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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AfterHow Much Does Chimney Cleaning Cost in Staten Island?
A standard chimney sweep in Staten Island typically runs $185 to $325. That covers a single flue on a one- or two-story home, a full brush-and-vacuum of the firebox and smoke chamber, and a visual check of the accessible components. Add a second flue, a heavy creosote load, or a wood stove insert, and you’ll land closer to $350 to $600. If the sweep turns up a cracked flue tile or a failed crown, repair pricing is quoted separately, in writing, before anything gets touched.
Most Staten Island homes get swept once a year. If you burn more than two cords of wood a season, or you’re in an older North Shore house with a masonry chimney that’s been catching smoke since the mid-century, annual is the floor, not the ceiling.
Key Takeaways
- Typical single-flue sweep in Staten Island: $185 – $325.
- Level 2 inspection (camera inside the flue): $250 – $450, often bundled with a sweep.
- Creosote removal past 1/8 inch is a different job than a routine sweep and costs more.
- Every job gets a written price before work starts. No surprises at the door.
- Repairs carry the 365-Day Done Right Promise: in writing, one full year, free return visit if a covered repair fails.
We’ve been doing this since 2002 as part of the Garrison Partners family of independently owned chimney companies, and the pricing discipline is the same across every location. Flint Chimney Sweep runs on The Garrison Standard: price in writing, scope in writing, guarantee in writing.
Chimney Cleaning Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what Staten Island homeowners are actually paying this year. These are ranges, not quotes. Your exact price depends on the chimney, and we’ll put a firm number in front of you before any tool comes off the truck.
| Service | Typical Staten Island Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep (single flue) | $185 – $325 | Brush and vacuum firebox, smoke chamber, damper area; visual check |
| Second flue added | $95 – $175 | Same scope on the second flue, same visit |
| Wood stove or insert sweep | $250 – $425 | Baffle removal, liner brush, gasket inspection |
| Level 1 inspection | $0 – $125 | Often included with a sweep; visible portions only |
| Level 2 inspection (video camera) | $250 – $450 | Full flue scan, attic/crawl access, documented report |
| Heavy creosote removal (glazed, stage 3) | $400 – $900+ | Chemical treatment plus mechanical removal; may need two visits |
| Chimney cap replacement | $175 – $450 | Standard or custom cap, depending on flue count and size |
| Crown repair or rebuild | $350 – $1,200 | Crown coat, seal, or full pour depending on damage |
| Flue relining (stainless) | $2,400 – $6,500 | Full liner install, insulation, top plate, cap; DuraFlex or Olympia Chimney systems |
Notice how wide that last range is. Flue relining (replacing the inner liner that channels smoke safely out of the house) is a full-day job on a two-story colonial and can stretch to two days on the older, wider flues you find in parts of St. George and Randall Manor. The liner material and length move the number more than labor does.
Where most people get caught is the jump from “sweep” to “sweep plus something.” A $225 sweep can turn into a $650 visit if the technician finds a cracked crown, a rusted damper, or glazed creosote that needs chemical treatment. That’s why we document scope up front. Our chimney inspection service pairs with a sweep when we can’t see the whole flue from the firebox.
What Drives the Price Up
- Creosote stage. Stage 1 (sooty, brushable) is standard sweep pricing. Stage 3 (glazed, tar-like) is a specialty removal and costs two to three times more.
- Chimney height and access. A three-story rowhouse chimney near Bay Street needs more ladder time than a single-story ranch in Eltingville.
- Flue count. Two flues means two sweeps. No way around it.
- Obstructions. Bird nests, fallen tiles, and abandoned caps all add time.
- Heavy soot staining. If the firebox needs de-greasing or the brick needs a poultice, that’s a separate line.
What Brings the Price Down
- Annual maintenance. A chimney swept every year rarely hits heavy creosote pricing. Skipping two or three seasons is how a $225 job becomes a $700 job.
- Bundling inspection with sweep. When we’re already on the roof, adding a Level 2 camera scan costs far less than a standalone inspection trip.
- Doing both flues on one visit. The second flue is nearly always cheaper than the first.
What Affects Chimney Cleaning Pricing in Staten Island
Pricing here isn’t like pricing in a small inland market, and the reasons are specific to the borough.
- Salt air on the shoreline. If you’re anywhere near the water in Great Kills, Midland Beach, or the eastern edge of the island, the salt in the air eats at masonry and metal. Chimney caps rust through faster, and we see more rusted dampers and flashings than you’d find inland. That rust often adds a repair line to what started as a routine sweep.
- Older housing stock. A lot of the North Shore housing was built between 1900 and 1950. Those chimneys were sized for coal, not wood, and the flues are wider and often unlined or lined with original clay tile that’s failing. A wider flue means more brush passes and more debris. Failed tile means relining is on the table.
- Post-Sandy chimney damage. Homes rebuilt or repaired after 2012 sometimes have chimneys that were re-flashed or re-crowned under insurance work that didn’t address the flue interior. We find more interior tile cracks in those homes than in comparable homes that weren’t in the flood zone.
- Wood-burning habits. Homes in the Greenbelt-adjacent neighborhoods and close-in suburbs like Westerleigh that burn real wood seasonally build creosote faster than gas-log users. Two cords of unseasoned wood a year will put you on the annual-sweep schedule whether you like it or not.
- Oil and gas conversions. Many Staten Island homes converted from oil heat years ago. Older oil flues leave behind sulfur residue that changes how we approach the sweep and how the flue should be cleaned before relining.
- Access and roofing. Steep slate or tile roofs slow the work. We charge for time, not for drama, and the time difference is real.
- Season. Fall is booking season. The price doesn’t change, but the calendar fills. If you want a specific window, call earlier than you think you need to.
A word on safety, because it matters more than price. Chimney work at height and creosote removal are the two most dangerous parts of this trade. Creosote is what actually fuels chimney fires, and the burners that produce it don’t all look the same. A flue that looks clean from the firebox can be lined with glazed deposit higher up. We don’t recommend homeowners work on their own flues at height, and we don’t hand out do-it-yourself instructions for that reason. Recognizing that a problem exists is useful; climbing a two-story chimney to fix it is not a homeowner job.
Chimney Sweep vs. Chimney Inspection: What Am I Paying For?
These are two different services, and confusing them is the most common reason people feel overcharged.
A chimney sweep cleans. We remove soot, creosote, and debris from the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue. That’s the $185 – $325 line on your invoice.
A chimney inspection evaluates. Level 1 is a visual check of accessible portions, often included with a sweep at no extra charge. Level 2 uses a video camera inside the flue and documents what it finds in a written report, priced at $250 – $450 standalone. Level 3 involves opening up concealed areas and only happens when the camera or the contractor’s judgment says it’s necessary.
If you’re buying or selling a home in Staten Island, the bank or the buyer’s attorney will typically ask for a Level 2. That’s not a sales tactic, it’s the standard. Learn more about what’s covered on our inspection page, or compare it against our chimney repair service if the scan turns up something that needs fixing.
How to Save on Chimney Cleaning
No gimmicks here. Just the things that actually lower what you pay.
- Sweep annually. Called out already, but it’s the single biggest cost lever. Annual sweeps stay in the base range. Skipped years slide you into heavy-creosote territory, where the price doubles or worse.
- Burn seasoned wood. Wood under 20% moisture burns hot and clean. Green wood builds creosote fast and pushes you into the expensive tier.
- Bundle sweep and inspection. If you’re already getting a sweep, adding a Level 2 on the same visit costs less than booking the inspection separately later. Ask when you call.
- Book both flues at once. Two flues on one trip is cheaper than two trips.
- Book off-season. Spring and summer appointments are easier to get and often come with more scheduling flexibility.
- Get the price in writing before anyone starts. This is the point. A written price you approved is the number you pay. Any company that won’t put it in writing is telling you something.
Every estimate we give is free, and every job gets a written price before work begins. That’s the rule on every call, no exceptions. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate on your Staten Island chimney.
FAQs – Chimney Cleaning Cost
How much does a chimney sweep cost in Staten Island?
A standard chimney sweep in Staten Island costs $185 to $325 for a single flue on a typical one- or two-story home. Second flues add $95 to $175. Wood stove and insert sweeps run $250 to $425. Heavy creosote removal can push past $900. Call (830) 251-4560 for an exact quote on your chimney: estimates are free, and the price is written down before any work starts.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a chimney?
Repair is almost always cheaper than replacement for a chimney that still has sound structure. A crown repair runs $350 to $1,200. A full flue relining runs $2,400 to $6,500. Full chimney rebuilds typically start around $8,000 and climb fast. The right answer depends on what the inspection finds, which is why we do the inspection first and quote the repair second. Call (830) 251-4560 to schedule.
How often should I have my chimney cleaned in Staten Island?
Once a year for most homes, and twice a year if you burn more than two cords of wood or use the fireplace as a primary heat source. Staten Island’s older masonry chimneys, especially the coal-era flues on the North Shore, build creosote faster than modern stainless-lined systems. Annual sweeps keep you in the base price range and out of heavy-creosote pricing. Call (830) 251-4560 to get on the schedule.
Do you charge extra for a chimney inspection with the cleaning?
No. A Level 1 inspection is included with every sweep at no extra charge. A Level 2 video-camera inspection, which is what lenders and buyers usually want, runs $250 to $450 standalone but costs less when bundled with a sweep on the same visit. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll quote both options before we schedule anything.
Can you come out today?
Often, yes. Same-day and next-day slots open up regularly, especially outside the fall rush. We answer the phone with a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you’re not leaving a voicemail and waiting until Monday. Call (830) 251-4560 and we’ll tell you honestly what’s available.
What’s included in the 365-Day Done Right Promise?
Every repair we make carries a written guarantee valid for one full year from the service date. If a covered repair fails within that year, we come back and make it right at no charge, no argument, no service fee. It’s in writing on the invoice. Call (830) 251-4560 if you have questions about what your specific job covers.
Why Homeowners Choose Flint Chimney Sweep
We’re not the cheapest chimney company in the borough, and we’re not trying to be. What we offer is a process that removes the guesswork:
- Written price before work starts. Every job. No exceptions. The number you approve is the number on the invoice.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise. Written guarantee on every repair, valid one full year from the service date, with a free return visit if a covered repair fails.
- Background-checked, uniformed technicians. You know who’s coming to your door before they arrive.
- Live person on the phone 24/7. No voicemail trees, no callback forms, no waiting until Monday.
- Professional-grade materials. We install DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products, specified by the job and not by what’s sitting in the warehouse.
- In business since 2002. Part of the Garrison Partners family of independently owned chimney service companies, operating under The Garrison Standard and The Garrison Code.
Those aren’t marketing lines. They’re the terms we work under, and they’re the reason homeowners in Staten Island call us back. If you want the full picture of what we do, our home page lays out all three core services: sweep, inspection, and repair.
Getting a Free Estimate in Staten Island
Give us a call at (830) 251-4560 and we’ll quote your chimney over the phone or send a technician out for a free on-site estimate, whichever fits the job. We answer live, 24 hours a day. Tell us the neighborhood, the number of flues, and whether you burn wood, and we can usually give you a real number in a couple of minutes. If it turns out you need more than a sweep, you’ll hear it from us with a written scope and price before anything is scheduled. That’s how The Garrison Standard works, and it’s how we’ve been doing it since 2002.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Staten Island and the greater New York area.
Pricing reflects the Staten Island market as of 2026. Flint Chimney Sweep offers free estimates, call (830) 251-4560.
What Our Customers Say
"Full inspection with a camera. Found a cracked flue tile and quoted the repair clearly. Did not push."
- Lydia C."Great sweep. Only thing, the appointment window ran long and I waited. Cleanup was spotless though."
- Marge P."Sweep showed up on time, in uniform, and ran a tight job. Cleaned the flue, inspected the firebox, and gave me a short written report. Veteran-run and it shows."
- Walt R.