Chimney Cleaning
The yearly sweep that keeps your fire where it belongs
★
4.9 · 3,412 Google reviews
✓
CSIA & NFPA certified
✓
No-mess guarantee
✓
Same-day PDF report
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
●
40 years sweeping chimneys
●
3,412 verified Google reviews
●
4.9 average rating
●
CSIA-certified crew
●
NFPA 211 compliant
●
Licensed in 6 states
●
100% background-checked technicians
●
Free estimates
Pricing, before you commit
Want an estimate before booking?
Use our free Chimney Cleaning Cost Calculator to get an estimated price in less than 30 seconds — based on your fireplace type, your home, and when your chimney was last swept. No email, no callback, no surprise fees.
Estimate preview
Live
chimney-cleaning
$299 – $549
Inspection (credited)
−$49
Typical job
$299 – $449
Final price quoted in writing before any work.
The craft, done properly
WHAT A CHIMNEY CLEANING IS
A professional chimney cleaning removes the layer of creosote, soot, and debris that builds up inside your flue every burn season. Creosote is the tar-like residue left behind when wood smoke cools against the chimney wall — and once it reaches roughly 1/8 of an inch, it becomes the single most common cause of chimney fires in North American homes. It doesn't wash away, it doesn't burn off, and it doesn't stop accumulating on its own. The only thing that removes it is a mechanical sweep.
A standard Brown Chimney cleaning takes 60–90 minutes, follows NFPA 211 standards, and is performed by a CSIA-certified technician. You get a full flue sweep from base to cap, smoke chamber and firebox cleaning, HEPA vacuum protection throughout, and a written report with photos of anything we find. Most annual sweeps run $299–$449 for a masonry fireplace — you can see exactly where your home lands with our chimney cleaning cost calculator before you book. The price reflects the job's difficulty, never the level of care.
Full sweep and creosote removal
The Work
What a chimney cleaning actually does.
Beyond fire risk, a clogged flue restricts draft. That's what causes smoke to spill back into the room, fires that struggle to stay lit, and that sharp campfire smell that lingers long after the fire is out. Brushing the flue back to bare masonry restores the airflow the system was designed for.
Every cleaning starts with drop cloths and a HEPA vacuum running before a single brush touches the flue — the mess stays in the chimney, not your living room. The tech brushes the full flue from base to cap, cleans the smoke chamber and shelf, vacuums the firebox, and finishes with a visual check of the damper, liner, and crown. If we spot anything that needs attention — a failing cap, early crown wear, or creosote too glazed to brush — it goes in your written report with photos and a separate quote. Nothing gets fixed without your approval.
Related reading: what really happens during a chimney cleaning — every step, photographed inside a real home. And if you're not sure you're due yet, here's how often a chimney actually needs cleaning.
When to book
What are the signs you need a chimney cleaning?
These are the symptoms our crews hear about most. Each one usually means creosote or debris is interfering with how your chimney breathes. If two or more sound familiar, it's time to book a sweep. Not sure whether it's buildup or something else? A $49 chimney inspection settles it — the fee is credited toward any work booked the same visit.
If the deposits turn out to be heavy, glazed Stage 3 creosote, standard brushing won't remove it — the technician documents it with photos and quotes the chemical treatment in writing before anything else happens.
"
A chimney isn't clean because it looks clean. It's clean when the flue shows bare masonry — and we photograph it to prove it.
Ben Brown
Owner
The Brown Chimney Standard
Built to last. Backed in writing.
1-year workmanship warranty
Every piece of structural labor we perform is covered for a full year — in writing, not in promises.
Same crew, every visit
You get a W-2 technician you'll recognize next year — not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
Photos before, during, after
Your report documents the work at every stage. You see exactly what was done and why.
Price fixed before we start
Measured on site, quoted in writing, approved by you — then the work begins. Never the other way around.
What to expect
What happens during a chimney cleaning?
A typical visit runs 60–90 minutes from door to door. Here is every step, in order — the same sequence we follow whether you're paying $299 or $549. The price reflects the job's difficulty, never the level of care.
01
Arrival & protection
Drop cloths go down first, shoe covers on, and the HEPA vacuum starts running before any tool touches the flue. The mess stays in the chimney — guaranteed in writing.
02
Visual assessment
The tech checks the firebox, damper, and flue base to gauge the creosote stage — Stage 1 dust, Stage 2 flakes, or Stage 3 glaze — before choosing brushes.
03
Mechanical sweep
Rotary poly or steel brushes sized to your exact flue, worked from bottom to top. Smoke shelf, damper, and firebox cleaned by hand.
04
HEPA extraction
Every trace of dislodged soot and ash is vacuumed from the firebox and smoke chamber through dual-stage HEPA filtration — nothing ends up in your room.
05
Report & walkthrough
A second look up the flue confirms bare masonry. You get a written report with photos, a plain-English walkthrough, and a room left cleaner than we found it.
.jpg)
For transparency
What this visit doesn't cover.
Crown repair or masonry work (spotted during the sweep, quoted separately in your report)
Stage 3 glazed creosote removal — hard, tar-like buildup needs PCR chemical treatment (from $1,500, always quoted in writing first)
Animal or nest removal beyond loose debris (quoted on-site before any work)
FAQs
Common questions about chimney cleaning
How often should a chimney be cleaned?
The CSIA and NFPA 211 recommend an inspection every year, with cleaning required once creosote reaches 1/8 inch. For most homes that means an annual sweep — sooner if you burn more than three cords of wood per season, burn unseasoned wood, or notice odors and slow-drafting fires.
How long does a professional chimney cleaning take?
A standard Brown Chimney cleaning takes 60–90 minutes from arrival to walkthrough. Heavy buildup, difficult roof access, or multi-story homes can extend that. The technician confirms the expected time on arrival, before any work begins.
What happens during a chimney cleaning?
The technician lays drop cloths, runs a HEPA vacuum throughout, brushes the full flue from base to cap, cleans the smoke chamber and firebox, and finishes with a visual safety inspection. Every Brown Chimney cleaning ends with a written report and photos of anything found.
Can I clean my chimney myself?
You can brush light soot with the right rods, but DIY sweeps routinely miss the smoke shelf and chamber — where most buildup hides — and can't assess liner or crown condition. Brown Chimney's CSIA-certified sweep costs $299–$449 for most masonry fireplaces and includes a documented safety check.
How do I know if my chimney needs cleaning?
Look for smoke entering the room, a sharp odor when the fireplace is idle, weak fires, or visible black deposits in the firebox. If it's been over 12 months or a full cord of wood since the last sweep, book a cleaning — or start with a $49 inspection to confirm what's needed.
Related Services
Often paired with chimney cleaning.
A safer hearth — for 2026
A clean flue, in writing.
Every Brown Chimney cleaning follows NFPA 211 and is performed by a CSIA-certified technician — with drop cloths down, a HEPA vacuum running, and a written photo report in your hands before we leave. Book online or call, and burn this season with nothing in the flue but draft.