Level 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.
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AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Alamo
A chimney inspection in Alamo typically costs $189 – $429 depending on the level, and the inspection itself runs 45 to 90 minutes on site. Most homeowners in Alamo book a Level 2 camera inspection because their homes have tall exterior masonry stacks built between the 1960s and 1990s, and those older flues hide things a visual check will miss. We’re Flint Chimney Sweep, part of the Garrison Partners family, and we’ve been doing Chimney Inspection work on Alamo’s ranch and two-story homes since 2002. Call (830) 251-4560 and you’ll get a real person on the line, day or night, who can schedule your inspection and give you a written price before anyone steps on your property.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Alamo’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Alamo homeowners tend to ask the same two questions before booking: what exactly gets inspected, and what does it cost. We answer both in writing before the job starts. That’s the Garrison Standard, the operating code every Garrison Partners location follows, and it’s why our Chimney Inspection in Alamo work happens without price surprises at the door. Hank Delano, who leads our crews, has built the Alamo reputation on one rule: document everything, promise only what you can put on paper.
When you book with us, a background-checked, uniformed technician arrives in a company truck with the tools already staged. You’ll know the tech’s name before they arrive. The inspection includes camera footage of the full flue, a written report with photos, and a plain-English recommendation. If we find something that can safely wait, we say so. No pressure, no vague warnings. If we find something that needs work, you get a written quote with specific material brands named, not a mystery line item.
Every repair we recommend carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise. That’s a written guarantee, valid for one full year from the service date. If a covered repair fails inside that year, we come back and fix it at no charge. That guarantee is the reason Alamo homeowners who’ve been burned by no-show companies end up calling us for their next inspection.
Chimney Inspection Services in Alamo
Chimney Inspection Services in Alamo cover three levels of examination, and most homes here need a Level 2. A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of the chimney, firebox, and damper, and it runs $189 – $249 in Alamo. Level 2 adds a camera run through the full flue and costs $299 – $429, which is what we recommend for any Alamo home with a wood-burning fireplace that hasn’t been inspected in two or more years, or any time property changes hands. Level 3 involves some demolition to access hidden sections and is priced per job after camera findings come back.
Camera Inspection
Alamo’s oversized masonry fireplaces have tall flues with hard-to-see offsets, and a camera is the difference between guessing and knowing. Our camera head runs the full length of the flue liner and records everything. You see it too, not just the tech. The footage goes into your written report.
Real Estate Inspection
Real estate transactions in Alamo usually require a Level 2 inspection before escrow closes. Buyers want proof the flue liner isn’t cracked and the smoke chamber isn’t holding creosote. We photograph everything, write the report the same day, and price the job so both buyer and seller know the real number.
What happens when you call
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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.
Chimney Flue Inspection in Alamo
Chimney Flue Inspection in Alamo homes is the inspection type most likely to catch a problem before it becomes a fire or carbon monoxide incident. The flue is the inner liner that channels smoke and gases out of the house, and in Alamo’s 1960s – 1990s ranch homes, those liners are often original clay tile. Clay cracks over decades of heat cycling, and cracks let heat and gas reach the masonry around the liner, which is exactly what a chimney fire needs. A flue inspection runs $249 – $429 with the camera, and it takes about an hour on site.
Flue Liner Condition Report
We measure the flue diameter, document liner material, and look for spalling, cracking, and creosote glaze. If the liner is sound, we say so. If it needs HeatShield resurfacing rather than full replacement, we’ll show you the camera footage that supports it. Nothing gets recommended without visual evidence you can review yourself.
Draft and Offsets Check
Alamo’s tall exterior chimneys are prone to cold-start draft problems, meaning smoke hangs in the firebox instead of rising cleanly. We check damper operation, smoke chamber condition, and flue offsets to identify where the draft breaks down, then price the fix in writing if one is needed.
Trusted Brands We Service in Alamo
When a flue inspection in Alamo turns up a liner that needs work, we specify products from brands you can verify independently. HeatShield resurfacing is our go-to for restoring cracked clay liners without tearing out the chimney. Gelco and Olympia Chimney supply the caps, dampers, and chase covers we install on Alamo homes. Famco parts cover terminations and venting. We keep common components staged for fast turnaround on Alamo jobs, so when an inspection reveals a needed repair, the parts are often ready the same week, not ordered and waited on.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Alamo Homes
- Animal nests in the smoke chamber. Alamo’s wooded lots off Danville Boulevard mean raccoons, squirrels, and birds find their way into uncapped chimneys. A nest blocks draft and becomes a fire hazard, and removing it safely requires more than a sweep.
- Third-degree creosote glaze behind flue offsets. The tall, cold exterior stacks on Alamo’s ranch homes cool smoke quickly, forming a hard tar-like glaze that a brush won’t touch. Camera inspection is the only way to see it, and chemical treatment or mechanical removal is the only way to clear it before it ignites.
- Stuck or rusted dampers. In older Alamo homes, throat dampers rust open or shut. A stuck-open damper dumps conditioned air out of the house year-round, and a stuck-shut one sends smoke back into the room.
- Masonry cracking from neglected use. Homeowners assume an unused fireplace is a safe one. In Alamo, seasons of rain and heat on exterior chimneys crack mortar joints regardless of whether the fireplace gets used, and water then works its way into the firebox and flue system.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Alamo, CA
A Level 1 visual inspection in Alamo runs $189 – $249. A Level 2 inspection with full camera scope runs $299 – $429. Flue-only camera inspections fall within that Level 2 range. What moves the price: chimney height, roof pitch, and whether the chimney is on a two-story home with restricted access. We’ll give you a written price before any work starts, and that’s the number you approve. The inspection includes the written photo report. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate on your specific Alamo property, and we’ll tell you over the phone which level you need and what it costs.
We Also Serve Cities Near Alamo
Flint Chimney Sweep schedules inspections throughout the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay, with crews serving Alamo and nearby homeowners in Walnut Creek, Moraga, Lafayette, and Danville. Scheduling is coordinated from our Bay Area office, and Alamo jobs route through local dispatch. If you’re in any of these neighboring cities, we’ll bring the same written price, camera report, and one-year guarantee.
Serving Alamo, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Alamo 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 Inspection in Alamo
Once a year, even if you only burn occasionally. The reason is Alamo’s climate: the tall exterior stacks on the area’s 1960s – 1990s homes collect creosote faster than interior chimneys because the flue stays cold and smoke condenses inside it. Animals also move in during the wet season whether you burn or not. A $189 Level 1 inspection answers whether the fireplace is safe to use, and a Level 2 camera inspection is the better choice if it’s been two or more years. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll book you for the right level the first time.
A Level 1 is a visual check of the firebox, damper, and accessible chimney areas. A Level 2 adds a camera run through the entire flue and is what we recommend for most Alamo homes with wood-burning fireplaces. If your home off Danville Boulevard or Livorna Road hasn’t been inspected in over two years, or you’re buying or selling, get the Level 2. It documents liner condition, creosote buildup, and hidden offsets that a visual inspection simply cannot see. We’ll tell you which level fits your situation when you call, and the price is written before we show up.
Sometimes it can be removed mechanically, sometimes it means resurfacing. We were called to a home on Livorna Road after the homeowner heard scratching in the firebox; our tech pulled a nest from the smoke chamber and found the damper stuck open. Using a camera, we documented second-degree creosote on the flue liner walls and recommended a HeatShield resurfacing before the next burn season. The photo report we left showed the homeowner exactly why waiting would have been a mistake. Every case gets camera evidence before a recommendation is made, and the repair carries our one-year written guarantee. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll inspect your flue and give you a straight answer on whether it can wait.
No, the camera is included in the Level 2 inspection price of $299 – $429, not added as a surprise line item. The photo report is included too. We don’t charge Alamo homeowners extra for documentation because the documented condition of your flue is the whole point of the inspection. You’ll leave the appointment with footage, photos, and a written recommendation, all for the price you approved before we started.
A strong draft smell means the chimney is not venting properly, and in Alamo’s older ranch homes that usually points to a damper issue, a blocked flue, or negative air pressure inside the house. It can also signal carbon monoxide entering the living space, which is a health risk you should not ignore. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll get a technician to your Alamo home, inspect the flue and damper, and give you a written answer on what’s causing the smell and what it costs to fix. The dispatch line is answered by a live person around the clock.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Alamo and the surrounding East Bay since 2002.