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 Running Springs, CA
Chimney repair in Running Springs usually means working on a masonry fireplace or wood stove that has been burning hard through mountain winters for 30 to 70 years. Most of the chimneys we see here are attached to cabins built between the 1940s and 1970s, and plenty of them are second homes or vacation rentals that get long stretches of neglect followed by heavy use. That pattern creates a specific set of problems: cracked crowns, rusted-out caps, and flue liners that look fine from the outside but are failing where you can’t see. If you need a chimney company in Running Springs that knows this housing stock and the way snow, elevation, and creosote interact up here, call Ontario Chimney at (833) 467-7685.
Why Running Springs Homes Are Different
Running Springs sits right around 6,000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, which changes chimney work in ways you don’t get down the hill. First is the burn pattern. Homes here are not lighting a fire on holidays; they are heating with wood through cold, snowy winters, and that means creosote accumulates faster and turns to the hard, shiny third-degree stage that a standard brushing will not remove. Second is the housing stock itself. A large portion of Running Springs is older mountain cabins from the 1940s through the 1970s with original masonry fireplaces, and many have wood stoves that were installed decades ago and never looked at since. Third, the area’s wildfire risk means a dirty chimney is not a cosmetic problem: a creosote fire that reaches the roof in a dry summer is a community-level hazard, not just a personal one.
Seasonal access matters here too. Snow and steep roads can push appointments into narrow windows, which is exactly why we plan sweeps and repairs around fire-season restrictions and early fall, before the first real cold snap locks things in. If you own a vacation rental on the mountain, the pattern we see constantly is a chimney that sat unused for months, then got hammered for two weeks straight over the holidays. That intermittent heavy use is one of the fastest ways to build dangerous creosote in the smoke chamber, and we find it in Running Springs rentals even when the owner swears the fireplace is barely used. The firebox tells a different story.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
Our Main Running Springs Services
Homeowners in Running Springs call us most often for the two services that keep a mountain chimney safe: a proper chimney sweep before burning season, and dryer vent cleaning for the fire hazard that hides in the laundry room.
Chimney Sweep in Running Springs
A chimney sweep in Running Springs is different from a sweep in a flatland suburb because of what comes out of the flue. Mountain wood burning at high elevation produces dense creosote, and older masonry fireplaces in homes built between the 1940s and 1970s often have smoke chambers with decades of hardened buildup. We run a full sweep with brushes sized to the flue, then a camera check so you can see the condition of the liner, not just take our word for it. Before the first snowfall in Running Springs, this is the single most important piece of fireplace maintenance you can do. Chimney Sweep in Running Springs covers the full process.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Running Springs
Dryer vents in Running Springs clog with the same lint they do anywhere, but mountain cabins often have longer vent runs through tight spaces, and vacation rentals do laundry in concentrated bursts between guests. Lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires according to the NFPA, and that risk is not reduced by the fact that the house is at high elevation. We clean dryer vents as a standalone service, with the same care we give a chimney, because a blocked vent is a fire that is waiting for the right load of warm towels. Dryer Vent Cleaning in Running Springs has the details.
Chimney Repair in Running Springs
Chimney repair in Running Springs means fixing the wear that decades of mountain winters put on masonry and metal. Homes built here between the 1940s and 1970s are full of fireplaces that were built to code at the time, but have been through years of freeze-thaw cycles at 6,000 feet, heavy wood-burning seasons, and in many cases, years of no maintenance at all between rental guests. The concrete crowns crack, the flashing around the chimney pulls away from the roof, and the flue liner breaks down from the inside. We repair all of it, and we don’t recommend a liner replacement or a crown rebuild unless we can show you the camera footage that proves it is needed. For the full scope of work, see Chimney Repair.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Hairline cracks in the concrete crown are where water first finds its way into the chimney, and in Running Springs the freeze-thaw cycle widens those cracks every winter until they become open channels.
What it costs in Running Springs
Chimney crown repair in Running Springs typically runs $350 to $900 depending on damage and crown size.
How we do it
We clean and seal the existing crown where the cracking is still surface-level, or rebuild it entirely when the concrete has crumbled past the point where patching can hold.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
If you can see daylight through the top of your chimney where a cap should be, or you’ve had rain, birds, or squirrels getting in, you need a properly fitted cap.
What it costs in Running Springs
We install chimney caps in Running Springs for roughly $300 to $600, depending on flue size and whether you want a basic stainless cap or a custom-fit unit.
How we do it
We measure the flue dimensions, install a stainless or copper cap at the correct height for the fireplace or wood stove draft, and seal the base to the crown.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water staining on the ceiling around the chimney, or dampness in the attic near the flue, usually means the flashing where the chimney meets the roof is failing.
What it costs in Running Springs
Flashing repair in Running Springs runs $300 to $700 for typical roof lines, more if the flashing is completely shot and a full replacement with new step and counter flashing is needed.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing, install new metal cut to the roof pitch, and seal the joints so water runs off the chimney instead of into it.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
If a camera inspection shows gaps, cracks, or spalling inside your existing flue, the liner is failing and exhaust gases or heat are no longer safely contained.
What it costs in Running Springs
A new DuraFlex stainless liner for a typical Running Springs chimney runs $2,800 to $5,000 installed, and if the flue can be restored with HeatShield ceramic resurfacing instead, that is usually in the $1,500 to $2,500 range.
How we do it
We run a camera inspection first, then either resurface the existing flue with HeatShield or install a flexible DuraFlex liner sized to the appliance, and finish with a new top plate and cap.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Running Springs
| Item | Typical range in Running Springs |
|---|---|
| Chimney crown repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,800 – $5,000 |
Do I really need a new liner, or can my chimney be repaired for less?
You may be able to get a HeatShield ceramic resurfacing instead of a full DuraFlex liner replacement. We show you the camera footage before recommending either, and if the existing flue can be restored safely, we tell you that and quote the lower-cost option. If the liner is past saving, a new liner is not optional: it is what keeps combustion gases inside the chimney and heat off your framing.
How do I know what my chimney repair will cost in Running Springs before you start?
Our free estimate gives you a list of recommended repairs with a breakdown of what each one costs, and nothing gets started until you approve the scope. We use fixed pricing based on the job, not hourly billing, so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Brands We Service in Running Springs
We work with materials from Copperfield, Olympia Chimney, and DuraFlex rather than whatever the big-box store has on the shelf. For Running Springs homes, that means chimney caps and damper parts from Famco and Gelco, and DuraFlex liners stocked for the offset flues common in older mountain chimneys. Most standard repair parts are available without a special order. See our brands for more on what we stock.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Running Springs, CA
| Service | Typical range in Running Springs |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard fireplace) | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney sweep (wood stove) | $200 – $380 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $99 – $250 |
| Chimney crown repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,800 – $5,000 |
| HeatShield ceramic resurfacing | $1,500 – $2,500 |
What pushes the price up in Running Springs most often is access: steep driveways, narrow roads, and heavy snow that can complicate a ladder setup or require a return visit. We quote an upfront price before any work begins, and that is the price you pay, not an estimate that drifts upward mid-job. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate on any of these services.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Running Springs
We work throughout the 92382 ZIP code and the surrounding mountain roads that make up Running Springs. Most neighborhoods here are within a short drive of each other, but road conditions in winter can add time to a call, so we schedule service windows rather than promising exact arrival times. The neighborhoods we serve most often include:
- Upper Rowco
- Lower Rowco
- Switzer Park
- Arrowbear Lake
- Cedar Glen
Service Area – Cities Near Running Springs
Ontario Chimney serves Running Springs and the surrounding San Bernardino mountain communities, plus the foothill towns down the hill. If you’re in a neighboring area, we regularly work in Lake Arrowhead, CA, Crestline, CA, Highland, CA, and Mentone, CA. Mountain schedules fill up before the first snow, so call early in the fall if you want a sweep or repair done before burning season starts.
Serving Running Springs, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Running Springs 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 Running Springs
We usually schedule Running Springs service within one to three weeks, and the best time to book is early fall before the mountain roads get snowed in. During winter, we plan routes around road conditions, so a repair may take a day or two longer than the same job would down the hill. Call (833) 467-7685 to get on the schedule before the rush.
Most routine chimney sweeps, cap installations, and crown repairs do not require a permit in Running Springs, but liner installations and structural rebuilds often do. We handle the permit process for you when one is required, and we will tell you up front if your repair needs county approval before work starts.
We work with owners and property managers across Running Springs, and we can coordinate access if you are not on the mountain when the job happens. Many of our Running Springs clients are off-site owners who want the chimney swept, inspected, and documented before they rent the place out for the winter season, and we provide a written report with every inspection.
If your chimney has not been looked at since you bought your Running Springs home, or you know it has been years since the last sweep, call Ontario Chimney at (833) 467-7685. We will inspect it, show you what we find, and give you a straight answer on what it needs and what it can wait on.
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 Running Springs Customers Say
"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
- David Park"Drop cloths everywhere, HEPA vac, and not a speck of soot on the carpet. I'd been dreading the mess for nothing."
- Bethany Padgett"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
- Sarah Sullivan