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 Claremont
A chimney sweep in Claremont costs between $189 and $329 for a standard open-face fireplace, and we typically book Claremont jobs within three to five business days. That price covers a full mechanical brushing of the flue, removal of creosote and soot, a visual inspection of the firebox and damper, and a written report on what we found. If you’re heating with a wood stove in the foothills north of Baseline, expect the higher end of that range because those flues load creosote faster than anything else we see in the 91711 zip code.
We know the difference between a 1920s Craftsman chimney near the Claremont Colleges and a 1960s ranch tract flue south of Foothill Boulevard. They fail in different ways, they clean differently, and they need different advice. That local knowledge is why Claremont homeowners call us at (833) 467-6493 when they want the job done right the first time.
Why Glendale Chimney Sweep Is Claremont’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
Claremont homeowners don’t tend to hire the cheapest sweep they find online. They research, they read reviews, and they want to know exactly what they’re paying for. That’s the customer we built this company around. We show up with professional-grade materials from manufacturers like DuraFlex and Copperfield, and we name those brands on every quote because we stand behind them. No vague references to “quality parts” that could mean anything.
Our reputation in Claremont has been built one chimney at a time, often on short notice during the first cold snap of October when every fireplace in the Village gets lit on the same weekend. We’re a full-service shop, meaning we handle Chimney Sweep work along with structural chimney repair and dryer vent cleaning. When a sweep uncovers a cracked flue or a failing crown, we don’t refer you to someone else. We fix what we find.
Noel Tarkanian leads our team, and the standard he set is simple: if we wouldn’t recommend it to a family member in a 1908 Spanish Colonial off College Avenue, we won’t recommend it to you. That means honest assessments, photo documentation on any repair recommendation, and a clear explanation of what can safely wait versus what can’t.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Sweep Services in Claremont
Chimney Sweep Services in Claremont start with a full mechanical brushing of the flue lining, whether it’s original clay tile, a stainless liner, or a HeatShield resurfaced surface. We remove creosote, soot, and any debris that’s accumulated since your last cleaning, then inspect the smoke chamber, damper, and firebox for signs of deterioration. Most Claremont jobs take 60 to 90 minutes from setup to cleanup, and we protect the hearth and surrounding floors throughout.
Wood Stove Sweeping
Wood stoves used as primary heat sources around the San Gabriel foothills load creosote at a rate most city sweeps never see. A stove burning daily from November through March can produce third-degree glazed creosote in a single season. Our brushes are sized to the stovepipe and liner, and we’ll tell you honestly whether your burning habits are contributing to the problem.
Open Fireplace Sweeping
An open masonry fireplace in a Claremont Village home needs an annual sweep even if you only burn occasionally. The dry chaparral air and Santa Ana winds push soot and debris back down the flue in ways that don’t happen in coastal cities. We clean the full height of the flue, not just the visible portion, because the upper third is where Claremont chimneys collect the most buildup.
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.
Chimney Cleaning in Claremont
Chimney Cleaning in Claremont is about more than removing what you can see from the hearth. The work involves removing flammable creosote from the flue walls, clearing the smoke chamber of years of accumulated soot, and making sure the damper opens and seals properly. For most Claremont homes with regular fireplace use, cleaning takes about an hour and runs $189 to $249, depending on the flue height and the severity of the deposit.
Creosote Removal
First-degree creosote is dry and flaky and comes off with standard brushing. Third-degree creosote has hardened into a tar-like glaze that brushes alone can’t cut. That’s what we find most often in wood stoves in the foothill neighborhoods, and it requires rotary cleaning heads and sometimes chemical treatments before the surface is safe again. We’ll show you photos of what we removed so you understand exactly what you paid for.
Soot and Debris Removal
The historic chimneys near the Colleges weren’t built with modern draft science in mind. Low clay flues draft fine under the prevailing onshore flow but choke when a Santa Ana wind reverses the pressure gradient. That reversal pulls soot and ash back into the house and packs debris into the smoke shelf. We clear that shelf thoroughly on every cleaning because it’s the most common hidden ignition point in an older chimney.
Trusted Brands We Service in Claremont
We stock and install DuraFlex flexible liners, HeatShield resurfacing systems, and Copperfield chimney caps, among other professional-grade lines from Famco and Olympia Chimney. Why name the brands? Because a Copperfield cap is not interchangeable with whatever generic cap is on sale at the hardware store, and a HeatShield application is a different repair than a full relining. Claremont customers deserve to know exactly what’s going into their chimney, and we put that information in writing on every quote. If a part isn’t in our truck, we can typically source it within two days for Claremont jobs.
See the difference
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After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Claremont Homes
- Unlined clay-tile flues in homes built before 1940. The Craftsman and Spanish Colonial houses near the Colleges were built with soft local brick and lime mortar, and many were never relined. A sweep on one of these chimneys is often the first time a homeowner learns their flue has no modern liner.
- Santa Ana wind backdrafting through low original flues. Chimneys drafted for the prevailing onshore flow can smoke back into the house only when the wind reverses. Cleaning alone won’t fix that; the flue usually needs to be raised or the cap replaced with a properly sized unit.
- Third-degree creosote glazing from wood stoves run as primary heat. Foothill properties that rely on wood heat load flues far faster than homes where the fireplace is occasional ambiance. Brushes alone can’t cut this glaze, and the “once a year” rule is dangerously optimistic for these households.
- Spalling crowns and loosened caps after high-wind events. The fall and winter wind patterns that make Claremont feel like a mountain town also stress masonry crowns and chimney caps. We regularly find cracks opened by years of thermal cycling followed by a strong gust, especially on unlined chimneys in the Indian Hill Boulevard corridor.
Pricing for Chimney Sweep in Claremont, CA
A standard open-fireplace sweep in Claremont runs $189 to $249. Wood stove sweeps run $239 to $329 because they involve removal of the baffle and a more thorough creosote treatment. Level 1 inspections are included with every sweep; a Level 2 inspection, which involves camera scoping the flue interior, adds $99 to $149 and is worth it on any pre-1940 home that hasn’t been inspected in years. What pushes a Claremont quote toward the upper end? Excessively glazed creosote, a tall flue, or a chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in more than three seasons. We give you a firm price before we start, based on what we know about your chimney, and the estimate is free. Call (833) 467-6493 to book.
We Also Serve Cities Near Claremont
Our service area covers Claremont and the surrounding foothill and valley communities, including Montclair, La Verne, Upland, and San Antonio Heights. If you’re just over the line in one of those cities, you’ll get the same flat pricing and the same named-brand materials we use on every Claremont job. Call us and we’ll confirm the next available appointment in your neighborhood.
Serving Claremont, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Claremont 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 Claremont
Every 30 to 60 days of active burning, or roughly twice per heating season if you’re running the stove daily from November through March. Primary-heat wood stoves in the foothills around Claremont load third-degree creosote faster than any other appliance we service, and waiting a full year between sweeps leaves a glaze that standard brushes can’t remove. If you burn softwood or green wood, sweep more often. Call (833) 467-6493 and we’ll assess your burning pattern and give you a realistic interval.
Because your chimney was likely drafted for the prevailing onshore flow, not for the reversed pressure that Santa Ana winds create. The original low clay flues on 1900s to 1930s homes near the Colleges were never raised, so when the wind shifts, it overcomes the chimney’s natural updraft and pushes smoke back into the house. Cleaning won’t fix this; the flue needs to be raised or the cap reconfigured. We can diagnose exactly what’s causing it during a Level 2 inspection.
Probably not, and that’s the single most common surprise we deliver in the historic tracts around the Village. Many original clay-tile flues were built without a modern liner, and there’s no way to know whether yours has one without a camera inspection. If your chimney is original to a 1920s house and the fireplace has never been relined, the odds are high that your flue is unlined clay tile. We’ll show you the camera footage so there’s no doubt.
First-degree creosote is dry, dusty, and flaky; it brushes off easily with a standard sweep. Third-degree creosote is a hardened, tar-like glaze that has been baked onto the flue walls by repeated hot fires. Third-degree is the dangerous one. It fuels chimney fires and won’t come off with a brush; it requires rotary cleaning heads or chemical treatment. If your Claremont wood stove is your primary heat source, you’ve likely got some third-degree glaze in there right now.
Yes, and if a strong Santa Ana wind has hit your neighborhood, it’s worth checking. High winds loosen chimney caps, crack masonry crowns, and can shift the connection between a stovepipe and a masonry flue. We inspect for wind damage as part of both our Level 1 and Level 2 inspection services. If you heard something rattle during the last wind event, call (833) 467-6493 and we’ll get up there before the next one.
On a Craftsman block near the Claremont Colleges, we pulled a Level 2 inspection on a 1920s masonry fireplace and found heavy third-degree creosote glazing the smoke chamber above a wood-burning insert that had been run as a primary heat source, plus a spalling crown. After the sweep, we fitted a HeatShield liner sized to the original flue and reset a new chimney cap, then walked the homeowner through burning seasoned wood hot enough to keep deposits at first-degree creosote. That’s the kind of job a generalist sweep walks away from and refers out.
If you’re in Claremont and your chimney hasn’t been swept in over a year, or you’re not sure if your 1920s flue has a liner, call (833) 467-6493 for a free estimate. We’ll tell you exactly what your chimney needs, show you the evidence, and give you a firm price before any work begins. One call covers your fireplace, chimney, and dryer vent.
Written by Noel Tarkanian, Owner at Glendale Chimney Sweep, serving Claremont and the surrounding foothill communities.