How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $129 - $380
It costs about $254 to hire a chimney sweep, but the national average ranges between $129 and $380.
When it comes to your fireplace, a chimney sweep is as important as fuzzy slippers and a good book. These pros inspect, clean, and help maintain your fireplace so you can enjoy it safely and with peace of mind. Hiring a chimney sweep costs an average of $254, but prices will typically range between $129 and $380, depending on the work they do. Let's take a closer look at the costs.
- Average
- $254
- Low end
- $89
- high end
- $1,004
What Factors Influence the Cost to Hire a Chimney Sweep?
While chimney sweep estimates fall within a common range for level-one inspections and basic cleanings, prices may vary slightly in one direction or the other based on your specific needs. Remember to get quotes from at least three pros, and check their online reviews.
Location
The cost of chimney sweep services varies by your home’s location. If you live in an area with a high cost of living, such as New York City or California, you can expect your chimney sweep to cost more than the same service in a lower cost-of-living area.
Type of Fireplace or Stove
When budgeting for your chimney sweep, don’t forget to consider how your type of fireplace or stove will impact the price. For example, sweeping a regular open fireplace with a single flue will cost less than sweeping one with a double flue. When getting quotes from local chimney sweeps, mention the type of fireplace or stove to the company representative.
Gas fireplace maintenance: $80–$130
Pellet stove inspection and cleaning: $130–$200
Standard wood stove upkeep: $150–$300
Access to Your Chimney
How hard will it be for the chimney sweep to access your chimney? If the answer is pretty difficult, meaning your roof has a steep pitch or a high peak, you can expect to pay more for sweep services. Some chimney sweeps may charge more for the extra effort required to service a roof that’s in a dangerous condition or has a difficult-to-reach chimney.
Amount of Time Between Chimney Inspections
If you use your fireplace frequently but have been neglecting your chimney inspections, you can expect your next chimney sweeping service to cost more. Layers of soot can build up in the fireplace if it’s not cleaned regularly, so chimney sweeps typically charge more for the additional time and effort it takes to remove the build-up.
Inspections and Additional Services
The level of chimney and fireplace inspection required is a determining factor in the final cost of your bill. A level one chimney check-up or annual cleaning will likely cost $80 to $200, while a level three inspection may cost up to $5,000. Keep in mind that additional services, like installing a fireplace damper, will likely cost extra.
Additional Chimney Service Costs
Chimneys do need a little TLC over time, particularly in older homes. During your annual visit, chimney sweeps may recommend further repairs to keep your chimney running safely and efficiently. These are some of the most common additional services with their prices:
Chimney cap replacement cost: $75–$1,000
Chimney liner installation cost: $625–$7,000
Cost to repair chimney flashing: $150–$1,600
Cost to repair fireplace damper: $100–$250
Fireplace damper replacement cost: $150–$450
Depending on the extent of damage found during the inspection, you may need to budget for a larger chimney repair cost (between $1,000 and $3,000). In extreme cases, you might have to replace the whole thing, which can cost significantly more—chimney replacement prices can go as high as $5,000.
Finally, you may occasionally discover an animal trapped in your chimney. A chimney sweep can help free the critter for between $180 and $560.
Cost to Hire a Chimney Sweep by Location
Like most home repairs and contractor costs, chimney sweep prices vary depending on where you live. Here's a look at common chimney sweep costs by U.S. states:
| State | Typical Chimney Sweep Costs |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $140 |
| Colorado | $170 |
| Florida | $250 |
| Iowa | $230 |
| Massachusetts | $380 |
| New Jersey | $550 |
| Oregon | $200 |
| Wisconsin | $210 |
Can I Sweep My Own Chimney?
Chimney sweeps are highly trained and certified professionals. If you’re not trained, cleaning your own chimney could lead to dangerous, costly, and even fatal consequences. You should not attempt to clean your own chimney. Just some of the dangers of improper chimney cleaning include the following:
Standing on a roof without professional experience and equipment could lead to you slipping and falling, which can be fatal.
You could expose yourself to toxic soot and ash that can irritate your lungs, nose, eyes, and skin or even cause more serious conditions.
You could accidentally leave dangerous soot or creosote in your chimney, creating a smoke and fire hazard that could end up with your home burning down.
If you don’t do a good enough job, you and your family could experience carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal.
How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Chimney?
The CSIA provides a thorough guide on choosing the right wood and burning it safely in your fireplace or wood stove. You can also use creosote logs to loosen the buildup of dangerous residue inside your chimney throughout the year. Each log costs an average of $15 and can be used between professional cleanings.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to clean your chimney is before you actually need to use it. For most of us, that means getting your chimney cleaned in the spring, summer, or early fall. You may find that chimney sweeps are booked up when the winter months fade and the first round of customers begin to hire them for cleanings, but you also don’t want to wait until too late in the fall when chimney sweeps might be responding to other customers who waited until the last minute. Thus, the safest bet may be the summer.
The service time for a standard chimney sweep is 45 minutes to one hour, making this a quick-and-easy service. However, if you have severe soot buildup or need your chimney pro to install new features, you can expect the service to take longer.
While it’s not the most glamorous task, cleaning your chimney is vitally important to the safety of your home. Neglecting chimney cleaning can cause a blockage and buildup of toxic gasses in your flue, which could lead to a dangerous chimney fire. That’s why it’s important to maintain your chimney and schedule annual cleanings from a professional.