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 Highland
A chimney sweep in Highland typically runs $189 – $329 for a standard fireplace cleaning with a Level 1 inspection. Most Highland homes we service were built between the 1960s and 1980s, and the original clay-tile flues in those houses need a careful hand, not just a quick brush. We’re Glendale Chimney Sweep, and we’ve spent years working in the Inland Empire’s older housing stock, including the ranch and tract homes that dominate Highland neighborhoods north of Baseline and around the 92346 corridor. If your fireplace has been sitting idle since last spring and you’re about to light the first fire of the season, call (833) 467-6493. We’ll send a technician who knows what to look for before you ever strike a match.
Why Glendale Chimney Sweep Is Highland’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
Highland homeowners tend to be skeptical of anyone who shows up with just a brush and a shop vac. The homes here, especially single-story ranch builds from the 1960s through the 1980s, have fireplaces and chimneys that are now 40 to 60 years old. That means flue tile cracks, deteriorating mortar joints, and damper assemblies that have been rusted or seized for years. Our approach is built around camera inspection. Before we recommend any repair, you see the evidence on-screen. That’s the standard Noel Tarkanian set for our company, and it’s why our Chimney Sweep team gets called back by the same Highland families year after year.
We don’t ask you to take our word for anything. If we find a cracked tile or creosote buildup, we show you the footage. If we find nothing worth fixing, we tell you that too. That’s rare in this trade, and it’s the reason word spreads through Highland neighborhoods like East Highlands, the areas around Highland Avenue, and the foothill-adjacent streets near the 210.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Services in Highland
Chimney Services in Highland mean something specific here because of how these homes were built and how they’ve aged. A standard service call includes a full sweep of the flue, removal of creosote and soot, and a Level 1 visual inspection of the firebox, damper, and accessible flue. In Highland, that runs $189 – $329 depending on flue condition and how long it’s been since the last cleaning. Homes along the foothills can collect more wind-blown debris, so we factor that in when we quote.
Level 1 Inspection
This is the annual baseline. We inspect the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, and the interior of the flue that’s visible from below. In Highland’s 1960s-era homes, we’re checking for hairline cracks in clay tiles and any sign that the damper has seized open or closed. A Level 1 inspection is included with every standard sweep at no extra charge.
Creosote Removal
Highland’s long, hot summers mean fireplaces sit unused from May through November. That idle time lets creosote harden into a glazed, tar-like coating that’s difficult to brush out and dangerous when it ignites. We remove first, second, and third-degree creosote using mechanical brushes and, when needed, professional-grade chemical treatments. A heavy creosote removal in Highland usually adds $60 – $120 to a standard sweep.
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 Sweep Certified in Highland
Chimney Sweep Certified work in Highland is what separates a real inspection-first company from a brush-and-go operation. Our technicians follow the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 211 standard, which sets the minimum requirements for chimney cleaning and inspection. Every sweep we do in Highland includes a documented check of the flue liner, smoke chamber, and damper function. If you haven’t had your chimney looked at in three or more years, or if you bought your Highland home recently and don’t know its service history, start with a certified sweep and a Level 2 inspection. That runs $249 – $449 in Highland, depending on roof access and flue configuration.
Soot Removal
Soot is lighter than creosote but it still coats the flue and reduces draft. In Highland homes with gas inserts or occasional wood burning, soot accumulates faster than people expect. We vacuum and brush the full length of the flue, and we clean the firebox and glass doors if applicable. Soot removal is included in the standard sweep price.
Level 2 Inspection
We recommend a Level 2 inspection after any major weather event, before a property sale, or if you’ve experienced a chimney fire. It includes everything in Level 1 plus a closed-circuit camera run through the full flue. This is where we find the problems a brush can’t feel: cracked tiles, offset joints, missing mortar. In Highland, this is not an upsell. It’s the local standard after Santa Ana wind events.
Trusted Brands We Service in Highland
We service and install a specific set of professional chimney-industry brands, and we’re authorized to work with DuraFlex, HeatShield, Famco, and Copperfield. When a Highland homeowner needs a flexible liner for an offset flue in a 1970s ranch house, we stock DuraFlex rather than ordering a generic substitute. When the fix is a cracked clay tile that doesn’t warrant a full relining, we can apply HeatShield resurfacing instead of tearing out the existing flue. We name the brands because we stand behind them, and because Highland homeowners deserve to know exactly what’s going into their chimney before they approve the work.
Common Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Highland Homes
- Cracked clay flue tiles in 1960s – 1980s chimneys. Originally installed without a liner, many of these flues have developed spalling or offset joints over 40+ years of heating and cooling cycles. A brush won’t catch a crack, but a camera will.
- Hardened creosote after months of idle fireplaces. Highland’s summers are long and hot. When a fire hasn’t been lit since March, the creosote from last season has glazed and hardened. It needs mechanical removal, not just a light brushing.
- Wind-blown debris in north-side homes near the foothills. After Santa Ana events, we find leaves, twigs, and bird nests lodged in flues on the north side of Highland. Some homeowners don’t notice until the first fire smokes into the living room.
- Seized or removed dampers in older ranch homes. We regularly see damper assemblies in Highland that haven’t opened or closed properly in a decade. Some have been removed entirely, which lets conditioned air escape and accelerates creosote buildup during idle months.
Pricing for Chimney Sweep in Highland, CA
A standard chimney sweep and Level 1 inspection in Highland runs $189 – $329. If you add heavy creosote removal, expect $60 – $120 more. A Level 2 inspection with full camera documentation is $249 – $449, and that’s the service we recommend after Santa Ana wind seasons and before buying or selling a home in 92346. What affects your price: flue condition, roof access, time since the last cleaning, and whether you live in a single-story tract home or a foothill-side property with steeper roof pitch. Call (833) 467-6493 and we’ll give you an exact quote. Estimates are free, and you’ll never be asked to approve a repair you haven’t seen with your own eyes.
See the difference
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AfterWe Also Serve Cities Near Highland
Glendale Chimney Sweep serves Highland and the surrounding Inland Empire communities. You’ll find our technicians in San Bernardino, Muscoy, Redlands, and Loma Linda throughout the week. If you’re in one of those cities or anywhere nearby, call (833) 467-6493. If you’re closer to our home base, you can learn more about Chimney Sweep in Highland or the full service area.
Serving Highland, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Highland 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 Highland
The NFPA recommends an annual chimney sweep for any wood-burning fireplace, and that applies to Highland homes as much as anywhere. If you burn more than two cords of wood per season or if your fireplace sits unused for months and then gets heavy use after the first cold snap, stick to a yearly schedule. Many Highland homeowners time their sweep for late September or early October, before the first burn. Call (833) 467-6493 to get on the schedule.
A Level 2 inspection is a camera run through the full length of your flue, documenting every tile joint and crevice. Highland’s aging clay-tile chimneys and the post-Santa Ana debris that accumulates in foothill-area flues make this the only way to verify your chimney is actually safe, not just clean. We recommend a Level 2 inspection after any major wind event, after a chimney fire, or when buying or selling a Highland home.
Yes, but it has to be swept carefully. Highland’s clay-tile flues are decades old and some tiles have hairline cracks or loose mortar. A heavy-handed brush can worsen those defects. Our technicians inspect the flue before and during the sweep, and we adjust technique based on what we find. If we find a crack, we stop and show you the camera footage before any repair discussion.
Third-degree creosote looks like a shiny, tar-like glaze. It’s highly flammable and it won’t come off with standard brushing. In Highland, we see it most often in fireplaces that were used heavily all winter, then left idle through the hot months. We remove it mechanically and sometimes with professional-grade chemical treatments, and we always document the before and after with camera so you can see exactly what was done.
After high winds, check for visible debris at the chimney cap, new stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, or a smoky smell even when the fireplace is cool. If anything looks off, or if you simply can’t see the cap from the ground, schedule a Level 2 inspection. Highland’s north-side homes near the foothills take more wind-blown debris than most, and a camera run is the only way to rule out tile damage. Call (833) 467-6493 for an exact quote, estimates are free.
Local Field Report: What a Santa Ana Wind Actually Does to a Highland Chimney
After a Santa Ana wind event, a homeowner on the north side of Highland near the foothills called us because their fireplace smelled smoky even when unused. Our tech ran a Level 2 inspection with camera and found a cracked clay flue tile and a bird nest lodged above the damper, plus first-degree creosote glazing the upper flue. We removed the debris, documented the cracked tile for the homeowner on-screen, and recommended a HeatShield liner repair only after showing the visible crack – no brush-and-go. This is the difference between a Highland-specific inspection and a generic sweep. In flatland cities, a quick brush might finish the job. Up against the San Bernardino foothills, the job isn’t done until the camera has gone the full length of the flue.
Why Camera-First Matters More in Highland Than Almost Anywhere Else
Highland’s microclimate at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains means fireplaces that sat unused through a long, hot season suddenly become critical after the first cold snap. The homes here are mostly single-story ranch and tract builds from the 1960s through 1980s, with original or early-replacement fireplaces, many with clay tile flues and older damper assemblies. When a technician brushes one of those flues without camera verification, they’re working blind. Spalled tiles, offset joints, and hairline cracks simply don’t reveal themselves to a wire brush. We won’t recommend a repair you haven’t seen with your own eyes. Not in Highland. Not anywhere.
Call Glendale Chimney Sweep for Your Highland Home
If you live in Highland and haven’t had your chimney inspected this year, call (833) 467-6493. We’ll give you a straight answer on what needs cleaning, what needs repair, and what can safely wait. Noel Tarkanian built this company on the idea that a chimney sweep should document what they find, not just scrape and go. That’s what Highland gets when we show up: a camera, a clear explanation, and a free estimate before any work begins.
Written by Noel Tarkanian, Owner at Glendale Chimney Sweep, serving Highland and the Inland Empire.