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 Altadena, CA
Chimney repair in Altadena usually means fixing what the hills and time have done to an older flue. Homes here run from 1920s California bungalows with original masonry fireplaces to mid-century ranches with prefab inserts, and the dry heat, Santa Ana winds, and seismic settling all take a toll. We inspect everything before we quote, and we don’t recommend work we can’t show you with a camera. Call Hickory Chimney Sweep at (855) 554-2841 for a straight answer and a free estimate.
Why Altadena Homes Are Different
Altadena sits right at the base of the San Gabriels, where summer heat bakes chimney crowns and winter evenings in the 30s push homeowners to actually use their fireplaces. That swing matters. Clay tile flues from the 1920s through the 1950s expand and contract with the temperature changes, and after decades of minor seismic movement, hairline cracks let heat and gases reach places they shouldn’t. Many bungalows and Craftsmans still have their original masonry chimneys, but plenty have been retrofitted or expanded over the years, which sometimes means a newer insert was dropped into a flue that was never sized or lined for it. We routinely find mismatched systems where the fireplace works fine but the chimney behind it was never updated to match. The vegetation and terrain here also push debris into flues faster than flat-land neighborhoods. After the 2020 Bobcat Fire, a lot of Altadena homeowners discovered wind-blown ash had packed into chimney caps and flues. We check for fire-related clogging on every sweep now because it’s become a local pattern, not a rare oddity.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Altadena Services
The two services Altadena homeowners call about most are the annual sweep and dryer vent cleaning. Both are fire-safety work, and one call covers both.
Chimney Sweep in Altadena
A sweep here is about more than brushing soot. Given the age of Altadena’s chimneys and the high fire-danger environment, we look at creosote buildup, cap clogging from wind-blown debris, and any cracking that could let embers escape into framing. We also check for the kind of ash blockage that became common after the Bobcat Fire. A clean flue is the baseline; knowing the flue is still structurally sound is the point. Full details are on our Chimney Sweep in Altadena page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Altadena
Dryer lint is a leading cause of residential fires in the U.S., and Altadena’s dry air makes lint especially combustible. Long vent runs in older ranch homes and bungalow additions collect lint faster than homeowners expect. We clean the full run from dryer to exterior termination, and we check the termination cap for the same wind-blown debris and ash that plague chimney caps up here. Learn more on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Altadena page.
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 Altadena
Chimney repair in Altadena most often comes down to two failures: cracked or deteriorated flue liners in older homes, and damaged crowns or caps that let water and embers in from the top. The 1920s-to-1950s housing stock means many flues are original clay tile, which seismic settling cracks over time. Once a liner cracks, heat and combustion gases can reach the masonry around it, and that’s how small problems become chimney fires or carbon monoxide leaks. We handle everything from a simple cap replacement to a full Chimney Repair reline, and we show you the camera footage before we recommend anything.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Leaks around the fireplace after rain, birds or rodents getting in, or visible rust on an old cap.
What it costs in Altadena
Expect roughly $200 to $700 for a new cap, depending on the flue size and whether it’s a standard single-flue or a multi-flue custom fit.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, match the cap to the chimney’s dimensions, and secure it so wind from the San Gabriels can’t lift it.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Visible cracks in clay tile during a camera inspection, drafting problems, or a fireplace that smokes back into the room.
What it costs in Altadena
A new liner typically runs $2,500 to $5,000 here, with the final figure depending on flue height, diameter, and whether the old liner is easy to access.
How we do it
We remove or prep the old flue, then reline using DuraFlex flexible liner systems to restore a continuous, insulated smoke path.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water staining on the ceiling near the chimney or damp drywall after storms.
What it costs in Altadena
Flashing repair generally costs $300 to $1,500 in Altadena, depending on how much of the existing flashing has to be cut out and replaced.
How we do it
We cut out the failed section, install new step and counter flashing, and seal the joint so water can’t track down the chimney chase.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Crumbling mortar on top of the chimney or cracks in the cement crown that let water soak into the masonry below.
What it costs in Altadena
Crown repair typically falls between $600 and $1,600, depending on whether we’re sealing hairline cracks or rebuilding the crown entirely.
How we do it
We remove loose material, re-form the crown with proper slope so water runs off, and seal it against Altadena’s heat-and-dry cycle.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Altadena
| Item | Typical range in Altadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $200 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 – $1,500 |
How do I know if I actually need a new liner?
We run a camera up the flue and show you the footage. If the clay tile is cracked, spalling, or missing sections, the liner needs to be replaced or resurfaced. You’ll see the problem with your own eyes before any work is approved.
Can a damaged chimney wait until next season?
It depends on what the damage is. A rusted cap can wait a few months. A cracked flue should not wait, especially in Altadena’s high fire-danger months, because it’s the difference between a working chimney and a structure fire. Call (855) 554-2841 and we’ll tell you straight.
Brands We Service in Altadena
We stock and install professional trade brands like HeatShield, DuraFlex, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. These are the systems specified by certified chimney contractors, not consumer hardware store generics. Most repair hardware is on the truck, which means fewer return trips for Altadena homeowners. See our brands for full details.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Altadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Altadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney cap installation | $200 – $700 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $200 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 – $1,500 |
| Chimney crown repair | $600 – $1,600 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $150 – $300 |
Prices push higher in Altadena when a home has two or three flues, when the chimney is on a steep section of the foothill slope, or when decades of deferred maintenance mean multiple repairs are due at once. We give you a flat price before we start, not an estimate that creeps up after the fact.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Altadena
We work across the whole Altadena ZIP range, 91001 and 91003, from the older streets near Lake Avenue up through the foothill neighborhoods below the Angeles National Forest boundary. Homes here are spread across enough terrain that we batch our visits by area to keep response times short.
- Altadena Meadows
- President Streets
- The Meadows
- La Vina
- Upper Hastings Ranch
Service Area – Cities Near Altadena
We serve homeowners across the western San Gabriel Valley. In addition to our work in Pasadena, CA, we regularly travel to La Cañada Flintridge, CA, East Pasadena, CA, and San Marino, CA. If you’re nearby and need chimney or dryer vent work, call and we’ll let you know when we’re next in your area.
Serving Altadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Altadena 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 Altadena
We schedule by neighborhood zone, so most Altadena appointments land within a few days to a week, depending on the season. Fall is busiest. If you have an active leak or suspect a flue crack, call (855) 554-2841 and we’ll prioritize it.
Most unincorporated Altadena neighborhoods don’t require a permit for standard sweeps, cap replacements, or liner work inside an existing chase. If structural rebuild work ever requires county sign-off, we’ll walk you through it. We handle the chimney side; you won’t be left guessing at the permit counter.
Yes. One call covers both, and that’s the point. We can sweep the chimney, check the flue, and clean the dryer vent in the same visit, which makes more sense than coordinating two separate companies. Call (855) 554-2841 and tell us what you need.
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 Altadena Customers Say
"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"Honest people. That's getting rare."
— Danielle Rhodes"Weekend rate was higher, which they told me up front and I was fine with. What I wasn't expecting was for someone to actually come out on a Sunday."
— Nathan Pruitt