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 Pasadena, CA
Pasadena’s chimneys are a different animal from most of Southern California. The city’s 1900s – 1920s Craftsman and Tudor homes, many in designated historic districts, carry original brick chimneys that were never built with modern liners or caps. Ontario Chimney has served Pasadena since 2014, and most of our work here is structural: assessing century-old masonry, relining cracked clay-tile flues, and bringing pre-code chimneys up to something that can safely handle today’s use. When you call us at (833) 467-7685, you get a chimney company that understands what these old homes actually need.
Why Pasadena Homes Are Different
Pasadena’s housing stock runs heavily to 1900 – 1930 Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Tudor homes, especially around Bungalow Heaven, which holds the highest concentration of Craftsman bungalows in the country. Those homes almost always have exterior brick chimneys with clay-tile or entirely unlined flues, often topped with decorative corbeled crowns that were built for looks, not for keeping sparks, rain, or animals out. We see this pattern constantly in the historic districts ringing Old Pasadena and near the Arroyo Seco.
The climate compounds what age started. Pasadena is hot and dry, with Santa Ana winds and brush-fire conditions on the doorstep of the Angeles National Forest. Chimneys sit idle through the long dry season, then get hammered when winter finally arrives. That on/off cycle lets creosote glazes harden and seizes up damper assemblies. The 1971 Sylmar and 1994 Northridge quakes cracked a lot of these old flues, and because so many Pasadena homes fall under historic designation, repairs above the roofline can require design review, meaning a simple sweep occasionally turns into a preservation-sensitive relining job. Dry rot in the mortar beds, seismic settling, and acidic smog residue on the brick all compound it. A chimney here isn’t just dirty. It’s usually compromised in ways nothing short of a camera inspection will reveal.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Pasadena Services
Most Pasadena homeowners call us for one of two things: a chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in years, or a dryer vent that’s becoming a fire hazard. Both are maintenance jobs that pay for themselves in safety, and both are handled by the same trained technicians.
Chimney Sweep in Pasadena
Regular cleaning matters more in Pasadena than people expect, precisely because the fireplace goes dark for so many months. Creosote that sits through a hot dry summer turns hard and glassy, and hard creosote doesn’t brush off, it has to be mechanically removed. On the old clay-tile flues common in Bungalow Heaven and the Arroyo Seco districts, a sweep should always include a camera look at the tile work, because what looks like routine buildup is often a cracked flue hiding underneath. We’ll show you the footage before recommending anything else. Details on pricing and what a sweep includes are on our dedicated page: Chimney Sweep in Pasadena.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena
Dryer vents are a leading cause of house fires, according to NFPA data, and in Pasadena’s older homes the vent runs are often long, narrow, and snaking through walls or crawl spaces that haven’t been touched since the house was built. Lint packs into those runs, restricts airflow, and sits against a hot dryer. We clean dryer vents as a standalone fire-safety service, not as a throwaway add-on, and we’ll show you the before and after. Full details are here: Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Pasadena
Most Pasadena chimney work is repair, not just cleaning. The original brick chimneys on 1910s and 1920s bungalows were built with clay-tile flues or no liner at all, and a century of heat, seismic shifting, and acid residue from smoggy basin air has cracked and spalled those tiles. When a flue cracks, combustion gases and heat can move through gaps into the masonry and, in the worst case, into the house. Our job is to inspect, show you the damage on camera, and then repair it with materials that actually belong in a chimney: ceramic resurfacing where the flue can be saved, and full liner replacement where it can’t. Ontario Chimney is a full-scope Chimney Repair company, one crew from inspection through completion.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Rain getting into the firebox, birds or squirrels in the flue, or a cap that’s missing entirely on an older home.
What it costs in Pasadena
Chimney cap installation in Pasadena typically runs $200 – $700 depending on the flue size and whether a custom bracket is needed for an odd-size or decorative crown.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, install a properly sized cap with a secure bracket or mechanical fastening to the crown, and make sure it seats flush so embers can’t escape.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Cracked clay tiles visible on camera, smoke smell in adjacent rooms, or flue deterioration noted on a home inspection report.
What it costs in Pasadena
A new flue liner in Pasadena typically runs $2,500 – $5,000 depending on the flue length, diameter, and how much of the old clay tile must be broken out first.
How we do it
We run a camera to confirm the failure, size the liner correctly, and install it through the flue with proper top and bottom terminations so the system drafts correctly and meets code.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water staining on the ceiling near the chimney, dampness in the attic around the chase, or visible rust and lifting on the flashing metal.
What it costs in Pasadena
Chimney flashing repair in Pasadena typically runs $350 – $900 depending on how much metal is replaced and whether the existing flashing is salvageable.
How we do it
We remove the damaged flashing, install new step and counter flashing in the proper gauge, and seal the transitions with high-temperature sealant so water can’t find a path back in.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Cracks in the cement crown, spalling brick at the top of the chimney, or water pooling on the crown after rain.
What it costs in Pasadena
Crown repair in Pasadena typically runs $150 – $600, with a full crown rebuild at the higher end if the existing pour has failed across most of the surface.
How we do it
We clean out the deteriorated crown, re-pour or resurface it with a proper crown mix that overhangs the brick, and slope it away from the flue so water drains off instead of soaking in.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Pasadena
| Item | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $200 – $700 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $150 – $600 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
If you’re in a historic district like Bungalow Heaven, plan for the possibility that a design review adds a few weeks to the timeline for anything visible above the roofline. We’ll handle the paperwork on our end. Call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll put a camera down your flue and walk you through exactly what’s there before any work is booked.
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be saved?
Sometimes the old clay tile can be resurfaced instead of replaced. If the cracks are minor and the flue still has structural integrity, HeatShield ceramic resurfacing rebuilds a smooth, insulated surface inside the existing flue. If the tile has shifted or the mortar is gone, a liner is the safe answer.
How urgent is a cracked flue in Pasadena’s climate?
Urgent enough not to light another fire until it’s inspected. Cracks widen with each heating cycle, and the dry, brush-prone conditions here don’t change that risk. Call (833) 467-7685 for a camera inspection and we’ll tell you plainly whether you can wait or shouldn’t burn again.
Brands We Service in Pasadena
We stock and install professional-grade materials from Famco, Copperfield, DuraFlex, and HeatShield. These are the same brands certified chimney professionals specify, not hardware-store substitutes. For larger repair jobs, we can usually have parts on hand within a few days. You can read more about the materials we use on our brands page.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Pasadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard, Level 1) | $179 – $289 |
| Chimney sweep (heavy creosote, Level 2 camera inspection) | $239 – $479 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $129 – $259 |
| Chimney cap installation | $200 – $700 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $150 – $600 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
Prices in Pasadena run higher when a home is in a historic district, because design review and custom masonry matching add time. When we quote a job, the price we agree on before the work starts is the price you pay, no add-ons discovered mid-job.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pasadena
We work across Pasadena’s distinct housing pockets, from the Craftsman-heavy historic districts to the mid-century ranch tracts on the east side. Each area has its own familiar problems: ornamental corbeling in Bungalow Heaven, clay-tile flues in the Arroyo Seco districts, and condo venting quirks near Caltech and Old Pasadena.
- Bungalow Heaven
- Old Pasadena and the historic core
- Arroyo Seco districts
- East Pasadena ranch tracts
- Caltech and condo conversion areas
We schedule Pasadena work in half-day windows, and most calls in the city can be booked within one to two weeks depending on the season.
Service Area – Cities Near Pasadena
Ontario Chimney works throughout the San Gabriel Valley and up into the foothill communities. If you’re in a neighboring city, we can usually schedule just as easily. We regularly serve South Pasadena, CA, San Marino, CA, Altadena, CA, and East Pasadena, CA. For anything outside that radius, call (833) 467-7685 and we’ll confirm coverage.
Serving Pasadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Pasadena 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 Pasadena
Most Pasadena calls are booked within one to two weeks. During fall, before burning season picks up, that window tightens, so if you want a sweep or inspection before you light the first fire, call (833) 467-7685 sooner rather than later.
Structural work like a liner replacement or a rebuild above the roofline can require a permit, and homes in designated historic districts may need design review. We handle the paperwork on our end and tell you before work begins what the process looks like.
Yes. We regularly do pre-purchase inspections for buyers in Bungalow Heaven and the surrounding historic neighborhoods. The old brick chimneys are a common negotiation point, and a camera inspection gives you documented evidence of what’s actually there before you close.
If your chimney hasn’t been looked at in years, or you bought a Pasadena house with an original brick flue and no idea what’s inside it, call Ontario Chimney at (833) 467-7685. We’ll show you the evidence, give you options, and do the work right the first time.
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 Pasadena 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