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.
Trusted Chimney Sweep for Ontario Homeowners
A chimney sweep in Ontario, CA typically costs between $179 and $329 for a standard inspection and cleaning of a wood-burning fireplace. The work usually takes 45 to 90 minutes. If you’re noticing a smoky fireplace, a smell coming from the firebox, or you simply can’t remember the last time the flue was inspected, review our Chimney Sweep Maintenance Checklist for Ontario Homeowners, then call (833) 467-7685 before the next burn season starts.
Ontario Chimney does this work differently than a general handyman service. We’re a full-service chimney and venting company led by Al Vickers, and sweeping is one of three core trades our technicians perform, alongside dryer vent cleaning and chimney repair. That matters when a routine cleaning turns up a cracked flue tile or a failed damper: the same crew who found it can fix it without you coordinating a second company or consulting a Chimney Sweep Troubleshooting: Common Problems and How to Fix Them resource on your own.
We serve homes across Ontario, from the historic neighborhoods near Euclid Avenue to newer subdivisions south of the 60. If your chimney hasn’t been touched in two years or more, the next fire you light is the test you don’t want to run.
Chimney Sweep Services
Chimney Sweep Services at Ontario Chimney cover the full mechanical and safety inspection of your fireplace and flue system, removing creosote buildup, clearing obstructions, and verifying that every component from the firebox to the chimney cap is doing its job. In Ontario, where winter inversions trap smoke and particulate close to the ground, a clean-burning fire isn’t just about comfort, it’s about not adding to the air quality problem we already live with.
A standard sweep in Ontario runs $179 to $329 for a wood-burning fireplace, depending on flue height, creosote stage, and whether the chimney has been serviced recently. Two-story homes and chimneys with steep roof pitches in neighborhoods like Archibald Ranch typically land at the higher end.
Here’s what our technicians actually do during a sweep, beyond running the brush:
Creosote Removal and Flue Brushing
We run rotary and manual brushes sized to your flue’s exact dimensions, pulling creosote down into a sealed collection system so it doesn’t fill your living room. Stage 1 and Stage 2 creosote come out with mechanical brushing. Stage 3, which looks like tar and is concentrated fuel, usually requires chemical treatment or a follow-up visit.
System Inspection and Findings Report
Every sweep ends with a camera inspection of the full flue length. You see exactly what we saw, on a screen, with an explanation in plain language. No work gets recommended without visual evidence you can verify for yourself.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Cleaning
Chimney Cleaning is the physical removal of soot, creosote, and debris from the interior walls of your flue, and it’s the single most effective thing you can do to prevent a chimney fire. The NFPA recommends a sweeping anytime creosote deposits reach 1/8 inch thick, a mark most wood-burning chimneys in this region hit within a year or two of regular use.
Ontario Chimney handles chimney cleaning for wood-burning fireplaces, inserts, and stoves throughout Ontario and the surrounding foothill communities. Pricing is the same as our standard sweep service: $179 to $329 for most homes, with a detailed written estimate before any work begins.
How We Keep the Mess Contained
We drop protective cloths, run a HEPA-filtered vacuum at the firebox opening, and use a sealed collection system so the creosote doesn’t aerosolize into your living space. When we leave, the hearth is cleaner than when we arrived.
What “Clean” Actually Means
A clean flue has no visible creosote ridges, no soot that wipes off on a finger, and no debris at the smoke shelf. We show you the before and after footage from the camera scan so you know exactly what you paid for.
Fireplace Cleaning
Fireplace Cleaning addresses the firebox itself, the visible structure around where the fire burns, along with the surrounding masonry and hearth. It’s a more visible job than flue work, and it’s often what prompts the call after a season of fires leaves ash, soot stains, and that campfire smell that lingers.
We include basic firebox cleaning with every chimney sweep, but a standalone fireplace cleaning for aesthetic or odor reasons runs $149 to $249 in Ontario. That covers the firebox walls, grate, andirons, and the smoked-up face brick that builds up over time.
Odor and Smoke-Stain Treatment
Southern California humidity can make chimney odors worse, especially in homes near the foothills where damp air settles at night. We use professional-grade absorbent treatments that eliminate the smell at the source, not just mask it with a spray.
Ash Removal and Hearth Prep
We haul away the ash, reset your grate if it’s warped or sitting wrong, and leave the firebox ready for the next burn. If your firebox panels show cracks or spalling, we flag it and give you options, often before it becomes a structural problem.
Chimney Services
Chimney Services is the umbrella term for everything that keeps your entire venting system functional, and it’s where Ontario Chimney separates itself from single-trade outfits. We handle swaps of dampers, chimney cap replacements, crown repair, flashing work, and full relining, using components from Copperfield and Olympia Chimney, the two largest professional supply distributors in the trade.
When a sweep uncovers damage, you don’t get a referral to someone else. Al Vickers and his crew handle the repair in-house. That continuity means the person who diagnosed the problem is accountable for fixing it correctly, not handing it off with a shrug.
Dampers, Caps, and Crowns
A seized damper wastes heated air year-round. A missing chimney cap invites rain, birds, and embers. We replace these components with Famco and Gelco hardware, the same brands specified by certified chimney professionals, and every installation gets checked for proper fit and function before we leave.
Relining and Structural Repair
When a flue is cracked or the mortar joints are failing, we offer DuraFlex stainless steel liner systems plus HeatShield ceramic resurfacing as an alternative to full teardown. That’s a code-compliant, structurally sound fix at a fraction of the cost and disruption of masonry rebuilding.
Chimney Sweep Certified
Chimney Sweep Certified means the technician on your roof has been trained to CSIA-level standards for inspection, cleaning, and fire safety. We put that certification behind every job, not as marketing fluff but as a baseline expectation: whoever steps onto your property knows what a safe flue looks like and what a dangerous one looks like.
In Ontario, homes range from 1950s ranchers with original masonry chimneys to newer builds with factory-framed chase systems. A certified sweep recognizes the failure patterns specific to each. That’s the difference between a brush run and an actual safety inspection.
What Certification Covers
Sweep training covers fire codes, clearances, combustion principles, and flue sizing. Our inspectors also carry camera equipment and understand carbon monoxide venting requirements, which is why we check the appliance connectors and not just the visible chimney.
Why It Matters for Older Ontario Homes
Many pre-1980s Ontario homes have unlined or clay-tile-lined flues that predate modern code. A certified eye catches the difference between normal wear and a flue that’s no longer safe to use, and we document what we find with photos.
Gas Fireplace Cleaning
Gas Fireplace Cleaning in Ontario typically costs $149 to $249 and covers the glass, burner assembly, logs, pilot light, and venting path. Gas fireplaces build up a white film on the glass, accumulate dust and pet hair in the burner ports, and can vent improperly if the termination cap is blocked, all of which affects how efficiently the unit heats and how cleanly it burns.
Many Ontario homeowners run their gas fireplaces as a primary heat source during cold snaps, especially in older ranch homes where central heat struggles to reach back bedrooms. Those units work hard, and they need servicing every one to two years at minimum.
Burner and Pilot Service
We clean the burner ports, check the pilot assembly for proper flame pattern, and make sure the thermocouple and thermopile are generating consistent voltage. Soot on the logs means incomplete combustion, and we find and fix the cause, not just wipe off the symptom.
Glass and Venting Check
We remove the glass, clean both faces with the right product for ceramic glass, and check the gasket seal. The vent run gets inspected from the unit to the exterior cap for blockages, corrosion, or anything a previous installer got wrong.
Chimney Maintenance
Chimney Maintenance is the scheduled work that keeps you from needing emergency repair later, and it’s the most cost-efficient money you’ll spend on your fireplace. A sweep every year, a visual inspection of the cap and crown every fall, and prompt replacement of worn components when they’re still small jobs beats a $4,000 liner replacement or a chimney fire.
In Ontario, most homeowners find an annual maintenance visit in September or October fits the seasonal rhythm. You get ahead of the first burn, before the rains loosen mortar and before the winter inversion makes every smoky fire a neighborhood nuisance.
Seasonal Inspection Checklist
We check the crown for hairline cracks, the cap for rust or animal entry, the flashing for separation at the roofline, and the flue for creosote or debris. Each item is photographed, noted, and explained, so you have a running record of your chimney’s condition year over year.
Repair-Tracking So Small Issues Stay Small
Because we keep notes on every visit, we can tell you if a crack has widened since last year or if a piece of mortar has dislodged between inspections. That kind of continuity is rare in the trade, and it’s exactly how a $200 crown seal becomes a $2,500 rebuild.
Brands We Service
We stock and install components from Famco, the manufacturer of professional-grade chimney caps and dampers that hold up to Southern California sun and wind far better than big-box alternatives. Worn-out or missing caps in Ontario are common, and we replace them with Famco hardware rated for your specific flue diameter.
DuraFlex liner systems are our go-to for relining and for running new liners through offset flues where rigid pipe simply can’t navigate the bends. We also use HeatShield cerfied resurfacing material as a lower-cost structural repair option when a flue is cracked but the chimney itself is sound. Whether you have an unfamiliar brand or a liner we see constantly, we can evaluate it, clean it, and service it, and if it needs replacement, we’ll tell you plainly what’s worth keeping.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- You smell smoke or campfire odor when the fireplace is cold. This usually means creosote has built up enough to off-gas, or the damper isn’t sealing. In either case, the flue should be inspected before the next fire.
- You see shiny, tar-like buildup on the chimney cap or smoke shelf. That’s Stage 3 creosote, which burns like fuel at a much lower ignition point than wood smoke. It won’t brush out.
- Your fire struggles to draw or smoke rolls into the room. A partial blockage, cold flue, or undersized liner can all cause this. It’s also a carbon monoxide risk, so it’s worth addressing before the season starts.
- You hear animals or birds in the chimney. Nests are flammable, block venting, and introduce parasites. Once removed, a proper cap keeps them out.
- It’s been two years or more since your last sweep. NFPA guidelines call for annual inspection, and if your wood usage is regular, annual cleaning. Waiting longer only lets creosote accumulate.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Site Protection. We lay drop cloths around the hearth and run a HEPA vacuum at the firebox. We use a sealed collection system so the creosote we pull down stays out of your air.
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Initial Inspection. We check the damper, firebox panels, and the exterior chimney from the roof or ground level, noting any visible damage before disturbing the flue.
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Mechanical Sweep. Using brushes sized to your flue, we remove creosote and soot from the firebox to the top of the chimney, cleaning the smoke shelf and cap area.
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Camera Verification. A video scan of the full flue confirms that everything is clean and reveals any cracks, gaps, or failing mortar that weren’t visible before.
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Findings Report. You see the footage, get plain-language recommendations, and receive a written quote for any work that’s actually needed. Nothing is sold without evidence.
How Much Does Chimney Sweep Cost in Ontario?
A standard chimney sweep in Ontario runs $179 to $329 for a wood-burning fireplace with a single flue and accessible roof. Gas fireplace cleaning runs $149 to $249. Chimney repairs vary widely depending on what’s actually wrong: a replacement damper might be $250 to $500, while a full DuraFlex relining project could run $2,500 to $5,000 depending on flue height and access.
What drives the price: roof pitch and height, creosote stage, flue size, and whether there’s an insert or wood stove involved. Two-story homes in neighborhoods like Creekside or Park Place cost more than single-story ranchers simply because of ladder work and safety setup time.
To avoid overpaying, get a written breakdown before the brush touches the flue. Ask what’s included, whether the camera scan is part of the sweep or an add-on, and what the technician actually does beyond running bristles through the pipe. Our estimates are flat-price, in writing, and include the camera inspection at no extra charge. Call (833) 467-7685 for a free estimate, and you’ll know the number before you commit.
Our Service Area Near Ontario
We work throughout Ontario and the surrounding communities, including Upland, Montclair, Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont, Pomona, San Antonio Heights, Los Serranos, La Verne, Eastvale, and Jurupa Valley. Most appointments within the Ontario area are scheduled within a few days, and we group nearby jobs to keep response times short. If you’re in a neighborhood near the 10 or 60 freeways, check our Chimney Sweep in Upland page for coverage specifics, or see our Chimney Sweep in Montclair page for the west side of the corridor. For a broader look at how we serve this region, visit our Chimney Sweep in Ontario overview or the home page for service details.
Serving Ontario, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Ontario area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Sweep in Ontario
A chimney sweep is the professional cleaning and inspection of the flue, firebox, damper, and exterior chimney components to remove creosote and confirm safe venting. It is the primary defense against chimney fires, which occur when creosote ignites inside the flue. A sweep includes mechanical brushing, debris removal, and a visual inspection of all accessible components.
A standard sweep for a wood-burning fireplace takes 45 to 90 minutes from setup to final report. Gas fireplace cleaning usually runs 45 to 60 minutes. If the camera scan reveals damage that needs repair, we’ll schedule a follow-up rather than rush the job.
A wood-burning chimney sweep in Ontario costs $179 to $329, and a gas fireplace cleaning costs $149 to $249. Pricing depends on roof height, flue length, and creosote stage. Call (833) 467-7685 for an exact written quote before any work begins.
Yes, including major brands like Heatilator, Majestic, Napoleon, and Vermont Castings, plus less common units found in older Ontario homes. We stock parts from Copperfield and Olympia Chimney, and we service whatever make you have. If a part is obsolete, we’ll tell you plainly and give you replacement options.
We keep several emergency slots open each week for chimney fires, animal entry, or carbon monoxide alarms that trace back to the venting system. Most non-emergency sweeps in Ontario get scheduled within a few days. Same-day service isn’t guaranteed, but we’ll tell you honestly when we can be there.
Yes, all repairs and installations are backed by our workmanship guarantee, and we honor manufacturer warranties on materials like DuraFlex liners and Famco caps. If something fails because of our work, we fix it. If it fails because of age or weather, we’ll still show you exactly what happened and what your options are.
Close the damper before we arrive and keep pets out of the room. We’ll move small items away from the hearth, but if you have valuable decor near the fireplace, moving it ahead of time protects it. We’ll handle the rest, including all cleanup and debris removal.
Schedule Your Chimney Sweep Service in Ontario Today
Your flue handles combustion gases every time you light a fire. It deserves more than a quick brush. Call (833) 467-7685 for a no-obligation quote and a scheduled visit from Al Vickers and the Ontario Chimney team. We’ll tell you what we found, show you the evidence, and give you options.
Written by Al Vickers, Owner at Ontario Chimney, serving Ontario since 2008.