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.
Chimney Company in Berkeley, CA
A chimney sweep in Berkeley runs $189 – $389 for a standard open-flue fireplace, and you’ll likely need one more often here than in flatter, drier parts of the Bay Area. Berkeley’s mix of steep hills, marine fog, and a housing stock dominated by pre-1940 wood-framed homes means flues work harder and clog faster. Alcott Chimney Sweep handles all of it, from the flatlands to the Berkeley Hills. Call (831) 534-3789 and a live person answers, day or night.
Why Berkeley Homes Are Different
Berkeley’s chimney problems start with the buildings themselves. Most homes around North Berkeley and the Elmwood date from the 1900s through the 1930s: Craftsman bungalows, shingled storybook cottages, and Victorians with original clay tile liners that are now cracked or missing entirely. Those old flues weren’t built for modern firebox temperatures, and the marine layer doesn’t help. Cool, damp air off the Bay accelerates creosote hardening inside unlined chimneys. What would take a year to build up in a dry inland climate can form a serious fire hazard here in a single rainy-season burning cycle.
The Berkeley Hills add another variable. Chico and Grizzly Peak neighborhoods are full of steep lots with second-story fireplaces, where roof access means tying off on a 20-degree slope. In the hills, you’ll see brick spalling from decades of salt-laden fog off the Golden Gate, and a surprising number of wood stoves retrofitted without proper clearance. Where the flatlands get by with straightforward roof work, hill jobs often need corner scaffolding and an extra point of contact from a technician who’s been doing this in Berkeley since before the hills were all glass-walled remodels.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Berkeley Services
Most Berkeley calls to us are about two things: a chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in years, or a fireplace that smells or won’t draw. From there it’s a short step to the three services below.
Chimney Sweep in Berkeley
A sweep in a Berkeley flatlands bungalow typically means removing creosote that’s been glazed onto old firebrick. In the hills, it’s more likely a mix of soot, pine needle debris, and dust from the cracked cap. Our techs use HEPA-filtered vacuums, not open brush-and-pray, and they lay drop cloths from the front door to the hearth. You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive. That’s the Chimney Sweep in Berkeley page for specifics.
Chimney Inspection in Berkeley
Berkeley sellers and buyers both call before escrow closes, but inspections matter before a fire season, too. We run a camera down the flue and give you digital photos, not a paragraph of vague warnings. In an old Berkeley chimney, the camera usually finds missing mortar, eroded clay tile, or a liner that would fail a Level II inspection. Whether you’re in a Northbrae bungalow or a Claremont hillside home, an inspection with picture evidence is the first step before any repair. That’s the Chimney Inspection in Berkeley page.
Gas Fireplace Repair in Berkeley
Many Berkeley homes swapped wood for gas during 1980s and 1990s remodels, and those units are now aging out of their original valve sets. We see gas fireplaces with pilot lights that won’t stay lit, glass haze from over-firing, and outdated control boards on direct-vent units that have been out of production for years. In a city where the fog lingers till noon, a gas fireplace often serves as the primary heat source for a single room, not a decoration. We cover diagnosis and repair on the Gas Fireplace Repair in Berkeley page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in Berkeley
We stock and install professional trade brands in Berkeley: DuraFlex liners, HeatShield resurfacing material, Famco caps and dampers, and Copperfield chimney components. No box-store substitutes. See the full list on our brands page.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Berkeley, CA
| Service | Typical range in Berkeley |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep (open fireplace) | $189 – $389 |
| Chimney sweep with wood stove insert | $229 – $449 |
| Level I chimney inspection | $159 – $299 |
| Level II chimney inspection (with camera) | $299 – $549 |
| Gas fireplace diagnostic visit | $99 – $179 |
| Gas valve replacement | $349 – $699 |
| Chimney cap supply and install | $229 – $529 |
| Flue resurfacing (HeatShield, per project) | $2,499 – $6,999 |
| Stainless steel liner (DuraFlex) | $2,499 – $5,999 |
Berkeley prices skew higher on hill homes with steep roof pitches and older masonry that needs more labor per foot. Every job gets a written price before work begins, never after, and a written guarantee on every repair. If a covered repair fails, we return free.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Berkeley
We cover all of Berkeley: the flats, the Hills, and everything between. That includes a lot of narrow driveways and zero side yards, so expect a smaller service rig and a tech who can work off a 16-foot ladder without tearing up your landscaping.
- North Berkeley
- Elmwood
- Claremont
- Berkeley Hills
- Westbrae
Service Area – Cities Near Berkeley
Beyond Berkeley, we route our crews into the surrounding East Bay. That includes Albany, CA, Piedmont, CA, Alameda, CA, and Richmond, CA. If you’re on the border, call us and we’ll tell you straight whether your house is in the regular coverage area.
Serving Berkeley, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Berkeley 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 Company in Berkeley
Most Berkeley calls are scheduled within a few days, and we keep a few same-week slots open for hillside homes with blocked flues. Urgent smoke or CO concerns get priority. Call (831) 534-3789 and we’ll give you a real window, not a callback promise.
Basic sweeps and inspections need no permit. Liner replacements and structural repairs may require City of Berkeley building permits depending on scope. We handle the paperwork on our side and tell you exactly what’s required before any work starts, in writing.
Yes. Berkeley hill roofs are steep and often damp, so we use full fall protection, ridge hooks, and a second technician on site for high-angle jobs. If a chimney is unsafe to access without special equipment, we tell you that and bring the right gear rather than take shortcuts on your roof.
Call us at (831) 534-3789 for a free estimate. A live person answers, and you’ll get a written price before any work begins.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Berkeley Customers Say
"Annual inspection and sweep. He used a camera to check the liner and found a cracked tile I had no idea about. Gave me a written estimate and did not push."
- Janet W."Water was leaking around the flashing. They resealed it and installed a new crown coating. Dry through two heavy rains since."
- Douglas P."Damper was stuck shut and I thought I'd need a new one. He freed it and lubricated it for almost nothing. Honest guys."
- Calvin M.