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.
Trusted Chimney Inspection for San Francisco Homeowners
A Chimney Inspection - San Francisco typically costs between $129 and $450 depending on the level of inspection your home requires, and most inspections are completed in under two hours. Alcott Chimney Sweep has been serving San Francisco homeowners since 2002, and every inspection includes a written report with photos so you can see exactly what we see. If you’ve never had your chimney looked at, or you can’t remember the last time someone checked it, call Ruben Castellano’s team at (831) 534-3789 and we’ll schedule an inspection that fits your calendar.
San Francisco homes bring their own set of chimney problems. The marine layer keeps moisture hanging in the air, salt carries in from the bay, and many Victorians and Edwardians still have original masonry that’s been standing since the early 1900s. Those conditions mean liners crack earlier, mortar joints erode faster, and small issues compound quickly. A professional inspection catches these problems before they become four-figure repairs or, worse, a chimney fire.
We tell you who’s coming before the truck arrives. Every Alcott Chimney San Francisco technician is background-checked and identity-verified through the Threshold Standard, and you’ll receive their name and photo ahead of the appointment. When the doorbell rings, the person standing there matches the person you expected. That’s how it works, every single time.
Fireplace Inspection
A fireplace inspection focuses on the firebox, damper, hearth, and the visible portions of the firebox walls where heat and flame do their work. We perform a fireplace inspection as part of most chimney inspections in San Francisco, and it’s especially important for older homes in neighborhoods like Noe Valley or the Richmond District where fireplaces predate modern fire codes. Homeowners just south of the city can also arrange a Daly City Chimney Inspection with our team. Alcott Chimney San Francisco checks for cracked firebrick, deteriorating mortar joints, and damper function during every visit, and our inspection reports include photos so you’re never taking our word on faith. A basic fireplace inspection typically runs $129 to $189, while a fuller inspection that includes the flue starts around $249.
When Firebrick Fails
Firebrick lines the firebox and absorbs heat that would otherwise transfer to the framing around your fireplace. In San Francisco’s damp climate, firebrick absorbs moisture between uses, and that moisture expands when heated, causing spalling and cracking over time. Once a crack opens, heat reaches the metal firebox shell or the masonry behind it, and the damage accelerates fast.
Damper Checks and Common Failures
A damper that won’t fully open sends smoke into your living room. One that won’t fully close drains warm air out of your house year-round. We test damper operation on every fireplace inspection and identify whether the issue is rust, warping, debris buildup, or a broken cable before recommending any repair.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Inspection Services
Chimney inspection services cover the full system from firebox to chimney crown, including the flue liner, smoke chamber, damper, flashing, and exterior masonry. Alcott Chimney San Francisco offers all three levels of inspection defined by the National Fire Protection Association, and we’ll recommend the right level based on your home’s history and what you’re seeing. Most standard chimney inspection services in San Francisco run between $129 and $450, with Level 2 inspections for real estate transactions or after seismic events landing at the higher end. Every inspection includes a written report, and every recommendation comes with photo evidence.
Level 1, 2, or 3: How We Choose
Level 1 is for chimneys that haven’t changed since the last inspection and are used the same way every year. Level 2 adds camera scanning of the flue interior and is required when you’re buying or selling a home, after an earthquake, or when the appliance or liner has changed. Level 3 is rare and involves removing portions of the structure to access concealed areas, usually after a chimney fire or major structural event.
What Your Report Will Show
We don’t hand you a one-page checklist and walk out. Your inspection report includes photographs from the roof, the firebox, and the flue interior when camera access is appropriate. If we flag a problem, you’ll see it yourself, and we’ll explain in plain English whether it needs action this season or can wait.
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 Flue Inspection
A chimney flue inspection examines the interior passage that carries smoke and combustion gases from your firebox to the outside, and it’s the single most important part of any chimney inspection. In San Francisco, flue liners in older homes are often original clay tile, which cracks under the thermal stress of repeated heating and cooling cycles. Alcott Chimney San Francisco uses a specialized camera to capture the full length of the flue when a Level 2 inspection is indicated, and the footage becomes part of your permanent report. Flue inspection costs range from $249 to $450 depending on whether we’re running the camera or doing a visual evaluation, and the price is written down before we start.
Clay Liner Cracks and Gaps
Clay tile liners crack most often in the first few feet above the firebox, where temperatures swing hardest. But in San Francisco’s soft-story buildings and hillside homes, structural movement can open gaps anywhere along the flue. Those gaps let heat and gases reach combustible framing, and they’re invisible without a camera inspection.
Gas Appliance Flues
If you have a gas fireplace or a gas furnace venting through your chimney, the flue faces a different set of problems. Gas exhaust is lower-temperature and higher-moisture than wood smoke, which accelerates liner corrosion. We inspect gas flues using the same camera protocol and specifically check for rust-through, condensation damage, and improper termination at the top.
Chimney Fire
A chimney fire occurs when creosote, the tar-like buildup that accumulates on flue walls from burning wood, ignites inside the chimney, and it can reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in under a minute. The damage from a chimney fire is often invisible from the outside, which is why Alcott Chimney San Francisco recommends a Level 2 camera inspection after any event that produces loud crackling, roaring sounds, or dense smoke from the chimney top. If you’ve had a chimney fire in your San Francisco home, the immediate cost is the inspection itself, typically $249 to $450, and the repair cost depends entirely on what the camera finds. Do not use the fireplace again until it’s been inspected.
What a Chimney Fire Does to Your Flue
Extreme heat from a chimney fire can crack clay liners, separate flue tile sections, warp metal liners, and damage mortar joints all the way up. In some cases the flue survives visually while the mortar behind the liner is compromised, which is exactly why a camera inspection after a fire is non-negotiable. Our inspections look for the hidden damage, not just what’s visible from the top or bottom.
Creosote: The Fuel You Didn’t Mean to Store
Creosote forms when wood smoke cools and condenses on the flue walls, and San Francisco’s frequent temperature swings between cool nights and warmer days accelerate that condensation. Stage one creosote is flaky and removable by sweeping. Stage three is a hard, glazed coating that burns like fuel and requires mechanical removal or chemical treatment before the chimney is safe to use again.
Level 2 Chimney Inspection
A Level 2 Chimney Inspection includes everything in a Level 1 inspection plus a video scan of the entire flue interior, access to the attic, crawlspace, and roof, and documentation that’s accepted for real estate transactions and insurance claims. This is the inspection Alcott Chimney San Francisco recommends for any San Francisco home being bought or sold, any chimney that’s experienced an earthquake event, and any system that’s changing fuel type or appliance. Level 2 pricing in San Francisco runs $299 to $450, and it’s the standard requirement when a home changes hands. You get the full camera footage, not just a summary.
When San Francisco Homes Require Level 2
Real estate transactions are the most common trigger, and most Bay Area counties follow NFPA 211 guidance on this. We also offer Brisbane Chimney Inspection services for homeowners in that area. Earthquake activity also warrants a Level 2, even if the quake felt minor from your couch, because lateral movement can shift flue tiles out of alignment without leaving a visible crack on the exterior. We also recommend it the first time we inspect a chimney with unknown history, which covers most homes over 20 years old.
What the Camera Shows That Eyes Miss
The camera climbs from the firebox to the rain cap, recording every inch of the flue. We’re looking for cracked tiles, separated joints, missing mortar, improper offsets, animal debris, and liner deformation. A visual inspection from the top and bottom simply cannot see the middle thirty feet of a typical San Francisco chimney, and that’s where most failures begin.
Chimney Leak
A chimney leak is water entering through the chimney system, usually at the flashing, crown, or masonry surface, and in San Francisco it’s one of the most common service calls we receive between November and March. Water intrusion causes ceiling stains around the fireplace, musty smells in the firebox, deteriorated mortar joints, and rusted dampers, and the longer it goes unaddressed, the more the repair grows. Alcott Chimney San Francisco diagnoses leaks starting with a visual chimney inspection and a targeted inspection of the roof-to-chimney junction, typically $129 to $249, then provides a written quote for any needed repairs before work begins. We never recommend a fix without photo evidence showing the entry point.
Flashing and Counterflashing
Flashing is the metal barrier where your chimney meets the roof, and in San Francisco’s wet winters it’s the first point of failure on most leaking chimneys. Wind-driven rain finds every gap, and decades-old flashing on Victorians in the Mission or Pacific Heights often predates modern installation standards. We inspect the flashing seals, the counterflashing, and the caulk lines, then photograph exactly where water is getting in.
Spalling Brick and Crown Cracks
Brick absorbs water like a sponge, and when that water cycles through freeze-thaw or just repeated wet-and-dry conditions, the brick face pops off in a process called spalling. A cracked chimney crown lets water run directly down the flue chase, often showing up as dampness in the firebox or a slow drip during heavy rain. These are structural issues, not cosmetic ones.
Chimney Camera Inspection
A chimney camera inspection is a video scan of the flue interior using a high-resolution camera designed for chimney systems, and it’s the only way to see the full length of the flue without dismantling your chimney. Alcott Chimney San Francisco uses this method as part of every Level 2 inspection and any time a visual inspection suggests a possible liner failure. The cost for a chimney camera inspection in San Francisco runs $249 to $450, and you receive either footage or clear stills from the scan. When we tell you something is wrong, you’ll see it with your own eyes.
What the Camera Actually Captures
The camera travels from the bottom of the flue to the top, lighting every surface as it goes. It records cracked tiles, missing mortar, deteriorated parging, animal nests, and the condition of any stainless steel liner. If there’s a hidden firebox gap or a partially collapsed flue tile, the footage shows the location precisely, which means the repair quote covers the actual problem, not a guess.
Camera Scans Before and After Repairs
We use the camera before a liner installation to document the existing condition and after to confirm the new system is seated correctly and fully sealed. The same applies to HeatShield resurfacing: the camera verifies that the coating covers the target areas and there’s no pooling or missed section. This before-and-after record is part of your permanent inspection file.
Brands We Service
Alcott Chimney San Francisco installs and services professional-grade chimney systems from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, the same materials specified by chimney professionals nationwide, not box-store substitutes. DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney are our most common stainless steel liner installations, because they hold up well in San Francisco’s marine air where cheaper alloys corrode in under a decade. HeatShield is our standard recommendation for resurfacing damaged clay tile flues in older homes, and we’ve used it successfully on chimneys throughout the North Bay and Peninsula. Across the Bay, we also provide a Chimney Inspection - Alameda for East Bay homeowners.
When you book an inspection and we identify a liner failure, a spalling crown, or a leak at the cap, we’ll specify the brand and model that matches your system’s dimensions and fuel type. Whether you have a Gelco cap, a Famco damper, or a Copperfield chase cover, we service what’s there. And if you don’t know what you have, that’s fine, the inspection tells us.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke backing up into the room. When smoke enters your living space instead of going up the flue, something is blocking or reversing the draft. It can be a closed damper, a bird or squirrel nest, heavy creosote buildup, or a flue obstruction, and until it’s inspected, you’re breathing combustion byproducts that belong outside.
- A burning smell that shows up even when you haven’t had a fire recently. On humid days in San Francisco, creosote absorbs moisture and releases an acrid, tar-like odor that drifts through the house. That smell means enough creosote has built up to warrant removal, and every day it sits is another day the fuel load grows.
- Ceiling stains or discoloration around the fireplace or chimney chase. Brown rings or yellowed patches above your fireplace usually mean water is traveling down the chimney and spreading outward at the ceiling line. The source could be flashing, crown, masonry, or a failed cap, and it won’t dry up on its own.
- Cracked or spalled brick on the chimney exterior. If pieces of brick are flaking onto your roof or the ground below, water has already penetrated the masonry. In a rainy city like San Francisco, that damage accelerates every season, and the repair expands from a chip to a rebuild faster than most homeowners expect.
- Loud cracking or rumbling during a fire. A whistling, rumbling, or crackling sound that’s louder than normal burning wood can indicate a chimney fire in progress or airflow through damaged flue tiles. Shut the air supply, close the damper if it’s safe to reach, and once things cool, get a Level 2 inspection before using the fireplace again.
Our Process, Step by Step
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You call, a person answers. Day or night, including 11 p.m. on a rainy Sunday when smoke starts pushing into the bedroom. No voicemail tree, no callback queue. We take your information, talk through what you’re seeing, and recommend the right inspection level for your situation.
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You get a name and a photo before we show up. Every Alcott Chimney San Francisco technician passes a background check and identity verification through the Threshold Standard before ever stepping onto a customer’s property. You’ll see who’s coming and know their name before the doorbell rings, and they’ll present a photo ID badge at the door. Every time.
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We inspect, document, and tag everything. The technician examines the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue, crown, flash, and cap, running the camera when Level 2 is indicated. Measurements are taken for liner sizing, clearances are checked, and every finding is photographed. We’re building a record, not just a checklist.
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You get a written recommendation with prices before leaving. If we find problems, we explain them in plain English and show you the photos. Nothing gets recommended without visual evidence you can see for yourself. Any repair quote is written down before work starts, and it includes exactly what’s covered, what it costs, and how long it’s guaranteed.
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You decide what happens next. If the inspection shows clean walls and proper operation, you’re done, and you’ll have the report as your record. If work is needed, we’ll schedule it at your pace. Every repair carries a written guarantee, and if it fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s never an upsell.
How Much Does Chimney Inspection Cost in San Francisco?
A standard chimney inspection in San Francisco runs $129 to $450 depending on the level of inspection your home needs. A basic Level 1 visual inspection typically lands between $129 and $189, a Level 2 inspection with a full camera scan runs $299 to $450, and a Level 3 inspection, which involves opening concealed areas, is quoted case by case after the Level 2 results come back. Those prices include the written report and all documentation.
What affects the price: the inspection level, the height and accessibility of your roof, whether the fireplace is wood-burning or gas, and whether we’re inspecting one flue or multiples. Homes in neighborhoods like Twin Peaks or Russian Hill often have steeper roof pitches, which adds time and safety equipment to the job. A chimney that hasn’t been swept in years may need cleaning before the camera can capture useful footage, and sweeping is priced separately.
How to avoid overpaying: get the inspection level matched to your actual need. If nothing has changed and you use the fireplace the same way every year, a Level 1 may be all you require. If you’re buying a home in San Francisco, the transaction will almost certainly require a Level 2. We’ll never push the more expensive option, and our free estimates spell out why a given level applies to your situation.
Every estimate includes the inspection fee, what’s covered, and any findings we anticipate based on what you’ve described over the phone. You’ll never get a surprise charge at the end of the job. Call (831) 534-3789 and we’ll talk through your home’s specifics before you commit to anything.
Our Service Area Near San Francisco
Alcott Chimney San Francisco serves homeowners across the city and into the surrounding Bay Area. We’re regularly in the Outer Sunset, the Mission, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, and the Richmond, and we cover the Peninsula and East Bay, including Chimney Inspection in Oakland, Chimney Inspection in San Mateo, and nearby communities like Berkeley, Richmond, Hayward, San Rafael, Albany, Fairfax, Walnut Creek, Novato, and Vallejo. Most inspections are scheduled within a few days, and our technicians arrive when they say they will, named and photographed before they knock. You can also see home service coverage details or review the full Chimney Inspection in San Francisco service page for more specifics.
Serving San Francisco, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Francisco area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Inspection in San Francisco
A chimney inspection is a documented evaluation of your fireplace and chimney system, checking the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue liner, exterior masonry, crown, flashing, and cap for damage, buildup, and code compliance. It tells you whether your chimney is safe to use and identifies problems before they become chimney fires or structural failures. Alcott Chimney San Francisco provides a written report with photos on every inspection, so you see exactly what we found.
A Level 1 chimney inspection typically takes 45 to 90 minutes from setup to final walkthrough. A Level 2 inspection with a camera scan usually runs 90 minutes to two hours, depending on roof access and how many flues are being evaluated. We’ll give you a realistic time estimate when you book, and the written report follows the same day or next morning.
A chimney inspection in San Francisco runs $129 to $450 depending on the level. Level 1 inspections are $129 to $189, Level 2 with camera scans run $299 to $450, and Level 3 is quoted after we see the Level 2 footage. Call (831) 534-3789 for an exact quote based on your home, and the estimate is free.
Yes, we service every major brand and most legacy systems in San Francisco homes, including DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products. We’re equally comfortable with original clay tile flues in 1920s Edwardians and modern stainless steel systems in newer construction. If you’re not sure what you have, the inspection will tell us both.
If you smell smoke or suspect a chimney fire, call (831) 534-3789 at any hour. A live person answers around the clock, not a voicemail box, and we’ll talk through what’s happening and get a technician to you as soon as possible. A suspected chimney fire means the fireplace stays cold until it’s inspected, and we’ll document everything for your insurance if needed.
Every repair we perform carries a written guarantee, and if it fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it applies to every completed repair job, not just select services. The inspection itself comes with a written report that stands as your record for real estate, insurance, or your own files.
Move furniture and rugs at least six feet back from the fireplace opening, and clear any decor from the hearth and mantel so we have a clean working area. If possible, avoid using the fireplace for 24 hours before the inspection so surfaces are cool and any fresh creosote is settled. We’ll handle everything else from roof access to interior protection.
Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Service in San Francisco Today
Your chimney is either safe or it isn’t, and the only way to know is to look. Call (831) 534-3789 for a free estimate, and Ruben Castellano’s team at Alcott Chimney San Francisco will schedule your inspection, tell you who’s coming, and put every price in writing before work begins. You’ll get the report, the photos, and straight answers. That’s the deal.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney San Francisco, serving San Francisco since 2002.