What to Know About Chimney Cleaning Costs: A Complete Guide

The average chimney cleaning cost is $220. Chimney cleaning costs range from $105 to $330. Chimney cleaning keeps the fireplace or stove drafting properly, plus it's vital for safety since chimney fires can result from dirty fireplaces or poorly cleaned chimneys.

Chimney Inspection Costs

A chimney should be inspected before it is cleaned to determine the type of cleaning that is needed, as well as the cost of cleaning the chimney.

Chimney Inspection Level 1

A level one chimney inspection starts at $90 and ranges up to $625, for an average cost of $355. In some cases, a brief chimney inspection is provided for free by the chimney cleaning company.

In a level one inspection, the technician visually inspects the chimney and the flue with a light. The technician may also view some of the openings. The technician will examine the chimney from the roof for any visible signs of damage or obstructions as well as for combustible materials like debris or creosote.

Chimney Inspection Level 2

A level two chimney inspection starts at $185 and ranges up to $810. On average, a level two chimney inspection costs $495.

A level two chimney inspection is required when changing the type of fireplace or fuel, adding a chimney flue liner, or after events that cause damage like a chimney fire or an earthquake.

Chimney Inspection Level 3

A level three chimney inspection begins at around $650 and goes up to $5,000. On average, a level 3 chimney inspection costs $2,825. 

A level three inspection is usually necessary after a building has been severely damaged. With this type of inspection, parts of the chimney, including the crown, might need to be removed. Commercial buildings also require a level three chimney inspection.

Cost by Type of Fireplace/Stove Fuel

Chimney cleaning costs vary by the type of fireplace or stove and by the type of fuel burned in the device. Some types of fuel burn cleaner or dirtier than other types.

Wood Burning Fireplace Chimney

Wood burning fireplaces cost between $200 and $465 to clean their chimneys. The average cost of cleaning a wood burning fireplace chimney is $335. 

Wood burning fireplaces are by far the dirtiest type of device and fuel, producing the most amount of creosote and other byproducts. They require the most amount of chimney cleaning and take the longest time.

Gas Burning Fireplace Chimney

The average cost to clean a gas burning fireplace chimney is $130. The range of costs to clean a gas burning fireplace chimney starts at $80 and goes up to $175. 

Gas burning fireplaces are more commonly found than wood burning fireplaces in most areas. They burn cleaner than wood burning fireplaces and require the least amount of cleaning.

Pellet Stove Chimney

The cost to clean a pellet stove chimney begins at $150 and ranges up to $270. On average, it costs $210 to clean a pellet stove chimney.

Though pellet stoves burn wood pellets, the pellets are a composite material that burns cleaner than natural wood, though not as clean as natural gas.

Chimney Cleaning Labor Costs

The average cost per hour to clean a chimney starts at $60 per hour and goes up to $115 per hour, for an average labor cost of $85 per hour to clean a chimney.

Cost to Install a Chimney Liner

Installing a chimney liner starts at around $1,190 and ranges up to $5,165. The average cost to install a chimney liner is $3,175.

Made of clay tile, cast-in-place materials, or metal, a chimney liner is necessary when the inner section, the chimney flue, is severely cracked or damaged, yet the rest of the chimney itself is structurally stable.

Cost to Remove an Animal From a Chimney

The average cost to remove an animal from a chimney is $375. The range of costs starts at $165 and goes up to $590.

Animals such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, skunks, or possums often make chimneys their home and are difficult to remove. An animal presence is evidenced by the sounds of clawing, scratching, or rustling in the chimney or by animal droppings in the firebox.

Cost to Repair or Install Chimney Flashing

The cost to repair or install chimney flashing starts at $205 and ranges up to $560. Repairing or installing chimney flashing costs $380, on average.

Chimney flashing is the metal skirt on the outside of the chimney that protects the gap between the chimney and the house. It is meant to be loose to allow the house to expand and contract around the chimney.

Cost to Repair or Install a Chimney Cap 

Repairing or installing a chimney cap costs an average of $380 per cap. The cost to repair or install a chimney cap ranges from $120 on up to $635.

A chimney cap is the protective metal covering that is installed over the top of each chimney opening. A chimney cap prevents animals or debris from entering the chimney. It also limits rain and snow from entering the chimney.

Cost to Repair a Chimney Damper

The cost of repairing a chimney damper ranges from $100 to $225, for an average cost of $165.

The chimney damper is the door inside the chimney that opens and closes with a chain or lever. The damper lets smoke from the firebox exit through the chimney.

When the chimney damper will not open or close or will not open or close far enough, a chimney technician may be able to repair it without completely replacing it.

Cost to Install or Replace Chimney Damper

Installing or replacing a chimney damper begins at around $190 and goes up to $390. The average cost to install or replace a chimney damper is $290.

Through overuse, extreme heat, or rust, chimney dampers may need to be replaced instead of repaired. To work correctly, the damper must close tightly in the flue.

Other Factors Influencing Chimney Cleaning Costs

• Creosote build-up: Thick creosote, a safety hazard, requires more rotary cleaning and possibly a chemical treatment. Heavy creosote build-up can add another $800 to the chimney cleaning cost.
• Steep roof pitch: Chimney cleaning technicians may charge more for roofs that exceed the normal roof pitch of 4/12 of 20/12, as additional safety measures may be required.
• Roofing materials: Slippery or easily damaged roofing materials like slate shingles may require more safety measures, thus greater chimney cleaning costs.
• Time of year: Early fall, before fireplace season, is the busiest for chimney cleaners. Chimney cleaning costs may be higher during this high season.
• Emergency work: As with any other immediate work like emergency plumbing, expect to pay a higher rate for emergency, on-demand chimney cleaning or inspection.

Signs You Need to Clean Your Chimney

Clean the chimney once or twice a year or if you see any of the following signs that it's time to clean the chimney:

• Chimney makes a popping or rumbling noise
• Creosote or soot fall when you're burning a fire
• Fireplace is used frequently
• Poorly maintained fireplace
• Fireplace has been dormant for a year or more
• Unseasoned, green wood is often burned
• Thick creosote (more than 1/8-inch) coats the firebox or flue
• Artificial logs are frequently burned
• Smoke often downdrafts

DIY vs Professional Cleaning

The cost to clean your own chimney starts at $65 for a basic chimney cleaning kit and ranges up to $110. On average, a chimney cleaning kit costs $85.

Chimney cleaning kits include basic tools similar to those used by professional chimney sweeps. You will need to access the roof with an extension ladder and feel comfortable working on the roof. You will need to remove the chimney caps to have full access to the chimney flue.

A lower-cost DIY chimney cleaning kit includes six extension rods, one brush, and a drill adapter. A higher-cost kit includes 12 extension rods, two brushes, and a drill adapter. With all kits, you will need to supply your own electric drill.