A smelly fireplace is almost always one of five things: creosote in the flue getting damp or warm, air flowing backward down the chimney, dust burning off a gas unit at season start, an animal situation, or water where it should not be. The smell identifies the culprit: campfire means creosote, musty means moisture, burning … Read more
The signs a chimney needs repair are mostly water signs: white staining on the brick, flaking brick faces, crumbling mortar joints, rust streaks below the cap, a damp smell from the firebox, and any ceiling stain near the chimney. Add two from inside, flue tile shards in the firebox and a damper that grinds or … Read more
Inspect your chimney once a year, every year. Clean it whenever creosote reaches 1/8 inch thick. That is the actual standard: the yearly inspection comes from NFPA 211, the fire code chimney professionals work to, and the 1/8 inch cleaning trigger comes from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. How often the cleaning lands depends … Read more
Chimney repair costs $200 to $4,000 in 2026 depending on what broke, and most single repairs land between $300 and $1,200. A cracked crown might be a $300 patch. Repointing a two-story chimney with scaffolding can pass $4,000. The repair itself is often cheaper than people fear; the surprise is usually that two or three … Read more
A chimney liner costs $1,500 to $4,000 installed in 2026, about $2,500 for most stainless steel jobs. Prices by material, the add-ons quotes hide, and DIY math.
A chimney sweep costs $150 to $375 in 2026, about $250 for most homes. What raises the price, when to book, and the numbers behind every figure.