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 Somerset
A chimney inspection in Somerset typically runs $189 – $389 depending on the level of inspection, and most Level 2 camera checks are completed in under an hour. Flint Chimney Sweep has served Somerset homeowners since 2002 as part of the Garrison Partners family, and every inspection includes a written report with photos so you can see exactly what we saw. If you’re south of Loop 1604 near FM 2790 or off Somerset Road, call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll get you on the schedule with a flat price before we arrive.
Somerset’s mix of ranch homes and manufactured housing on well and septic means chimneys here don’t get the same wear as city homes, but they have their own failure points. We know these houses because we work on them every week. A Level 2 inspection with a camera is the standard for Somerset, not an upsell.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Somerset’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Somerset homeowners call us because the price we quote on the phone is the price on the invoice. That’s The Garrison Code: written price before any work starts, every job, no exceptions. We don’t find problems that aren’t there. When our camera shows a sound flue, we tell you the flue is sound. When it shows third-degree creosote, we show you the photos and let you decide.
Hank Delano runs our crew, and the same background-checked, uniformed technicians who work in San Antonio are dispatched to Somerset addresses. When you book, you know who’s coming through the door. A live person answers our phones 24/7, so if you call at 6 a.m. before work or 9 p.m. after the kids are down, you’ll talk to a dispatcher, not a voicemail tree.
Every repair we recommend carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: a written guarantee valid for one full year from the service date. If a covered repair fails in that window, we come back and fix it at no charge. That guarantee is in writing on every repair invoice, and it applies to Somerset homes the same as anywhere else we work.
Chimney Flue Inspection in Somerset
Chimney Flue Inspection in Somerset means running a camera up the flue liner to check for creosote buildup, cracks, separation, and blockages, and it typically costs $189 – $289 when ordered as a Level 1 visual-plus-camera check. In Atascosa County, where mesquite and post oak are the standard firewood, a flue that looked clean in October can be glazed with first-degree creosote by February. A visual-only pass misses that. Our inspection always includes the camera.
What the Camera Shows
We look for three things on a Somerset flue: creosote accumulation, liner damage, and obstructions. Birds and debris are common here, especially on homes near open pasture where there’s no tree canopy to keep them out. The camera report we hand you after the job includes timestamps and labeled stills, so you’re not taking our word for it.
When to Schedule
Before burning season starts, and again mid-winter if you’re burning mesquite heavily. Mesquite burns hot and fast, but it resins up a flue quicker than oak. If you’ve never had a camera inspection on a manufactured home, book one before your next fire. Most Somerset flues we inspect are factory-built, and they need different attention than a masonry chimney.
Chimney Fire in Somerset
Chimney Fire risk in Somerset is real, not theoretical, and the warning sign most homeowners miss is a flue that suddenly drafts poorly or makes a rumbling sound like a freight train when burning. A chimney fire happens when creosote inside the flue ignites, and mesquite and post oak both deposit creosote faster than most other woods. A standard inspection with camera runs $189 – $389 and is the cheapest insurance against a fire that can crack a liner or spread into the attic.
Third-Degree Creosote
First-degree creosote is a flaky soot that brushes off. Second-degree is a tar-like glaze that needs chemical treatment. Third-degree is a hard, shiny glaze that can only be removed with effort, and it’s the stage where a chimney fire becomes likely. Our camera confirms which stage you have. We ran a Level 2 inspection on a manufactured home off FM 2790 in Somerset where the homeowner had been burning mesquite all winter; our camera found first-degree creosote flaking along a DuraFlex flue liner and a rusted-through chimney cap letting water stain the firebox. We brushed the flue, replaced the cap, and handed over a photo report showing the liner was still sound. No repair beyond the cap was needed, so we told them to wait on anything else until the next annual check.
What Actually Happens If You Skip It
Creosote doesn’t just disappear in summer. It sits in the flue, absorbs humidity during Somerset’s hot months, and becomes more adhesive. By the next burning season, a first-degree buildup has often progressed to second-degree. If your chimney has been fine for years, that’s not a reason to skip. It’s a reason the buildup has been accumulating.
Trusted Brands We Service in Somerset
We work with the liners and components already installed in Somerset homes, and we stock parts for the most common ones. That includes DuraFlex flue liners, HeatShield resurfacing systems, and Olympia Chimney caps. If your manufactured home has a factory-built flue and you’re not sure what brand it is, we’ll identify it during the inspection and quote any repair using the same material. No generic substitutes, no mystery parts. Hank Delano’s crew installs what the job specifies, and the guarantee covers the work in writing for a full year.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Somerset Homes
- Creosote glaze from mesquite burning. Somerset’s most common firewood leaves a resinous buildup that hardens into a glaze faster than oak or pecan. A camera inspection catches it in first-degree form, when a simple brushing takes care of it.
- Rusted chimney caps and flashing on manufactured homes. Factory-built flues are often assumed to be maintenance-free, so the cap and flashing go unchecked for years. Water gets into the smoke chamber, and by the time you see a stain on the ceiling, the repair is no longer minor.
- Bird and animal obstructions. Somerset sits near open country and the edge of the Eagle Ford. Birds nest in uncapped flues, and squirrels and raccoons find their way into chimneys on ranch properties. The result is a blocked flue that drafts poorly and gets blamed on the chimney itself.
- Dust accumulation in flues near I-35 and FM roads. Homes close to heavy truck traffic see fine dust settle inside the flue and mix with creosote into a dense buildup. We see it regularly on inspections along Somerset Road and the FM corridors.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Somerset, TX
A Level 1 visual inspection in Somerset runs $129 – $189. A Level 2 camera inspection, which is what most Somerset homes need given the manufactured housing stock and mesquite burning, runs $189 – $289. A Level 3 inspection, which involves accessing concealed flue sections, starts at $389 and we only recommend it when a Level 2 camera pass shows damage that can’t be assessed from the firebox. Every quote is written before any work starts. The price we quote on the phone is the price you’ll see on the invoice. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate, and we’ll confirm the exact number for your chimney before we schedule.
We Also Serve Cities Near Somerset
Flint Chimney Sweep provides Chimney Inspection in Somerset and the surrounding area, including San Antonio, Helotes, Converse, and Universal City. If you’re just outside the Somerset city limits or on a county road between towns, call us and we’ll confirm coverage for your address. Dispatch is coordinated from our San Antonio office, and crews serve Somerset locally.
Serving Somerset, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Somerset 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 Somerset
Once a year, before burning season. If you burn mesquite or post oak regularly, an inspection every six months is not excessive. Somerset’s firewood builds creosote faster than most, and an annual inspection catches the buildup while a simple sweep still handles it. Call (830) 251-4560 to schedule.
Yes, every Level 2 inspection includes a camera run through the full flue length, and we hand you a photo report with labeled stills. You’ll see exactly what we saw, whether that’s a clean liner or second-degree creosote. We don’t ask you to take our word for it.
Yes. The camera shows the difference between first-degree flaky soot, second-degree tar glaze, and third-degree hardened shine. Third-degree is a serious fire risk and typically requires chemical treatment or mechanical removal. We’ll show you the footage and tell you plainly what needs to be done now versus what can wait.
No. We give you the photos, the findings, and a written recommendation. If the liner is sound and the only issue is a rusted cap, we’ll tell you the cap should be replaced and the rest can wait until your next annual check. We don’t manufacture repairs that aren’t needed. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll walk you through the findings honestly.
Yes. We work on DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Olympia Chimney components regularly, and we stock parts for the most common flue liners and caps in Somerset. If your home has a brand we don’t carry on the truck, we’ll quote it and have it in hand before the repair appointment.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, part of the Garrison Partners family since 2002.