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 Sweep Across Pasadena
A Chimney Sweep in Pasadena typically costs between $189 and $329 for a standard cleaning with a Level 1 inspection, and most appointments take 60 to 90 minutes from setup to final report. We work throughout 91101, 91103, 91104, 91105, and the surrounding neighborhoods, from Bungalow Heaven to Prospect Park. If your fireplace hasn’t been cleaned in two years or more, call (855) 554-2841 and we’ll get you on the schedule before the first cold snap hits.
Most of the chimneys we service in Pasadena were built before 1930. That changes how we approach every job. The flue tiles crack, the mortar breaks down, and the creosote sits differently in a century-old clay liner than it does in a modern stainless one. We know what to look for because we see it every week here.
Why Hickory Chimney Sweep Is Pasadena’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
We’re not a seasonal crew that shows up in October and disappears by March. Hickory Chimney Sweep is a full-scope fire-safety company run by Ruben Acosta, and we handle chimney sweeping, chimney repair, and dryer vent cleaning year-round. That matters in Pasadena because your chimney doesn’t stop being a fire risk just because you’re not using it every week. Cracked flue tiles, damaged crowns, and old dryer vents are hazards in July the same way they are in January.
We work with professional-trade materials from brands like DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Copperfield. When a sweep uncovers a cracked clay flue tile behind the stucco face of a 1920s bungalow off North Marengo Avenue, we can reline it on the spot with a HeatShield resurfacing system rather than referring you to someone else. One call covers both: chimney sweep and dryer vent cleaning, the two leading sources of appliance-related home fires.
Our reputation in Pasadena comes from doing the job honestly. We show you the camera footage before recommending any repair. If your flue is solid, we say so. If it needs work, you’ll see exactly why with your own eyes.
Styles & brands we work with
Fireplace Cleaning in Pasadena
Fireplace Cleaning in Pasadena means removing built-up soot and creosote from the firebox, smoke chamber, damper, and flue liner. Because so many homes in 91101 and 91104 still have their original brick fireplaces, the work often involves carefully cleaning around decorative masonry and older cast-iron dampers that newer homes don’t have. A standard fireplace cleaning with a Level 1 inspection in Pasadena runs $189 to $329 depending on flue condition and access.
Creosote Removal From Century-Old Flues
Third-degree creosote is a hard, glossy glaze that forms when the flue goes through hot, dry cycles followed by cooler fires. Pasadena’s climate makes this worse. Santa Ana winds pull air through the chimney and dry out the deposits, then the winter’s first fires bake that dried creosote into a tar-like coating. Mechanical brushes alone won’t remove it. We use rotary cleaning heads and chemical treatments designed for glazed third-degree deposits, and we always check with a camera afterward to confirm the flue is clean.
Annual Sweep and Camera Inspection
An annual sweep isn’t just about removing soot. It’s about documenting flue condition before small cracks become dangerous. Every sweep we do in Pasadena includes a camera inspection of the flue liner. You’ll see the video yourself. That’s how you know whether the clay tiles are intact, whether the mortar joints are holding, and whether anything needs attention before the next burn season.
Chimney Services in Pasadena
Chimney Services in Pasadena go beyond sweeping to include Level 2 inspections, flue relining, chimney cap replacement, and masonry crown repair. When we find damaged clay flue tiles or an unlined chimney section during a sweep, we can often resolve it the same day using HeatShield resurfacing or a DuraFlex flexible liner system. Typical chimney repair work in Pasadena starts around $400 for minor crown sealing and ranges upward depending on liner length and flue diameter.
Relining While Preserving the Exterior
Pasadena’s heritage ordinances protect the original exterior look of pre-1930s homes. You can’t simply rebuild a damaged chimney stack on a Craftsman bungalow in Bungalow Heaven. The brick-and-stucco face has to stay. That’s where HeatShield and DuraFlex liners do the heavy lifting. We reline from inside, preserving the exact exterior your house has carried for a century while giving you a modern, code-compliant flue.
Level 2 Inspections for Home Sales
If you’re buying a home in Pasadena, your real estate inspector will flag the chimney if there’s any question about flue condition. A Level 2 inspection goes deeper than the standard Level 1: we run a camera the full length of the flue, check the attic and crawlspace penetrations, and document everything with photos you can keep. Most local home sales with older fireplaces warrant this level of scrutiny before closing.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Pasadena
We stock parts and materials from the suppliers certified chimney professionals actually specify. DuraFlex flexible liner systems cover full relining work. HeatShield resurfacing handles damaged clay tiles and gap repair. Copperfield and Olympia Chimney supply the caps, chase covers, and termination components that hold up to Pasadena’s sun and wet winter. Gelco service in Pasadena and Famco covers and dampers round out the repair end. For homeowners in Pasadena, that means faster turnaround: the parts are on our truck, not waiting on a hardware store order.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Pasadena Homes
- Cracked clay flue tiles from seismic settling. Pasadena sits near the Raymond and Sierra Madre fault zones. Decades of small movements crack the vertical joints in the original clay liners. We see this on nearly every pre-1930 fireplace we inspect.
- Third-degree creosote glaze after Santa Ana events. The hot, dry wind cycles Pasadena gets in fall pull air through the chimney and dry out creosote fast. When the first winter fire hits, that dried deposit bakes into a glaze brushes can’t remove.
- Spalled brick and deteriorated mortar on exterior stacks. Pasadena’s dry summers and wet winters repeatedly expand and contract the brick face. Chimneys washed with the original stucco wall hide this damage until water starts pushing indoors.
- Appliances vented into unlined flues. Old homes get furnace and water heater upgrades without addressing the original chimney. Venting gas appliances into a single-tile or unlined flue that was built for wood smoke is a known carbon monoxide risk. We camera-inspect every flue before clearing it for any appliance use.
Pricing for Chimney Sweep in Pasadena, CA
A standard chimney sweep with Level 1 inspection in Pasadena runs $189 to $329. Fireplace cleaning on its own is at the low end, while a full sweep that includes creosote removal and camera documentation lands at the higher end. Level 2 inspections are $249 to $449 depending on whether you’re getting it for real estate or annual maintenance. Relining work with HeatShield starts around $900 and a full DuraFlex liner install usually runs $1,800 to $3,400 depending on flue height and diameter. Every estimate is free and we walk you through the camera footage before you commit to anything. Call (855) 554-2841 to book.
We Also Serve Cities Near Pasadena
Hickory Chimney Sweep serves the full Chimney Sweep in Pasadena area plus the surrounding communities. We regularly schedule sweeps in South Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and East Pasadena. If you’re on the edge of the 91101 or 91104 ZIP codes, chances are we’re already in your neighborhood.
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 Sweep in Pasadena
We can sweep it, but sweeping an unlined chimney doesn’t make it safe to use. Unlined flues allow heat and combustion gases to reach the surrounding framing. In a 1920s bungalow, that framing is often dry, old-growth lumber that ignites quickly. We’ll sweep what’s there, show you the camera footage, and give you an honest recommendation. If relining is needed, we install it and you’re done. No referrals, no runaround. Call (855) 554-2841 and we’ll start with the facts.
We reline from the inside. Pasadena’s heritage ordinances protect original stucco and brick exteriors, which means the stack has to stay as-is. Using HeatShield resurfacing or a DuraFlex liner, we work entirely from the firebox and rooftop access points. The exterior face is never touched. Your chimney keeps its century-old look and gets a modern, insulated flue at the same time.
First-degree creosote is a dry, dusty soot that brushes remove easily. Third-degree creosote is a hardened, glossy glaze that mechanical brushes cannot remove and that ignites at lower temperatures than you’d expect. Pasadena’s dry fall and winter cycles accelerate third-degree formation, especially after Santa Ana winds. If you’ve got glaze, you need rotary cleaning plus a chemical treatment. If the glaze is severe, the flue may need relining before it’s safe to burn again.
Yes. Level 2 inspections are a core part of our Chimney Sweep service for anyone buying or selling a Pasadena home. The inspection covers the full flue length with a camera, checks clearance to combustibles in the attic and crawlspace, and documents everything in a written report with photos. Most real estate deals on pre-1930 homes warrant this level of scrutiny, and our schedule fills up near the end of the month.
Every year. The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection and cleaning at minimum, and Pasadena’s older housing stock makes that recommendation more urgent than in newer developments. Even if you only burn fires a few times per season, the dry heat and seismic settling here cause damage whether you’re burning or not. Book your sweep in late summer or early fall, before the first cold snap. Call (855) 554-2841 for a free estimate.
Written by Ruben Acosta, Owner at Hickory Chimney Sweep, serving Pasadena and surrounding communities.