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 Van Nuys, CA
Chimney repair in Van Nuys usually starts with one discovery: a flue that has been quietly failing for years inside a 1940s or 1950s ranch home. The San Fernando Valley’s dry heat and mild winters mean fireplaces sit unused for long stretches, so cracks in flue tiles, deteriorated mortar crowns, and rusted dampers stay hidden until the first cold snap or the first real rain. Ontario Chimney has served Van Nuys since 2014, and most of our repair work here begins as a routine sweep that turns into an evidence-based repair assessment. Call (833) 467-7685 when you want to know what is actually happening inside your chimney, not what a checklist says might be happening.
Why Van Nuys Homes Are Different
Van Nuys was built out largely between the mid-1940s and the late 1950s, and the housing stock still reflects that post-war suburban boom. Most of the homes we work on are single-story tract ranches with original brick or stucco-clad masonry fireplaces. Those chimneys were built with first-generation clay flue tiles and cast-in-place concrete crowns, and after seventy-plus years of Valley heat, a lot of them are showing their age in predictable ways: hairline cracks in the crown, spalling brick, mortar joints that have turned to sand, and flue tiles that have shifted or cracked from decades of thermal expansion and contraction.
The climate here shapes the work more than most homeowners expect. Summers in Van Nuys are hot and dry, and winters are mild, so chimneys do not see the continuous use they get in colder regions. That means less creosote buildup overall, but it also means structural problems go unnoticed for longer. Then the Santa Ana winds arrive in the fall and drive soot, leaves, and debris back down the flue, and the first rain after a long dry stretch exposes every crack in the crown by letting water seep straight into the masonry. By the time a homeowner calls us for a pre-winter cleaning, what they often actually need is crown repair and a waterproofing plan. That is the reality of chimney care in Van Nuys, and we plan every inspection around it.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Van Nuys Services
The two services Van Nuys homeowners call about most often are chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning, and each one has its own dedicated page with full details.
Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys
A chimney sweep in Van Nuys is less about heavy creosote removal and more about confirming the flue is structurally sound before the season changes. Because so many fireplaces here sit idle for months at a time, we typically find dry, flaky creosote rather than thick, tarry glaze, but we also find the things that only show up in unused chimneys: bird nests, wasp nests, dead foliage, and debris blown down by Santa Ana winds. Our sweep includes a full visual inspection of the accessible flue, the smoke chamber, and the firebox, and we document what we see so you can make an informed call on any repairs. Read the full breakdown on our Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys
Dryer vent cleaning in Van Nuys matters more than most people realize, partly because the Valley’s dry air makes lint fires burn hotter and spread faster once they start. Lint accumulates in dryer vents at a rate that has little to do with how often you run the dryer, and in older Van Nuys homes with long, low-slope vent runs through the attic or crawlspace, that buildup can become a serious obstruction. We clean the full vent run from the dryer to the exterior termination point, not just the first few feet behind the appliance, and we check for disconnected joints, crushed duct, and improper termination. Details are on the Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys page.
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 Van Nuys
Chimney repair in Van Nuys is rarely a single isolated fix. In homes built in the 1940s and 1950s, we usually find multiple related issues once we get eyes on the flue: a cracked crown that has been letting water in for years, a clay flue tile that has spalled or shifted, and flashing that lost its seal against the roof long ago. The dry Valley climate accelerates mortar deterioration, and because the chimney often sits unused for months, none of it gets noticed. We approach every repair by first documenting the damage with a camera inspection, then showing you exactly what we found, and then giving you options that range from immediate repair to monitored deferral when the chimney is safe to leave alone for another season. If you are looking for the full scope of what we handle, visit the Chimney Repair hub page.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You hear birds or animals in the chimney, find animal droppings in the firebox, or notice water dripping into the firebox during rain, all of which point to an open flue with no functioning cap.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney cap installation typically runs $280 to $600 depending on the flue size and the cap’s material and mesh configuration.
How we do it
We measure the exact outer dimensions of your flue tile, select a cap sized for a proper friction or mechanical fit, secure it to the crown without cracking the surrounding mortar, and verify the mesh is tight enough for embers and animals but open enough for proper draft.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
You see hairline or spiderweb cracks across the concrete crown at the top of the chimney, or you notice efflorescence on the brick below the crown line, which means water has been moving through the crown and into the masonry.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney crown repairs range from $350 for a minor crack seal to $900 for a full crown rebuild with new concrete, a bond break, and a proper drip edge.
How we do it
We assess whether the existing crown has a proper drip edge and expansion gap, remove loose or deteriorated concrete, rebuild or reseal with a crown-specific material, and apply a waterproofing membrane rated for chimney masonry.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You have water staining on the ceiling near the chimney, damp drywall around the fireplace chase, or visible gaps between the roof flashing and the masonry where the old sealant has pulled away.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Flashing repair in Van Nuys typically costs $350 to $800, depending on whether the flashing can be resealed and re-secured or needs to be cut and replaced at the roof line.
How we do it
We cut a fresh reglet into the mortar joint where the flashing meets the chimney, install or reset the step, counter, and apron flashing so water sheds down the roof plane, and seal with a high-grade exterior sealant that stays flexible in Valley heat.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
A camera inspection shows cracked, spalled, or missing flue tiles, or the flue is unlined and venting combustion gases directly against the interior masonry, which is both dangerous and out of code for most appliances.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney liner installation typically ranges from $2,500 to $5,500 in Van Nuys, with the final number driven by flue height, the appliance served, and whether the liner is a straight vertical run or must be fed through a masonry chimney with offsets.
How we do it
We measure the flue, recommend the appropriate diameter for your appliance, feed a DuraFlex stainless steel liner down the existing chimney, insulate where the clearance or condensation risk requires it, and connect the liner to a properly sized termination cap at the top.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Van Nuys
| Item | Typical range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $280 – $600 |
| Chimney crown repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
These are the prices we quote on the phone and in writing before any work begins. Repair jobs outside these ranges typically involve hidden damage found only after the flue is opened up, and we always show you the camera footage before we ask you to approve anything additional.
Do I really need a new chimney liner, or is there a cheaper fix?
Not every damaged flue needs a full liner replacement. If the existing flue tiles are cracked but largely intact, HeatShield ceramic resurfacing can restore a smooth, continuous, code-compliant surface at a lower cost than a tear-out and reline. We will show you the camera footage and tell you plainly which option your chimney qualifies for.
How urgent is crown repair if I only see hairline cracks?
Hairline cracks in a Van Nuys crown become real problems after the first rain, when water soaks the masonry and accelerates damage through the winter. If the cracks are superficial and the flue is dry, the repair can often wait until spring, but every year of delay widens the crack and raises the eventual cost.
Brands We Service in Van Nuys
We work with professional-grade materials from Copperfield, DuraFlex, and HeatShield because those are the brands certified chimney professionals specify, and they are what we stock and service in Van Nuys. Common parts are on the truck, specialty liners and caps arrive quickly from regional distributors, and we do not substitute hardware-store parts to save time. See our brands for the full list of what we install and service.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Van Nuys, CA
| Service | Typical range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard) | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney cap installation | $280 – $600 |
| Chimney crown repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $120 – $250 |
In Van Nuys, the biggest price variable is access, not dirt. Older ranch homes have shallow roof pitches and tight attic clearances around the chimney chase, and a flue that runs through the center of the house is harder to photograph and repair than one at the gable end. We quote a flat price before we book the appointment, and anything we discover during the job gets shown to you on camera before a single dollar is added.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Van Nuys
We cover the full Van Nuys ZIP code area, including 91401, 91405, 91406, 91411, and 91423, and we service homes from the 1940s ranch tracts near Van Nuys Boulevard to the later apartments and condos closer to the 405. Typical response time for a scheduled appointment in Van Nuys is within one week, and we route calls across the Valley daily.
- Van Nuys Civic Center area
- Valley Glen (east of Van Nuys)
- North Hills (north of Roscoe)
- Lake Balboa (west of the airport)
- Sherman Oaks border along Burbank Boulevard
Service Area – Cities Near Van Nuys
Our Van Nuys technicians also handle chimney and vent work across the central San Fernando Valley and the surrounding communities. If you are a few miles over the line, we likely already have a truck nearby. We serve Valley Glen, CA, Sherman Oaks, CA, Encino, CA, and North Hills, CA, with the same flat-price quoting and camera-documented inspections we provide in Van Nuys.
Serving Van Nuys, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Van Nuys 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 Van Nuys
Most repair appointments in Van Nuys are scheduled within five to seven business days. Crown repairs and cap installations can usually be completed the same day the appointment is booked, while liner installations take one to two days depending on flue height and access. Call (833) 467-7685 and we will give you a real date, not a window.
Most chimney repairs, including crown repair, cap installation, and liner replacement, do not require a City of Los Angeles building permit. Structural rebuilds of the firebox or the chimney chase might, and we will tell you if your job crosses that line before any work begins.
Yes, and we recommend it for any Van Nuys home built before 1970, because the original flue tiles and crowns are usually still in place and may have hidden damage that a general home inspector is not equipped to fully evaluate. We provide a written report with camera stills you can share with your agent or use in negotiation.
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 Van Nuys Customers Say
"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"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
— Adriana Morales"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
— Tara Novak