal lid over a framed, siding-clad chimney. Brick chimneys have a crown and a cap; framed chimneys have a chase cover and a cap.
Can a cracked crown be repaired, or does it need a rebuild?
If the slab is solid concrete and the cracks are narrow, a flexible crown coat seals it and that is a repair. If the crown is crumbling, was made of mortar instead of concrete, is too thin, or has no overhang and drip edge, sealing it is wasted money and a rebuild is the honest answer. Crown rebuilds start at $299. We tell you which one you have before quoting.
What is a chimney chase and why does it rot?
A chase is the framed, siding-clad box built around a factory-built metal flue; it looks like a chimney but contains no brick. The galvanized cover on top rusts, water runs down inside the framing for years, and the siding eventually goes soft, stains or sags. Localized rot at the top is a chase repair; widespread rot is a chase rebuild, starting at $299, with a new cover and cap.
Are cracks in my firebox dangerous?
Hairline cracks in firebrick with the mortar joints intact are normal wear and usually a straightforward seal. Joints that crumble out, bricks that move, or a refractory panel cracked wide enough to slip a coin into are different: they let heat reach the framing behind the firebox. Stop using the fireplace and have it looked at. Fireplace crack repair starts at $299.
There is an animal in my chimney. What should I do?
Do not light a fire. Keep the damper closed and the glass doors shut, and call us; a trapped animal is a same-day problem. Raccoons, often a mother with kits on the smoke shelf, are removed live. Chimney swifts are federally protected, so active nests stay until the birds leave, then we clean the flue. Every animal job ends with a screened cap so it does not happen again.
Do you work on gas fireplaces?
Call and describe the symptom and the model. Gas log sets in masonry fireplaces share the firebox and flue with a wood fireplace, and we handle that side fully. For ignition and control parts we will tell you honestly whether it is our job or one for the unit's manufacturer-authorized dealer. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside before calling anyone else.
Where do you provide service?
Our office is at 1202 N 10th Pl Unit 1509, Renton. We serve Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and the road-accessible Puget Sound region across King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, including the Eastside, South King County, North Pierce County and south Snohomish County. If you are not sure whether your address is covered, call 206-453-2045 and we will tell you straight away.
Do you go to Gig Harbor, Fox Island or Camano Island?
Yes. None of those require a ferry. Gig Harbor is about 48 minutes from Renton over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Fox Island connects by its own bridge from Gig Harbor. Camano Island is reached on SR 532 through Stanwood over the Camano Gateway Bridge. Because they are all drive-to, we schedule them like any other appointment.
Do I need to be home, and do I need to do anything before you arrive?
An adult needs to be there to let us in and walk through the findings. Before we arrive, let the fireplace go fully cold, clear a path from the door to the hearth, and move anything fragile off the mantel. Please do not go on the roof to look at anything yourself; photos from the ground or a window are all we need to get started.
What happens after I submit the form?
We call or text you back, usually the same business day, to confirm the details and offer a time window. On the visit we diagnose first, explain what we found in plain language, and hand you a written free quote. Nothing is started until you approve it. If you already have another company's quote, tell us on the form and we will bring our second-opinion pricing with us.
What is your guarantee?
If you are not happy, we are not done. That means if the repair does not hold or the work is not what we agreed to, we come back and make it right at no charge. We are certified and insured, we use safe and green materials, and we would rather re-do a job than leave a customer with a problem. Satisfaction guaranteed is a badge we take literally.