How much does it cost to clean a chimney? Here is an estimated guide for sweep and fireplace cleaning prices.

One of several maintenance routines performed by homeowners is chimney sweeping. This is targeted at improving the condition and functionality of chimneys and fireplaces.

While that is true, the cost implication for carrying out such maintenance services is equally important.

Chimney Cleaning Prices

Chimney cleaning is a basic maintenance activity that must be performed frequently enough to promote efficiency.

Cleaning is best performed by a professional chimney sweep and covers most chimney components including the fireplace. If you have a chimney you wish to have cleaned, you’ll be interested in the prices.

This is why we’ve focused on this area by discussing chimney and fireplace cleaning sweep costs. As a homeowner in need to have your chimney cleaned, you’re more likely than not to find this interesting and informative.

Join us as we tackle the various aspects of cleaning costs right here.

Parts of a Chimney Covered During Cleaning

Chimney cleaning is a systematic approach performed according to the different components involved. Such components include the chimney liner, the firebox, chimney flue, damper, and fireplace cleaning.

Each requires a different approach which may involve different tools.

A chimney sweep is in a better position to perform such cleanup. Apart from the expertise and experience garnered over the years, chimney sweeps have all the tools necessary for a perfect cleanup.

However, we won’t be delving into details about tools used as that isn’t our focus.

How Much Does A Chimney Sweep Cost?

The cost of chimney and fireplace cleaning is affected by multiple factors.

These factors influence the service costs paid by clients. Before going into such details, it’s necessary to highlight the average cleaning costs including the low and high ranges.

It will cost you an average of $200 to perform this service. Depending on the condition of your chimney, you may pay as low as $80 for a cleaning job or as much as $500. It all depends on the condition of your chimney.

Speaking of chimney condition, a chimney sweep sets out to ascertain the overall state of the chimney. This includes performance, possible issues as well fixes to such problems.

The level of work (cleaning and repairs) to be performed forms the basis for price estimations.

Below is a guide on how much to sweep a chimney.

Chimney Sweep Cost By Type

Chimney and fireplace cleaning costs are largely determined by the type of chimney involved. In other words, the fuel being combusted determines the intensity of cleaning.

Based on this classification, several chimney types include a pellet stove, gas fireplace, wood stove, and wood-burning chimneys.

  • Pellet Stove Chimney Cleaning Costs

Another type of chimney system is that connected to pellet stoves.

Such fuels create residue which needs to be cleared as frequently as possible (weekly cleaning). However, having a chimney sweep perform weekly cleanup doesn’t make sense. Such responsibility lies with you.

You only need to call the chimney sweep every quarter every 6 months.

Here, cleaning frequency largely depends on the degree of usage.

With more use comes the need to clean chimneys often.

It’s important to state that cleaning the chimney and fireplace can be performed simultaneously by an experienced technician.

A chimney service will charge a cleaning fee of around $130 to $200. In case of any chimney defects, repair costs may be significantly higher. What you end up paying will depend on your chimney’s condition.

  • Gas Fireplace Cleaning Costs

Gas fireplaces tend to be more energy-efficient compared to most other fireplace types. Plus, they burn clean, thus having lesser cleaning requirements. Some gas fireplaces do not need chimneys.

These are known as ventless chimneys or gas fireplaces.

On the flip side are vented gas fireplaces which have to be connected to chimneys. While both types need to be cleaned, we’re more interested in the latter.

While a chimney may not be a significant requirement for a gas fireplace, it’s sometimes built for aesthetic purposes.

Annual cleaning is recommended for these types of chimney systems. Gas fireplace cleaning is necessary to clean up animal dander, soot, and dust among other forms of debris.

This will cost you around $80 to $130.

  • Cleaning Cost For Wood Stove Chimneys

Woodstoves are significant improvements over wood-burning fireplaces.

They’re designed to enhance combustion and venting efficiency. The chimney or exhaust system for these fireplace types has to be cleared of creosote and ash deposits.

As long as the wood is used for combustion, it’s bound to create creosote deposits. While smoke and other combustion gases are vented out through the chimney, creosotes form on chimney walls through condensation.

When left unattended, creosote deposits get glazed over, thus becoming even tougher to get rid of. As creosotes accumulate, the risk of a chimney fire mounts.

Annual cleanup is recommended for these types of fireplaces. Sometimes when the chimney caps are removed or displaced, rodents, birds, and debris may clog up the chimney.

Cleaning is required to dislodge or remove all blockages. Cleaning a woodstove chimney will cost anywhere from $150 to $300.

  • Wood Burning Fireplace Cleaning Costs

As the name suggests, wood-burning fireplaces exclusively require wood fuels for combustion.

These require the ventilation provided by chimneys to function effectively. When burning wood fuels, a significant amount of residue is left behind in the form of creosote and ash.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace and chimney, you’ll need a lot of maintenance to keep it functional. As with wood-burning stoves, wood fireplaces, all sorts of combustion by-products are released including creosotes.

Cleaning seeks to remove as much creosote as possible to prevent fires.

Quarterly cleaning should suffice for this part of the chimney system. Cleaning prices for wood-burning fireplaces are around $160 and $240.

ii. Hourly Chimney Cleaning Rates

When discussing the cleaning rates for chimneys, mention has to be made about hourly cleaning costs. On average, chimney cleaning services will charge around $75 per hour.

This means the number of hours spent on the job is multiplied by the hourly rate of $75.

Some other companies may charge a flat hourly cleaning rate. You’ll have to establish contact with your preferred chimney maintenance service to find out what applies to your situation.

When more than one chimney sweep is involved, the hours clocked by each technician are calculated separately. Of course, the average hourly rate is used for all calculations to reach a figure.

The good thing is, more chimney sweeps translate to faster job completion.

iii. Chimney and Fireplace Inspection Levels Matter

Before a chimney and fireplace ever get cleaned, it needs to be inspected.

The professional chimney sweep performs this procedure starting with level 1. Level one inspection is mostly visual and doesn’t require the use of specialized equipment.

Using a flashlight, the chimney is inspected and possible faults such as cracks are noted.

When you call for chimney cleaning, both inspection and cleaning will mostly be included within the package or plan. There are three inspection levels which are levels 1 through 3.

Each involves a unique approach with different intensity.

Level 1 inspection is the most basic and is performed on chimneys with no form(s) of damage. Accessible portions of the chimney are visually inspected cleaning is performed.

This will cost anywhere from $85 to $950.

For level 2 inspection, the approach is quite different. Here, a more detailed inspection and is mostly performed when there has been a recent modification to the chimney such as switching fuel type, etc.

Here, inspection and cleaning will attract between $150 and $1,000.

Level three inspections are the most detailed of the three. Here, the inspection may be invasive with certain parts removed for cleanup purposes and possible repairs.

This attracts the most fees from $500 to $5,000.

These are the basic cost implications for chimney cleaning. Also, the company or chimney sweep you hire is likely to determine how much you eventually pay for the cleanup.

Here is a guide on inspection costs.

Animal Removal Cost

As part of the cleaning process, an inspection may reveal the presence of animals nesting within your chimney. Now, such animals need to be removed and the chimney cleaned.

Removing the obstruction caused by animal presence will cost around $100 to $700.

How Much Is A Major Chimney Cleaning?

There are cases of neglect where wood-burning fireplaces and chimneys have been left unattended for years. This is a major fire hazard that could ignite at any time due to creosote buildup.

A chimney sweep will need more hours to clean up the chimney and fireplace.

The added time and effort, as well as the state of the chimney, add up to overall costs. Therefore, you’re likely to spend as much as $800 or more.

Additional Chimney Services

It’s important when calling for chimney cleaning jobs to be ready for surprises. There are times when a bigger problem may be detected in the process of cleaning or inspection.

You’ll need to have such issues fixed immediately. This will significantly increase your overall costs.

Estimated Costs For DIY Chimney and Fireplace Cleaning

While DIY procedures for chimney cleaning may seem attractive to some people, we recommend you allow the pros to handle the job. This is due to the many risks involved.

However, if you must, the cost of cleaning shouldn’t be much apart from purchasing the cleaning kits used.

The cost for basic chimney and fireplace cleaning kits should cost around $50 to $100.

These are the cost details for chimney and fireplace cleaning and sweep cost. As mentioned earlier, the exact cost for a chimney and fireplace cleaning job depends on the state or condition of your chimney.

Other factors such as your location, the chimney service used, and hours spent will also impact cleaning costs.

Conclusion

How much does it cost to clean a chimney? Above are the average sweep prices.

This article discussed all chimney cleaning costs.

The cost of house cleaning has a lot to do with labor, type of chimney as well as inspection.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *