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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Sweep Across Mentone
A chimney sweep in Mentone typically costs $189 – $289 for a standard fireplace with a clean flue, and most jobs are finished in about an hour to ninety minutes. We run routes through Mentone every week, from the ranch homes off Crafton Avenue to the cabins tucked against the Crafton Hills, so scheduling doesn’t mean waiting two weeks for a crew that treats your town as an afterthought. If you burn wood as your main heat source out here, you need someone who understands that Mentone chimneys load up faster than homes down in Redlands. Call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Why Ontario Chimney Is Mentone’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
The homes we service in Mentone are not like the tract housing you see west of the 10. We’re walking into 1950s ranch houses and older cabins where the fireplace has been doing real work for fifty or sixty years, often with the original clay tile liner still in place. That changes how we approach a sweep. We’re not just running a brush up the flue and handing you an invoice. We’re looking at what decades of heating and cooling cycles have done to the masonry, and we’re checking whether your burning habits are building third-degree creosote faster than a standard annual interval can handle.
Al Vickers runs our operation, and he’s particular about who gets sent into Mentone. Technicians working this area get a briefing on the housing stock before they show up, meaning they know to expect original liners, retrofitted wood stoves, and mature trees dropping debris onto caps and crowns. That’s not marketing language. It’s the difference between a sweep that finds a cracked liner early and one that misses it entirely. When you call (833) 467-7685, you’re talking to a company that thinks about Mentone specifically, not just another ZIP code on the route sheet.
Our Chimney Sweep team handles everything from routine annual cleanings to full Level 1 and Level 2 inspections, and we document what we find with camera footage you can actually see. You won’t get a vague warning about “deterioration” without a photo to back it up. We’ll tell you what we found, show you the evidence, and give you options. That’s how we’ve earned trust across Mentone, and it’s why homeowners here recommend us to neighbors on the same street.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
Gas Fireplace Cleaning in Mentone
Gas fireplace cleaning in Mentone runs $149 – $229 depending on whether it’s a direct-vent unit or a log set sitting in an old wood-burning firebox. A lot of the homes out here were built with wood fireplaces and later converted to gas or pellet, which means the venting setup is often an afterthought that hasn’t been touched since the conversion happened. We service the full unit: glass, logs, burner, pilot assembly, and the vent run, and we check for soot accumulation on logs and glass that signals incomplete combustion. If your gas fireplace hasn’t been opened up in years, the first cleaning usually reveals more than you’d expect.
What a Mentone Gas Fireplace Cleaning Includes
We pull the glass, clean both sides without scratching the ceramic, vacuum the burner and controls, and inspect the vent termination outside. On converted fireplaces we specifically check that the original damper was properly clamped or removed, because a partially closed damper on a gas unit sends combustion gases back into the living space. That’s a real issue in older Mentone homes where the conversion was done decades ago and never re-inspected. We also check for spider webs and debris inside the burner tube, which is a common cause of lazy yellow flames and soot buildup.
When Mentone Homeowners Should Schedule This
If your gas logs have a yellow, flickering flame that leaves black marks on the glass, that’s soot from incomplete burn, and it means the burner needs attention. The dry Santa Ana season out here pushes dust and fine ash through screens and into the venting, so even a gas fireplace that hasn’t been used since spring collects a surprising amount of debris. We recommend an annual cleaning for gas units in Mentone, same as wood, and the price is modest enough that skipping it doesn’t make sense when you consider what a venting problem costs to fix.
Chimney Maintenance in Mentone
Chimney maintenance in Mentone runs $189 – $289 for an annual sweep plus a basic inspection, which is the minimum most of these homes need given the way they’re built and the way they’re used. The rural lots around the Crafton Hills mean trees, and trees mean branches, leaves, and the occasional squirrel testing your cap. A chimney that sits unused through the summer here collects a lot of fine dust from the Santa Anas, and then you light the first fire in November and bake all of it into the flue. Maintenance isn’t just about creosote. It’s about making sure the whole system is still doing what it was built to do.
Annual Sweep for Wood Burners
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a sweep when creosote reaches 1/8 inch, but in Mentone that threshold comes faster than you’d think. Softwood burned in an open fireplace or an older wood stove produces creosote at a rate that surprises people who moved out here from the city and never burned more than a Duraflame log. If you’re going through a cord or more of pine and fir each winter, you’re a candidate for twice-a-year sweeping, and we’ll tell you that plainly rather than just taking your money for an annual visit that leaves glaze building up in the off season.
Chimney Crown and Cap Inspection
The dry heat and occasional freezing nights in Mentone put real stress on chimney crowns. Hairline cracks open up in the crown, rain gets in, and then the freeze-thaw cycle widens them into channels that let water into the masonry below. During a maintenance visit we inspect the crown, the cap, and the flashing, because catching a cracked crown early means a $200 repair instead of a $2,500 rebuild later. The homes we service off Mentone Boulevard and up toward the 38 have enough tree cover that caps take a beating from falling branches, and a damaged cap is an open invitation for birds and rodents. We stock Gelco and Famco caps and dampers, so when we find a problem we can usually fix it the same day rather than ordering a part and coming back.
Trusted Brands We Service in Mentone
When a Mentone chimney needs more than a sweep, the repair has to hold up to real use, not just pass a glance from the sidewalk. We work with a specific set of manufacturers because they’re the ones professional chimney contractors specify: DuraFlex for stainless steel liner systems, HeatShield for ceramic flue resurfacing, and Copperfield and Olympia Chimney for professional-grade components. These are not names you’ll find on a shelf at the big-box store, and that’s the point. Professional-grade materials, not hardware-store substitutes. For Mentone homeowners we keep common parts on the truck so a cracked cap or a worn damper doesn’t mean a two-week wait while something ships from a warehouse. We service these systems and we repair them correctly the first time, because a liner that fails in a wood-burning chimney is not a convenience problem. It’s a fire risk. Call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll tell you exactly what your chimney needs, in plain language, with the camera evidence to prove it.
Common Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Mentone Homes
- Heavy creosote from softwood burning. Pine and fir burn hot but dirty, and in a 1960s fireplace that was never designed for high-efficiency burning, that creosote loads fast. We regularly sweep flues here that have a quarter-inch of glaze after a single winter of heavy use.
- Hairline cracks in original clay tile liners. The east-side ranch homes in Mentone were built with clay tile liners that are now fifty-plus years old. Decades of heating and cooling cycles have left them with cracks that let creosote and heat reach the masonry behind the liner, which is where a brush can’t go and a sweeping alone won’t fix.
- Debris from mature trees on large lots. Mentone’s older homes sit on big lots with oak and eucalyptus that drop leaves, branches, and seed pods onto roofs. We find caps clogged with debris and crowns buried under organic material that holds moisture against the masonry and accelerates cracking.
- Converted fireplaces that were never properly re-inspected. A wave of gas conversions happened in this area decades ago, and many of those conversions are still running with original dampers, old vent runs, and no record of any inspection since the day the gas line went in. We check those conversions closely during every sweep, because a poorly vented gas unit is a carbon monoxide risk that you can’t see or smell.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterPricing for Chimney Sweep in Mentone, CA
A standard chimney sweep in Mentone runs $189 – $289, which includes the full flue cleaning, a basic visual inspection, and a written report. Gas fireplace cleaning runs $149 – $229, depending on the unit type and condition. Level 1 inspections run $129 – $199 when added to a sweep. A Level 2 inspection with full camera work runs $349 – $499 and is what we recommend when you’ve just bought an older Mentone home or haven’t had the chimney looked at in five years or more. If we find damage that needs repair, like a cracked crown or a failed damper, we’ll show you the photo, quote you a specific number, and you decide. Nothing gets recommended without camera evidence you can see for yourself. Estimates are free. Call (833) 467-7685 for an exact quote on your chimney.
How often should Mentone wood-burning fireplaces be swept? At minimum once a year, but if you burn a cord or more of pine or fir each winter, twice a year is the honest answer. The softwood available out here, plus the older fireboxes in these ranch homes, produces creosote faster than hardwood fires in newer houses. One cord of pine in an open fireplace on Crafton Avenue loads a flue with more creosote than two cords of oak in a modern high-efficiency stove. We’ll tell you during your first sweep whether your burning habits justify a six-month interval, and we won’t upsell you on visits you don’t need.
What do hairline cracks in a clay tile liner mean for my Mentone home? They mean heat and creosote are getting behind the liner where a brush can’t reach them, and that’s a fire risk that won’t resolve on its own. This is a pattern we see specifically in Mentone’s east-side ranch homes and cabins built from the 1950s through the 1970s, where the original clay liners have been through decades of thermal cycling. A cracked liner can sometimes be resurfaced with HeatShield ceramic coating rather than fully torn out and replaced, which is a real cost difference. The first step is finding out whether you have cracks, and that requires a camera inspection, not just a sweep. Call (833) 467-7685 to schedule one.
Can you clean a gas fireplace in Mentone? Yes, gas fireplace cleaning is a standard service for us in Mentone, and it’s one of the most commonly requested jobs on converted fireplaces in the older homes here. We service direct-vent units, vent-free units, and log sets installed in original wood-burning fireboxes, and the work includes glass, logs, burner, pilot, and vent inspection. If you’ve never had yours cleaned, or you can’t remember the last time, it’s worth doing once just to see what’s accumulated. A clean gas fireplace burns more efficiently and leaves less soot on your glass. Call (833) 467-7685 for a quote.
Why does my chimney have a strong creosote smell on hot days? Because you have creosote built up in the flue, and Mentone’s hot summer days bake it until the smell pushes down into the house. This is a common complaint in our area during July and August, especially in homes where the fireplace got heavy winter use and no spring cleaning. The smell is telling you the creosote level is high enough that it’s off-gassing, and that’s a sign you’re overdue for a sweep. It’s also a fire risk if the buildup is thick enough. We’ll get it cleaned out and the smell will go away with it. Estimates are free: (833) 467-7685.
Do you service chimney brands like DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney in Mentone? Yes, DuraFlex stainless steel liner systems and Olympia Chimney components are both brands we install and service regularly in Mentone. We also work with HeatShield ceramic resurfacing, Gelco caps and dampers, Famco, and Copperfield, which covers the majority of professional-grade chimney systems in this area. If you’ve got a liner that was installed by a previous owner and you’re not sure what it is, we’ll identify it during the inspection and tell you honestly whether it’s still doing its job. Call (833) 467-7685 to schedule a visit and we’ll walk you through what you’ve got.
We Also Serve Cities Near Mentone
Beyond Mentone, our routes cover Chimney Sweep in Mentone and the surrounding communities including Redlands, Yucaipa, Highland, and Calimesa. If you own property in more than one of these areas, we can often schedule multiple chimneys on a single visit, which works well for landlords and property managers who need documented service across several units without coordinating multiple companies.
Serving Mentone, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Mentone 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 Sweep in Mentone
We run dedicated routes through Mentone every week, so a standard sweep can usually be scheduled within a few days, not three weeks out. If you’re in the 92359 ZIP code and you’re flexible on the day, we can often fit you in sooner. For non-emergency work like an annual sweep or a gas fireplace cleaning, call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll give you the next open slot on the Mentone route. For anything that looks like an active chimney fire or visible smoke in the walls, that’s a 911 call first, and you should not wait for a sweep appointment.
Yes, we cover the entire 92359 ZIP code, including the rural lots east of Crafton Avenue, the older ranch homes along Mentone Boulevard, and properties up toward the Crafton Hills where driveways get long and access can be tight. Our technicians are equipped for longer drives and know to expect gates, gravel roads, and the occasional dog that answers the door first. If you’re on a large lot with a chimney that’s hard to reach from the standard roof access, we’ll bring the ladder setup for it and price the job accordingly before we start.
For active chimney fires or smoke entering the home, call 911 first and evacuate. After the fire department has cleared the hazard, we can come out, assess the damage, and tell you whether the chimney is safe to use again. For non-emergency situations like a strong creosote smell, a blocked flue, or a suspected animal nest, we treat those as priority calls and we’ll get to Mentone as quickly as the route allows. A blocked flue carbon monoxide situation is not something to wait a week on, so be honest on the phone about what you’re experiencing and we’ll prioritize accordingly. Call (833) 467-7685.
No, our pricing is the same across the Inland Empire cities we serve, so Mentone homeowners pay the same $189 – $289 for a standard sweep that a Redlands homeowner pays. The difference is that Mentone chimneys often need more attention once we’re inside, because the older housing stock and softwood burning patterns mean heavier creosote and more liner issues. That doesn’t change the swept price. It changes what we may recommend afterward, and we’ll show you the camera evidence before you spend another dollar. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate.
We stand by our work with a satisfaction guarantee: if you’re not happy with the sweep, we’ll make it right. For installs and repairs, manufacturer warranties apply on DuraFlex liners, HeatShield resurfacing, and the other professional-grade components we use, and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s covered and for how long before any work begins. Most importantly, we don’t leave a Mentone job until you’ve seen the after-photos and understand what was done. That’s how Al Vickers has always run it, and it’s not changing. Call (833) 467-7685 to schedule your sweep or inspection.
Schedule Your Mentone Chimney Sweep Today
If your chimney hasn’t been swept in the last year, or you’ve got a smell you can’t place, or you just bought an older home in Mentone and want to know what you’re dealing with, call us. We’ll get you on the Mentone route, show up when we say we will, and tell you the truth about what your chimney needs. One company from inspection to repair, using professional-grade materials and documenting everything with camera evidence. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate, or to ask any question you have about your fireplace, wood stove, or dryer vent.
Written by Al Vickers, Owner at Ontario Chimney, serving Mentone and the Inland Empire since day one.