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 Redmond
A chimney inspection in Redmond, WA typically runs $199 – $449 depending on the level of inspection, and most appointments are completed in under two hours. That’s the honest range, and you’ll get a written price before any work starts. Flint Chimney Sweep has been inspecting chimneys across Redmond since 2002 as part of the Garrison Partners family, and we run every job under The Garrison Standard: a documented scope, a flat agreed price, and a written guarantee. Call (830) 251-4560 if you want a straight answer instead of a sales pitch.
Why Flint Chimney Sweep Is Redmond’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Redmond homeowners call us because we put the scope of work in writing before a single tool comes off the truck. That matters in a city where the housing stock ranges from 1960s ranch-style homes along the Sammamish River valley to 2000s-era construction up on Education Hill. The inspection needs are different, and the price should reflect that, not a guess made over the phone. Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, so you know exactly who is walking through the door. When the inspection is done, you receive a photo report showing what we saw inside the flue, not just a verbal summary. Repairs, if needed, carry our 365-Day Done Right Promise: a written guarantee valid for a full year, with a free return visit if a covered repair fails within that period. Hank Delano runs our operation with the same standard applied to every Redmond job, every time.
Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Redmond
A Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Redmond is the thorough camera-based evaluation we recommend when something has changed, whether you just bought the house, experienced a chimney fire, or noticed a new smoke smell. The inspection covers all accessible portions of the chimney interior and exterior, including the flue liner, smoke chamber, damper, chimney crown, and flashing. In Redmond, a Level 2 inspection typically runs $349 – $449, and you get the camera images in a photo report you can actually look at. This is not a brush-and-go sweep. It’s the inspection that finds what a Level 1 visual check cannot reach.
When Redmond Homeowners Need a Level 2
Buying or selling a home in Redmond is the most common trigger, especially in older neighborhoods like Viewpoint and Education Hill where chimneys have decades of service behind them. Real estate transactions usually require a Level 2 inspection to document the chimney’s condition before closing. We also recommend a Level 2 after any chimney fire, after an earthquake or seismic event, or when a homeowner reports water stains around the chimney chase, damp smells, or animals in the flue.
Camera Documentation That Holds Up
Our camera inspection equipment feeds into a report you can keep. In Redmond, where homeowners sometimes get conflicting advice from different chimney companies, this report removes the guesswork. If a liner is cracked, you’ll see the crack. If third-degree creosote is glazing the flue walls, the photo shows it in detail. Nothing is recommended without camera evidence you can see for yourself.
Chimney Leak in Redmond
A Chimney Leak in Redmond is among the most common calls we field between October and April, because Redmond’s wet winters push water into any weak point in the chimney system. A leak near the chimney typically stems from a cracked chimney crown, failed flashing around the roofline, or a deteriorated flue liner letting moisture seep into the masonry. In Redmond, diagnosing a chimney leak runs $249 – $399 depending on whether we need roof access and how much of the system requires camera work to trace the entry point. The inspection identifies where water is getting in; the repair, if you approve it, is quoted as a flat written scope before any work begins.
Redmond’s Rainy Season and Water Intrusion
West-facing chimneys in Redmond take the brunt of winter storm patterns, and cracks that look minor in August become active leaks by November. A homeowner on NE 85th Street near downtown Redmond booked an inspection after noticing a faint smoke smell in the upstairs hallway on still evenings. Our tech ran a Level 2 inspection and found first-degree creosote flaking along the upper flue liner and a hairline crack in the chimney crown letting water track down toward the smoke chamber. We cleaned the flue, documented everything with a photo report, and gave a flat written scope for crown repair before the rainy season.
Flashing and Crown Failures
Failed flashing around the chimney is often the real culprit when water stains appear on ceiling drywall or near the fireplace. In Redmond’s older ranch homes, original flashing has frequently lost its seal after 40 to 50 years of seasonal expansion and contraction. Our inspection traces the leak from the visible stain to the actual source, so you’re not paying for a roof repair when the problem is the chimney crown, or vice versa.
Trusted Brands We Service in Redmond
Flint Chimney Sweep works with professional-grade chimney materials from HeatShield, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney, and we stock common repair parts locally for faster turnaround on Redmond jobs. HeatShield cerfractory lining is often the right solution for older masonry flues in Redmond’s 1960s-era homes, while Gelco and Olympia Chimney components cover caps, crowns, and damper replacements. We specify the material based on the job, not on margin. When a Redmond homeowner needs a repair, the written scope lists the exact product and brand we’re installing, so you can verify it independently before any work starts.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Redmond Homes
- Cracked chimney crowns on older ranch homes. Redmond’s 1960s-80s ranch inventory near the Sammamish River valley has crowns that have weathered decades of winter rain. A cracked crown lets water into the masonry and freezes during cold snaps, widening the crack each year.
- Glazed creosote in lightly used fireplaces. Homes that burn occasional fires in well-sealed, newer Redmond houses often have low draft. The smoke cools quickly inside the pipe, leaving second- and third-degree creosote deposits that a Level 2 camera inspection catches early.
- Failed flashing around the roofline. With Redmond’s average of nearly 40 inches of rain per year, the seal between chimney masonry and roof decking takes real punishment. The inspection evaluates this seam from the roof side, where visible staining often originates.
- Factory-built liners needing different care. Newer construction on Education Hill and around Marymoor Park typically uses factory-built flue liners. These systems handle creosote differently than masonry flues, and the wrong cleaning method can cause more damage than it prevents. Our inspection identifies the liner type before any cleaning recommendation is made.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Redmond, WA
A Level 1 visual inspection in Redmond runs $199 – $279, a Level 2 camera inspection runs $349 – $449, and a Chimney Leak diagnostic runs $249 – $399. Real estate transactions usually require the Level 2 camera scope and photo documentation. What moves the price is access: roof pitch, chimney height, and whether the flue is masonry or factory-built. You’ll get a written quote before we schedule the work, so the number on your invoice is the number you approved. Flint Chimney Sweep never promises same-day service, but Redmond appointments are typically scheduled within a week, and our phone line is answered by a live person around the clock. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate.
We Also Serve Cities Near Redmond
Flint Chimney Sweep provides Chimney Inspection throughout the Eastside, including Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, Bellevue, and Medina. If you’re in one of these nearby communities, the same written pricing, photo documentation, and one-year guarantee apply. Our crews cover the Eastside regularly, and dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Seattle office.
Serving Redmond, WA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Redmond 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 Redmond
Just about every 12 to 18 months. The National Fire Protection Association standard is annual inspection, and in Redmond’s wet climate, an annual check of the crown, flashing, and flue walls catches water damage before it becomes a structural repair. If you burn more than a cord of wood a season, lean toward every 12 months. If the fireplace is mostly decorative, every 18 months is usually acceptable. A chimney that has never been inspected, or one attached to a house you just bought, should get a Level 2 camera inspection at the first opportunity. Call (830) 251-4560 for a straight answer on your specific situation.
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of the chimney, typically done during a routine sweep, and it runs $199 – $279 in Redmond. A Level 2 inspection adds a camera scan of the entire flue interior and runs $349 – $449. Redmond homeowners need a Level 2 when buying or selling, after a chimney fire, after an earthquake or seismic event, or when they suspect hidden damage. If you have a newer factory-built liner on an Education Hill home, a Level 1 may be sufficient for routine maintenance. Our techs explain the difference on the phone and in writing before you book.
Yes, that’s very often a chimney problem. A smoke smell with no fire usually means creosote deposits are off-gassing through the flue, or a negative-pressure issue is pulling air down the chimney into your living space. The faint smoke smell report from the NE 85th Street homeowner near downtown Redmond turned out to be first-degree creosote flaking and a cracked crown. A camera inspection identifies whether it’s a cleaning issue, a structural problem, or both. Book an inspection before you light another fire, and call (830) 251-4560 if the smell is strong or persistent.
Third-degree creosote is a hard, glazed tar that forms when smoke condenses rapidly inside a cool flue. It cannot be removed with standard brushes. A standard sweep in Redmond leaves this material in place, which is why some homeowners pay for a cleaning and still see problems. Third-degree creosote requires chemical treatment or mechanical removal, and the only way to know which level you have is through a Level 2 camera inspection. If the glazing is thick, the flue may need a liner evaluation. Don’t guess, get the camera in there. Call (830) 251-4560 to schedule an inspection that documents the actual condition.
If an inspection shows only light first-degree creosote, a working chimney cap, and no water intrusion, cleaning can often wait until the next burning season, especially for a fireplace that gets rare use. What should not wait: cracked crowns, failed flashing, or any water entry that will worsen over a Redmond winter. Water expands when it freezes, and a small crack in November becomes a much bigger one by March. Leaks don’t heal. If the inspection finds a structural problem, address it now. Flint Chimney Sweep gives you a photo report with that call made plain. If you’re not sure which category you fall into, call (830) 251-4560. The estimate is free, and the answer is based on camera evidence, not guesswork.
Get a Straight Answer on Your Redmond Chimney
Flint Chimney Sweep has inspected chimneys across Redmond since 2002, from the ranch homes along the Sammamish River valley to the newer builds on Education Hill. Every inspection is documented with a photo report, every repair carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing, and every price is set before the work begins. Call (830) 251-4560 for a free estimate. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Sweep, serving Redmond since 2002.