San FranciscoCA · city
Read the chimney
one part at a time.
Explore liner, damper, smoke-chamber and firebox services. Use the guides to connect a named component with the questions to ask about its condition.
(628) 259-6209Find your service ↓
THE DETAILS MATTER.LET’S MAKE THIS SIMPLE
What brought you to the hearth?
One choice gets you to the relevant service.
No long form between you and a conversation.
A PLACE TO START
Chimney Sweeping
Maintenance is due or an inspection recommends cleaning before use.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Level 2 Chimney Inspection
A sale, damage event, equipment change, or operating concern needs a detailed review.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Chimney Flashing Repair
Water marks or roof leakage appear where the chimney meets the roof.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
A PLACE TO START
Firebox Repair
Brick, mortar, or interior firebox surfaces are cracked, loose, or visibly deteriorating.
Describe the issue first. Confirm the work and price before authorizing it.
Care from the
firebox to the crown.
A fireplace is only one part of the system. Find the service that addresses what you can see, smell or hear.
Explore all services
↗8 SERVICES
Inspection & Cleaning
Inspection, sweeping, and cleaning work that starts by documenting condition before recommending a repair.
↗9 SERVICES
Chimney Repair & Weatherproofing
Masonry, metal, crown, cap, flashing, and moisture-control repairs for exposed chimney work.
↗7 SERVICES
Venting & Safety
Flue, liner, damper, draft, obstruction, and post-fire work focused on the path smoke and combustion gases take.
↗7 SERVICES
Fireplace, Insert & Stove Work
Firebox, hearth, insert, stove, and factory-built fireplace service after an inspection of the existing system.
THE WORK, UP CLOSE
See the details.
Find your service.
SEE HOW IT WORKS
The moving parts.
A closer look.
Explore the illustrated system and the components behind the service.
Illustrative photographyA MORE CONSIDERED APPROACH
The work you see.
The care you don’t.
A sweep and an inspection answer different questions. One addresses deposits; the other examines condition. Understanding both is the beginning of looking after the whole chimney.
Understand inspectionsFROM FIRST QUESTION TO NEXT STEP
Know what
happens next.
If smoke is entering the room, stop using the fireplace and arrange an assessment.
- 01
Listen to the signs
Tell us about smoke, moisture, visible damage or the last inspection.
- 02
Look at the whole system
The appropriate inspection scope depends on use, access and what has changed.
- 03
Make a considered plan
Review the findings and proposed work before proceeding with repairs.
San Francisco
Start with your address.
Find the service you need, then confirm the work and availability for your property.
LOCAL RESEARCH / San Francisco
Local context
If you plan to use a wood-burning fireplace, insert or stove, check the Bay Area Air District’s current Spare the Air information before burning. Its guidance distinguishes fine-particle alerts, ozone alerts and air-quality advisories, and links wood-burning restrictions to fine-particle alerts. Check the alert type and effective dates on the official service rather than assuming that a recent inspection or cleaning settles whether burning is allowed. Ask the Air District about circumstances affecting your property; this page does not report today’s alert status or determine an exemption.
Source ↗Planning your work
San Francisco publishes a list of construction work that does not need a building permit, covering items such as interior finish work, limited reroofing and certain small exterior structures. Chimney and fireplace work is not among the exemptions shown on that page, and the page itself points to San Francisco Building Code section 106A.2 for the complete list. Treat it as a starting point for a conversation with the Department of Building Inspection about repair, rebuilding or relining, not as a decision about your own chimney.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
CLOSE TO HOME
San Francisco.
And your corner of it.
Find the service information for your area. Confirm your address and appointment availability when you call.
Explore all areasA LITTLE CLARITY
Good questions.
Straight answers.
Is sweeping the same as an inspection?
No. Sweeping removes deposits within the agreed cleaning scope. An inspection examines condition. Ask which inspection level is appropriate and whether it is included in the visit.
Why can a chimney leak when the fireplace is unused?
Water can enter through caps, crowns, flashing, masonry or other roof details. The source needs to be identified before a repair is selected; a stain alone does not establish which part failed.
What if smoke comes back into the room?
Stop using the appliance and arrange an assessment. Smoke can relate to draft, an obstruction or the wider venting system. If there is an active fire or an alarm, leave the area and contact emergency services.