Typical chimney cleaning prices account for basic cleaning and inspection. Those costs will vary based on other factors, though, including chimney type, usage and accessibility. You should also factor in the cost of fireplace repairs or services like animal removal.
Chimney Inspection
A chimney sweep inspection involves assessing your chimney for damage, pests, buildup and more. A basic inspection and cleaning are usually bundled together, while higher-level examinations that assess major damage can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to your bill.
Accessibility
The harder or more dangerous it is to get to your chimney, the more you’ll pay for cleaning. Common obstacles for chimney sweeps include high or steep roofs, overhanging trees, solar panels and satellite dishes.
Type of Stove or Fireplace
As you gather chimney cleaning quotes, mention the kind of stove or fireplace you have to each company. Cleaning a gas fireplace with no chimney is more straightforward than cleaning a wood-burning fireplace. Cleaning prices increase for multiple flues and complex systems like pellet stoves. Below are prices for different fireplace types:
- Gas fireplace: $80 to $140
- Wood-burning fireplace: $155 to $195
- Pellet stove: $145 to $230
- Wood stove: $160 to $310
Amount of Time Between Cleanings
A frequently-used fireplace should be cleaned annually, if not more often. If you skip a year, expect higher costs as layers of soot build. Chimney sweeps charge more for additional time and effort, and the buildup could require multiple sessions to remove.
Usage Frequency
If you use your fireplace more than four times per week, your chimney sweep may recommend an additional cleaning partway through the winter to keep it functioning safely. If you rarely use your fireplace, you might save by having it cleaned less frequently.
Location
Chimney sweep prices vary by region. You’ll pay up to five times more in urban areas than in rural parts of the country, where the cost of living is lower. If many other homes in your local area have fireplaces, a higher demand for service will also increase cleaning costs.
Fireplace Damper
Fireplace damper installation costs $200 to $350. These small flaps open to direct smoke up and out of a chimney and to prevent downdrafts. Damaged dampers can have the opposite effect, increasing your risk of smoke inhalation or property damage. Damper repairs cost $100 to $225, depending on the extent of the damage.
Chimney Liners
Chimney liners, or flue liners, cost $1,550 to $6,000 to install or replace. These clay, ceramic or metal liners protect the inside of your chimney from heat and corrosion, extending its lifespan. They also help retain heat for better efficiency. You can sometimes have a slightly cracked or damaged liner repaired for less than the total replacement cost.
Chimney Caps
Chimney cap repair or replacement costs $115 to $850. This screen sits at the top of a chimney, allowing smoke to escape while preventing rain, snow, animals, debris and downdrafts from getting in.
Chimney Flashing
Flashing installation or repair costs $215 to $520. This L-shaped piece of sheet metal sits at the bottom of a chimney stack at the roofline. It diverts water away to prevent leaks.
Animal Removal
Animal removal from a chimney costs $180 to $560. Bats, birds, squirrels and raccoons often build nests or get trapped and die inside chimneys. Call a professional, humane wildlife trapping and removal service if you notice animal noises or smells and a blockage in your chimney.
