Chimney and Fireplace Questions From Arlington Homeowners, Answered

Crownline Chimney Sweep charges $109 for a chimney sweep with a Level 1 inspection and a photo report for first-time customers (regular $229). Across Arlington and Fort Worth, homeowners report paying $150 to $500 for the same service, and Google's own summary puts Texas chimney sweeps at $150 to $340. The price only goes up if the flue has glazed creosote that needs a special removal or the chimney has more than one flue, and we tell you that before we start.

Once a year, before the first cold front, if you burn wood. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) says every chimney should be inspected once a year and swept when there is 1/8 inch of creosote or more. Gas fireplaces still need a yearly inspection, but they rarely need a full sweep.

If you light it at all, you need at least an inspection. Creosote builds up slowly, but animals, nests, a cracked flue tile or a rusted damper do not care how often you burn. An inspection with photos tells you whether a sweep is needed at all. We do not sweep a clean flue just to charge for it.

A Level 1 inspection checks the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue (with a camera look), crown, cap and flashing, with photos of each. A Level 2 adds a full video scan of the flue and is the one you want when buying or selling a home, after a chimney fire or after storm damage. A Level 3 opens up walls or the chimney structure and is rare. The levels describe inspections, not cleaning. A sweep is a separate service.

Book a Level 2 inspection if the sellers did not provide one. Arlington's 1950s to 1980s brick chimneys usually have the original clay tile liner, a mortar crown and a throat damper. The common finds are a cracked crown, failed mortar joints, a damper that will not seal and a missing cap. The report tells you what is urgent, what can wait and what it costs, in writing.

Ask for photos of the problem, a written itemized price, and a plain answer to "what happens if I wait?". Crownline Chimney Sweep shows you the photos before recommending anything, puts every price in writing before work, and gives free estimates on repairs so you can compare. If a company quotes thousands in repairs after a cheap sweep, get a second opinion. We are happy to be that second opinion.

Yes. Our office is at 700 Highlander Blvd, Arlington, TX 76015, near the Parks Mall and I-20, and our crew has worked on Arlington homes for more than 20 years. We are insured and bonded. Many listings on the Arlington map are lead-generation pages with rented suite numbers. We are not one of them, and you are welcome to stop by.

Usually only for sudden damage such as hail, a storm, a lightning strike or a chimney fire, not for wear, slow water damage or lack of maintenance. Tarrant County hail claims are common, and an inspection report with dated photos is what adjusters ask for. Check your policy or ask your agent before you file.

Yes. Gas logs collect soot and spider webs, pilot assemblies and thermocouples wear out, and the venting still needs a yearly check for blockages and carbon monoxide risk. Crownline Chimney Sweep services gas fireplaces and gas logs; the service call is free and we quote any part in writing.

Crownline Chimney Sweep cleans a standard dryer vent for $89. Do it once a year, or sooner if the dryer takes two cycles to dry a load, the top of the dryer gets hot, or you smell something burning. Long attic vent runs, common in two-story Southwest Arlington homes, clog fastest.

Yes: 10% off for seniors, veterans and first responders, a new-customer offer on the first sweep and inspection, and price matching on written quotes from an insured company. One discount per job.

About an hour for a standard single-flue fireplace, from the time we lay the drop cloths to the time we pack up. Heavy or glazed creosote, a second flue, or an animal nest can add time. You get an exact appointment window and a text when the technician is on the way.

None that you have to clean. Drop cloths go down around the fireplace before any tool comes out, and a HEPA vacuum runs the whole time we brush, so the soot goes into the vacuum and not into your living room. We wear shoe covers and leave the firebox clean.

You can buy a brush kit, but most homeowners cannot see what they are doing, cannot tell creosote stage 1 from glazed stage 3, and miss the parts that matter: the smoke shelf, the damper, the crown and the flashing. A professional sweep also comes with a camera look and photos, which is what tells you whether anything actually needs repair.

Creosote builds up in the flue, and creosote is flammable. Enough of it and a hot fire can light it, which is a chimney fire. Blocked flues also push smoke and carbon monoxide back into the house. The U.S. Fire Administration counts chimneys among the leading causes of home heating fires.

Yes. We serve every Arlington ZIP code from our office at 700 Highlander Blvd near the Parks Mall, plus Dalworthington Gardens, Pantego, Mansfield, Kennedale, Grand Prairie and the Mid-Cities. Most Arlington homes are 10 to 15 minutes from us.

Yes. Most Southwest Arlington homes built after 1980 have factory-built fireplaces with a metal flue and a sided chase. We sweep and inspect them, replace refractory panels and chase covers, and repair the siding and framing on the chase.

Yes. Restaurants, apartment communities, HOAs and property managers in Arlington can book sweeps, inspections and repairs, with written reports for insurance. See our commercial chimney services page or call for a quote.

Call (817) 505-4222 or send the estimate form on any page. A local person answers 7 days a week, 7 AM to 10 PM. You get a written price before work starts and pay when the job is done. First-time customers pay $109 for a sweep with a Level 1 inspection and photo report.