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.
Chimney Company in Pasadena, CA
Chimney repair in Pasadena usually means working on a century-old masonry stack attached to a Craftsman bungalow or Spanish Colonial, not a modern prefab flue. The homes here were built for wood fires, with clay tile liners and brick exteriors that have absorbed roughly a hundred years of seismic settling, Santa Ana heat, and winter rain. That combination creates cracks, spalling, and hidden flue damage most homeowners never see until a chimney fire or a water stain shows up. Hickory Chimney Sweep has served Pasadena since 2013, and we approach every job as fire-risk reduction first. Call (855) 554-2841 if you need an inspection.
Why Pasadena Homes Are Different
Pasadena’s defining chimney reality is the sheer number of pre-1930s Arts & Crafts and Craftsman bungalows packed into 91101, 91104, and 91105, especially Bungalow Heaven and Prospect Park. Those original brick fireplaces were designed for wood fires and now sit behind decades of creosote and cosmetic conversion work. Unlike neighboring cities with newer tract housing, our techs spend most of their time on century-old masonry chimneys with clay-tile liners, decorative exterior stack flues, and original hearths where hidden cracks and unlined flues carry real fire risk.
The climate makes it worse. Pasadena’s hot, dry summers and Santa Ana wind events cycle against the winter rainy season, so exterior chimneys here spall and crack more aggressively than in coastal towns. Seismic movement along the Raymond and Sierra Madre fault zones means chimney crown and flue cracks are common even in homes that look untouched from the street. And because Pasadena’s heritage ordinances protect the exterior chimney look, you can’t just rebuild a stack; you have to reline and preserve the historic brick-and-stucco face. That’s the work we do most often.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Pasadena Services
Most Pasadena homeowners call us for one of two reasons: the fireplace has not been cleaned in years, or the dryer vent is clogged and the laundry takes two cycles to dry. Both are fire hazards, and one call covers both.
Chimney Sweep in Pasadena
A chimney sweep in Pasadena on a 1920s Craftsman typically means removing glazed creosote from a clay-tile flue that has not been touched since the last owner converted the fireplace for decorative use. The dry Santa Ana season bakes creosote into a hard glaze that brushes alone will not remove. We use rotary cleaning heads sized to the flue, drop cloths and HEPA vacuum containment, and we photograph the interior before and after so you can see exactly what came out. If you have a wood-burning fireplace in Bungalow Heaven or anywhere in 91104, this is the service to start with. Chimney Sweep in Pasadena
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena
Lint-clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of residential fires, and older Pasadena homes often have long, offset vent runs through crawl spaces or exterior walls that trap lint fast. A vent that should take one cycle to dry a load but takes three is telling you something. We clean the full run from dryer to termination, clear the exterior hood, and check that the flap opens and closes correctly. For homes with the original laundry hookup in a converted back porch, this is a yearly task, not an occasional one. Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Pasadena
Chimney repair in Pasadena is rarely a quick patch. The city’s pre-1930s Craftsman and Spanish Colonial homes have original clay flue tiles that crack from decades of seismic settling, and unlined fireplaces that were built before modern codes still operate behind cosmetic conversions. When water gets into a cracked crown or a failed flashing seam, it accelerates spalling on the exterior brick and damages whatever liner remains. The fix is often relining and crown work, not just pointing up mortar. Our in-house Chimney Repair team handles the full scope, from HeatShield resurfacing to DuraFlex liner installs, so problems found during a sweep get resolved without a referral to a third party.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You see rusted or missing caps on the exterior stack, or birds and debris are getting into the flue.
What it costs in Pasadena
Chimney cap installation in Pasadena typically runs $300 – $600 including the cap, depending on flue size and roof access.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, install a stainless or copper cap sized for the tile, secure it to the crown with proper fasteners, and verify the spark arrestor screen is intact.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
An inspection camera shows cracked or missing clay tile sections, or the flue is unlined and you want to burn wood safely.
What it costs in Pasadena
A full chimney liner installation in Pasadena typically runs $3,500 – $7,500 depending on flue height, liner type, and whether insulation is required.
How we do it
We clean the flue to bare tile, run a camera inspection, then install a DuraFlex flexible liner system sized to the appliance, insulating where required and connecting to the stove or insert.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water stains appear on the ceiling near the chimney or on the attic framing after rain, or the existing flashing is lifted and corroded.
What it costs in Pasadena
Chimney flashing repair in Pasadena typically runs $400 – $900 depending on how much of the step and counter flashing must be replaced and how tall the stack is.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing, cut and install new step flashing into the mortar joints, seal the counter flashing with a professional-grade sealant, and test for leaks.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Pasadena
| Item | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $900 |
| Chimney liner installation (DuraFlex) | $3,500 – $7,500 |
How long does a chimney liner last in Pasadena?
A properly installed DuraFlex liner in a Pasadena chimney typically lasts 20 – 30 years, but the clay tiles it replaces often fail much sooner because of seismic movement and thermal cycling from Santa Ana heat swings. Homes near the Raymond fault zone should be inspected after any significant earthquake.
Can you repair a chimney crown without rebuilding the whole stack?
Yes, if the damage is confined to the crown and upper courses. We remove the deteriorated concrete, build forms, and pour a new crown with a proper drip edge and expansion gap. In Bungalow Heaven and other historic districts, crown work preserves the original exterior look.
Brands We Service in Pasadena
We install and service professional-grade materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Copperfield, and Gelco. That means liner systems, resurfacing compounds, caps, and termination components spec’d by certified chimney professionals, not hardware-store generics. Parts are stocked locally for faster turnaround on Pasadena jobs. See our brands for details.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Pasadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard, Level 1) | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney sweep (heavy creosote or Level 2) | $340 – $600 |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $350 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation (DuraFlex) | $3,500 – $7,500 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $500 – $1,400 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $130 – $250 |
Prices push toward the higher end in Pasadena when we are working on a three-story exterior stack with roof access that requires a second technician, or when heritage ordinances mean the exterior brick face has to be matched exactly. You get an upfront price before any work starts, and if the camera inspection shows the repair is not urgent, we tell you that plainly.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pasadena
We work throughout Pasadena, from the flats to the hills. Our techs are familiar with the chimney conditions in each area, and we schedule by neighborhood to keep response times short.
- Bungalow Heaven
- Prospect Park
- Madison Heights
- Historic Highlands
- Linda Vista
Most Pasadena jobs can be scheduled within the same week, and we batch calls in the same ZIP so drive time stays low.
Service Area – Cities Near Pasadena
We also cover the communities directly around Pasadena, including South Pasadena, CA, San Marino, CA, Altadena, CA, and East Pasadena, CA. If you are just outside the city line, call and we will confirm coverage for your street.
Serving Pasadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Pasadena 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 Company in Pasadena
Most interior relining and cap or crown work does not require a permit, but any structural rebuild of the stack or changes to the exterior in a historic district may trigger design review. We can tell you what applies to your specific street and whether the city’s heritage ordinance affects the project before you book.
Annual sweeping is right for wood-burning fireplaces used every winter, and that is the National Fire Protection Association standard. If you burn soft woods or your flue runs cool because it is oversized, twice a year may be safer. Homes in 91104 with original unlined fireplaces should be inspected before the first cold snap each November.
Yes, we work regularly in Bungalow Heaven, Prospect Park, and other protected neighborhoods. The work is done from the interior or the roof, leaving the exterior brick-and-stucco face untouched. When a repair requires relining, we preserve the original look and use materials that meet modern fire-safety codes without altering the home’s character.
If you have a fireplace in Pasadena that has not been inspected in years, or a dryer vent that is taking too long to dry a load, call Hickory Chimney Sweep at (855) 554-2841 for a free estimate. We will tell you exactly what needs doing, show you the camera footage, and give you a flat price before any work starts. Clean it. Repair it. Protect it. One call covers all of it.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Pasadena Customers Say
"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
— Marisol Vargas"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— Rachel Hayes"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Lucia Mendoza