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 Redlands
A chimney sweep in Redlands typically costs $165 to $285 for a standard open fireplace, and most jobs are done in 60 to 90 minutes. If you’re in the historic core around Smiley Park, South Redlands, or anywhere in 92373, 92374, or 92375, we know exactly what your flue is up against: 100-degree summers, cool winter nights that beg for a fire, and masonry that’s been standing since before the 2003 Old Fire. Call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Why Ontario Chimney Is Redlands’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
We earn the work in Redlands one flue at a time. Our Chimney Sweep team has swept more original brick chimneys in the historic district than we can count, and we’ve learned to read the signs that matter here: earthquake cracks in clay tile, spalling mortar from a century of heat cycles, creosote that’s been sitting since the last time someone actually lit the fireplace. Homeowners in Redlands keep using their fireplaces as backup heat during winter cold snaps, and they want a sweep who understands what that means for the flue. We do.
Al Vickers built Ontario Chimney on a simple rule: show the homeowner what you found before you recommend anything. That rule gets tested constantly in Redlands, where the older homes near Olive Ave and the Craftsman bungalows east of downtown often reveal surprises on the camera. We don’t do scare-sell. We show you the footage, explain what it means, and give you options. That’s why landlords and property managers around the University of Redlands keep calling us back.
We’re not the closest company to you by map distance. We’re the one that treats your chimney like it’s our own. The drive to Redlands from our base in Ontario is fast enough that we can book same-week almost always, and we’ll tell you exactly what time we’re coming.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
Gas Fireplace Cleaning in Redlands
Gas Fireplace Cleaning in Redlands is a job we handle constantly for the mid-century and tract homes in 92374, and it’s not about sweeping soot the way an open fire needs. A gas fireplace builds up a fine white residue from combustion, and the log sets trap dust and pet hair that can smell when the unit cycles on. More importantly, a gas fireplace vented into an older chimney was often installed into a stack that was never designed for it. We check the draft, the termination cap, and the vent path before we touch the glass or the logs.
Glass and Log Set Service
We pull the glass, clean the interior carbon haze, and inspect the log placement for carbon lift-off. On a vented gas set in a Redlands home with a masonry chimney, we’ll also check the throat damper to make sure it’s been properly clamped or removed per code so the unit can’t backdraft into the living room.
Vent and Draft Verification
Gas fireplaces in 92374 tract homes often share flue space or use older clay tile stacks that have never been evaluated for the appliance they now serve. We verify that the vent is drafting upward at the cap, not spilling back at the top of the firebox, and we’ll document the flue condition so you know whether the gas unit is venting into a safe space or a deteriorating one.
A gas fireplace cleaning in Redlands runs $140 to $200. If the unit needs new ember wool, a replacement log, or a thermocouple, we’ll quote that separately before any work is done.
Chimney Maintenance in Redlands
Chimney Maintenance in Redlands is what keeps a 1920s brick flue from becoming a $7,000 relining project. We don’t wait for trouble. Annual maintenance here means sweeping the flue, checking the cap and crown, inspecting the damper, and running a camera to document the condition of mortar joints and any liner that is or isn’t there. In a Redlands home with an original unlined chimney, the maintenance visit is often the first time anyone has looked at those joints since the house was built.
Mortar Joint and Crown Checking
Masonry chimneys in the Smiley Park and Olive Ave areas take a beating from summer heat expansion and winter cooling. We look for hairline cracks in the crown, splayed brick from water intrusion, and eroded mortar joints. If we see early-stage spalling, we document it and tell you honestly whether it can wait or whether it’s about to become a structural problem.
Damper and Cap Service
A stuck or rusted damper on a Redlands chimney is more common than most people think, especially after long stretches of disuse. We’ll lube it, adjust it, or replace it with a Famco or Gelco damper when it’s beyond saving. If the cap is missing or damaged from wind or birds, we’ll pull the old one and install a new one right then.
Trusted Brands We Service in Redlands
When we reline a chimney in Redlands, we install DuraFlex flexible stainless liner systems, the same product certified technicians specify when an offset flue makes rigid liner impossible. For flues that don’t need a full tear-out, we’re certified to apply HeatShield ceramic resurfacing, which restores a compromised flue to code without a full replacement. We stock Copperfield components and keep the common parts on the truck so we don’t have to run back to the yard mid-job and leave a Redlands homeowner without a working fireplace for another week.
Common Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Redlands Homes
- Unlined brick flues swept without camera verification. Older homes from the 1890s through the 1930s, especially around Smiley Park and downtown, often were built with no clay tile liner at all. A quick brush-and-go sweep misses spalling mortar and hidden gravity cracks that become flue failures.
- Clay tile broken by earthquake cracks. Southern California’s seismic history didn’t spare Redlands. Clay tile liners cracked by ground movement get brushed as if they’re intact, allowing creosote to seep behind the tiles into the masonry and create a fire path that starts inside the chimney itself.
- Third-degree creosote from modern appliances in historic stacks. A gas insert or high-efficiency appliance vented into a tall, cold, oversized 1920s chimney produces rapid, glazed third-degree creosote that a standard brush cannot remove. We see this constantly in Redlands where old houses got modern upgrades without flue retrofits.
- Wildfire ash settlement from recurring San Bernardino Mountain fire seasons. Homes across Redlands sit downwind of repeated fire events, and fine ash settles into open flues and caps. That ash, combined with humidity from the nearby canyons, forms a paste that accelerates mortar deterioration. Routine maintenance here isn’t optional.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Sweep in Redlands, CA
Here’s what homeowners in Redlands can expect to pay. A standard open-fireplace sweep runs $175 to $250, depending on flue height, creosote load, and whether the chimney has been neglected for years. Gas fireplace cleaning runs $140 to $200. If we’re adding a camera inspection because you own an older home with a possibly unlined flue, that’s $125 to $200, and it’s the best money you’ll spend. Level 2 inspections, which include attic and crawlspace access plus video documentation, run $300 to $450. Every quote is flat-price before we start, and we’ll give you the exact number on the phone. Call (833) 467-7685 for your number.
We Also Serve Cities Near Redlands
Our crews work Redlands and the surrounding Inland Empire communities weekly. We cover Mentone up Highway 38, Loma Linda and the medical district, Highland’s older east-side homes, and Colton’s historic neighborhoods. If you’re nearby, call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll confirm your exact address is in our service area.
Serving Redlands, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Redlands 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 Redlands
Yes, and a sweep is exactly the right first step. An unlined brick chimney in Redlands can typically be swept safely, but we always run a camera first to check the condition of the mortar joints. If the joints are spalling or have open cracks, we’ll show you the footage and discuss a HeatShield liner or a DuraFlex relining before further use. Call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll schedule a sweep with camera verification included.
Once a year is right for most Redlands homes. If you’re using your fireplace as backup heat regularly during winter cold snaps, or if you’ve been through a heavy wildfire ash season, twice a year may be justified. The fine particulate from repeated mountain fires settles in the flue and accelerates creosote bonding. We’ll tell you honestly after the first sweep whether annual or twice-annual is necessary for your specific setup. Call (833) 467-7685 to book your first visit.
First-degree creosote is a flaky, dusty residue that a standard brush removes. Third-degree creosote is a hardened, tarry glaze that forms when a fire burns cool and slow, like in a tall, cold 1920s flue, and it will not come out with brushing alone. That third-degree coating is extremely combustible and is the leading cause of chimney fires. If your Redlands chimney hasn’t been swept in years and you’ve been using it in a large, cold masonry stack, there’s a good chance you have third-degree deposits. We’ll document it with the camera and show you exactly what we’re seeing. Call (833) 467-7685 for a flat-price sweep quote.
Yes, we service gas fireplaces throughout 92374 and the newer subdivisions across Redlands. We’re not just a wood-fireplace company. Gas fireplaces need cleaning, draft checks, and log set service too, and the older mid-century units often were vented into flues never built for them. We’ll verify the draft, clean the glass and logs, and check the vent path so you know your gas unit is actually moving combustion gases outside, not into the room. Call (833) 467-7685 for gas fireplace service.
Absolutely, and that’s the only way we work. We swept a 1915 Craftsman near Smiley Park recently where the chimney had no clay liner and the mortar joints were spalling from decades of citrus-smudge-era soot. Our tech ran a camera, showed the homeowner the cracked joints and first-degree creosote, and only then recommended a HeatShield liner. No work was done until they saw the footage with their own eyes. If we recommend a liner on your Redlands home, it’s because the camera shows the problem clearly. Call (833) 467-7685 to schedule a sweep with camera verification.
Get Your Redlands Chimney Swept This Season
Whether you’ve got an unlined brick flue in a 1910 Craftsman near Smiley Park or a gas fireplace in a mid-century ranch off Highland Ave, you deserve a sweep who will show you the evidence and tell you straight what your chimney needs. Al Vickers and the Ontario Chimney team are ready to book your appointment. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate, and let’s get your flue ready for the next fire.
Written by Al Vickers, Owner at Ontario Chimney, serving Redlands and the Inland Empire.