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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Sweep Across Kenmore
A standard chimney sweep in Kenmore runs $189 – $289 for a single flue with a standard fireplace. Most homes with mid-century clay tile liners benefit from a Level 2 camera inspection, which typically adds $149 – $249 and gives us eyes on what’s behind the smoke chamber before any brush goes down. We serve the neighborhoods around Rhododendron Park, Kenmore Lake, and up toward the Bothell line with crews that know exactly what Lake Washington’s moisture does to chimneys here. Call (830) 251-4560 for a written quote before you book, and you’ll know the price before we arrive.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Kenmore’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
Kenmore homeowners tell us the same thing over and over: they’ve had a chimney company quote one price on the phone, then show up and “discover” a much bigger job. That’s the opposite of how we operate. Every job gets a written price before any work starts, under The Garrison Standard, so the number on the invoice is the number you approved. No exceptions, no door-knock repricing.
Hank Delano runs our team, and he’s built the business around the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If a repair we make fails within a full year from the service date, we return and fix it at no charge, no argument. That’s in writing, on every repair. We also send background-checked, uniformed technicians on every call, and a live person answers the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you’re never leaving a voicemail and hoping.
Our crews work Kenmore properties weekly: 1960s ramblers off NE 181st Street, split-levels near Inglemoor High School, newer builds up toward Log Boom Park. That local route density means we can schedule within a few days most of the year, and we can get to you faster in the fall rush before burning season starts because we’re already running multiple trucks through neighboring Bothell and Woodinville.
Chimney Maintenance in Kenmore
Chimney maintenance in Kenmore is different from inland towns because the north shore of Lake Washington holds moisture that doesn’t burn off the way it does in Woodinville or Lynnwood. Moss and lichen colonize chimney crowns and stainless caps here even on chimneys that see light use, and once a cap rusts through, water gets into the flue and the smoke chamber. Basic maintenance includes brushing creosote, checking the cap and crown, clearing any debris, and verifying the damper opens and closes fully. It runs $189 – $289 for a standard open fireplace chimney.
Annual Sweep for Burning Season
A sweep before heavy burning season is the single biggest thing you can do to prevent chimney fires in Kenmore. We remove creosote and soot, inspect the flue liner, and confirm the cap and crown are doing their job. Most homes here used heavily every winter benefit from one annual sweep; a fireplace used occasionally for ambiance can safely go 18 – 24 months between cleanings.
Fireplace Cleaning With Photo Verification
Every fireplace cleaning includes a camera pass through the flue and a photo report you keep. You’ll see the before-and-after of your own chimney, and if something needs repair, you’ll have the images in front of you to make the call. No one should recommend liner or masonry work without showing you exactly what the camera found.
Chimney Sweep Services in Kenmore
Chimney sweep services in Kenmore typically run $189 – $289 and take 45 – 90 minutes for a standard fireplace. The job starts with floor protection and a HEPA-filtered vacuum running the whole time, then a correct-size poly brush goes down the flue to dislodge creosote and soot. A camera check follows, and you receive a written summary with photos of the flue condition. We use Olympia Chimney and Copperfield components when caps or dampers need replacement.
Creosote and Soot Removal
Creosote is the tar that condenses out of wood smoke and lines your flue. First-degree creosote is flaky and brushes off easily. Third-degree is a hard, shiny glaze that no brush will touch and usually requires a chemical treatment or liner replacement. In Kenmore’s older homes, we often see first-degree creosote that has been ignored for years turn into something far worse.

Level 1 and Level 2 Inspections
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of accessible portions of the chimney, standard with every sweep. A Level 2 adds a full camera scan of the interior flue liner and is required after a chimney fire, before a property transfer, or when you’ve changed fuel type or liner configuration. In Kenmore’s mid-century homes, Level 2 inspections routinely find shifted clay tile liners and cracked joints that no surface-level cleaning will reveal, which is why we recommend them for most first-time customers in the area.

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.
Trusted Brands We Service in Kenmore
When a sweep turns into a repair in Kenmore, the materials we bring matter. We stock and install DuraFlex stainless relining systems, Olympia Chimney caps and dampers, and Copperfield chimney covers because they hold up to the damp, moss-heavy conditions near Lake Washington better than bargain parts. Parts for common Kenmore homes like 1950s – 70s brick and masonry chimneys are kept on our trucks, so when a cap is rusted through or a damper is warped, we can usually replace it the same visit rather than scheduling a second trip. That’s faster for you and one less afternoon off work.
Common Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Kenmore Homes
- Shifted clay tile liners in mid-century flues. The 1950s – 70s ramblers and split-levels around Rhododendron Park and along NE 181st Street often have clay tile liners that have shifted or cracked over decades of thermal cycling. A brush-only sweep misses these, and the homeowner walks away thinking the chimney is clean when the smoke chamber is compromised.
- Moss-eaten crowns and rusted caps. Lake Washington’s marine air holds moisture against the chimney crown and cap, so spalling brick and rusted stainless steel are common here even on chimneys that draft fine. If left wet, a failing crown lets water into the masonry and freezes in winter, cracking the structure.
- Damper problems on lightly used fireplaces. A damper that sticks half-open is a common find on Kenmore homes where the fireplace hasn’t been used in a couple of seasons. It lets conditioned air escape in summer and rain get through the chimney in winter, and it often signals creosote buildup around the throat.
- First-degree creosote glazing into third-degree. A chimney that drafts fine can still be building up creosote. If first-degree creosote goes unchecked for enough burning seasons, it bakes into a hard glaze that no brush removes. We see this most on older wood-burning fireplaces that get frequent use from November through March.
Pricing for Chimney Sweep in Kenmore, WA
A standard chimney sweep and safety check in Kenmore runs $189 – $289 for a single-flue chimney. A Level 2 camera inspection adds $149 – $249, and we typically quote both together since Kenmore’s older housing stock means the camera is the only way to actually see the flue. Repairs get priced in writing before we start, and every repair carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it fails within a year, we’re back at no charge. The price we quote is the price you approve, in writing, before any work begins. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate. We’ll give you a real dollar figure over the phone, not a “we’ll see when we get there.”
We Also Serve Cities Near Kenmore
Our Chimney Sweep team runs routes through Kenmore and the surrounding communities, so we’re on the road in Kenmore every week alongside jobs in Bothell, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and Woodinville. If you’re near the King-Snohomish county line, chances are we’re already in the neighborhood.
Serving Kenmore, WA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Kenmore 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 Sweep in Kenmore
If you burn wood heavily from November through March, sweep it every year. If the fireplace is decorative or used a few times per season, 18 – 24 months is usually fine. The honest answer is that the camera tells us more than the calendar: we’ll show you the buildup and let you decide with real evidence in front of you. Call (830) 251-4560 to schedule and get a written quote first.
A Level 2 inspection is a full camera scan of the interior flue liner, smoke chamber, and accessible portions of the chimney. For most Kenmore homes built before 1980, yes, you should get one, because clay tile liners from that era are notorious for shifting and cracking where you cannot see them without a camera. We bundle Level 2 inspections with most first-time sweeps in Kenmore for $149 – $249.
Yes, and we insist on it. The price you get on the phone is the price you approve in writing before any tools come off the truck, under The Garrison Standard. If the inspection turns up something that needs repair, we’ll show you the camera footage and quote that repair separately, in writing, before any work starts. Call (830) 251-4560 and you’ll have a real number in three minutes.
Not urgent, no. If the chimney isn’t drafting smoke, there’s no active creosote risk from burning. But two years of Lake Washington moisture has likely done something to the cap or crown, and a stuck damper is common. It’s worth a quick camera check before you burn again, and it is not a high-pressure situation. A standard sweep and inspection costs $189 – $289 and takes about an hour.
Third-degree creosote is creosote that has baked into a hard, glassy glaze after years of heat cycles. It’s the most fire-hazardous form of creosote and no mechanical brush will remove it. Treatment usually requires chemical application or a liner replacement. We’ll show you photos of exactly where it sits in your flue so there’s no guessing. Call (830) 251-4560 for a quote on whatever the camera shows.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Kenmore, WA.





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