Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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.
Trusted Chimney Inspection for San Jose Homeowners
A Chimney Inspection in San Jose typically runs between $149 and $389 depending on the level of inspection, and ours includes a written report with camera photos before we recommend anything. Nathan Corliss has led Ashby Chimney San Jose since 2002, and we’ve inspected thousands of fireplaces across Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, Rose Garden, and Berryessa. If you haven’t had your flue looked at in the past year, or you’ve just bought a home, call (669) 266-5073 and we’ll schedule a time that actually works, with a live person answering the phone.
Here’s the thing about chimney inspections in San Jose: our dry summers and occasional hard rains put real stress on flue liners and masonry. Hairline cracks from earthquake settling are common in this area. That’s why we don’t guess. We show you the camera footage and give you a written price before any repair work starts. No exceptions, no surprises.
Fireplace Inspection
A fireplace inspection is a visual and camera-based assessment of the firebox, damper, smoke shelf, and the flue above it, designed to catch cracks, creosote buildup, or blockages before they become a fire or carbon monoxide risk. Most San Jose homes with a wood-burning fireplace need this once a year, and it’s typically included as part of a standard sweep when you book both together. Our fireplace inspections start at $149 and include a written report with photos, so you’re not taking anyone’s word for what’s inside your chimney.
What We Check
We inspect the firebox brick and mortar for spalling or gaps, the damper for proper open and close operation, and the first few feet of flue from the top and bottom. If we see something questionable, we put a camera up and show you exactly what we’re seeing.
When to Book One
Book a fireplace inspection if you’ve just moved in, if a year or more has passed since the last one, or if you’ve noticed smoke rolling back into the room when you light a fire. Any of those situations warrants a close look before your next burn.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Inspection Services
Chimney inspection services in San Jose are what we do every day, and they range from a quick Level 1 visual check to a full Level 2 camera inspection, priced from $149 to $389 depending on scope and home size. Ashby Chimney San Jose offers all three levels, and we’ll tell you which one actually fits your situation instead of upselling the most expensive option. Most sweeps include a basic inspection; standalone inspections make sense after a chimney fire, before a home sale, or after major storms.
What’s Included
Every inspection includes an exterior look at the crown, cap, and flashing, plus an interior check of the flue, damper, and firebox. You get a written report with photos and a plain-English explanation of anything we recommend, along with a written price for the work.
Why It Matters Here
San Jose’s seismic activity and coastal fog mean chimneys here develop specific problems you won’t see in drier, more stable regions. We look for shifting flue tiles, water intrusion at the crown, and rusted dampers, all of which are common within 20 miles of the bay.
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.
Chimney Flue Inspection
A chimney flue inspection focuses on the clay or steel tube that vents combustion gases out of your home, and it’s the single most important part of any chimney check in San Jose because a damaged flue liner is invisible and dangerous. Our flue inspections are done with a high-definition camera that lets us see every foot of the liner, from the firebox to the crown, and they run $149 to $249 as part of a standard visit. If you have a gas fireplace or furnace venting through the chimney, this inspection is not optional.
Gas Appliance Flues
Gas flues run cooler than wood-burning ones, which means condensation and liner corrosion happen faster, especially in San Jose’s damp winter months. We check for rust-through, joint separation, and proper sizing so exhaust gases always leave the house.
Wood-Burning Flues
Wood flues get the double hit of heat stress and creosote accumulation. Our camera inspection measures the creosote thickness and looks for cracks in clay tiles, because a cracked flue tile behind a closed wall in a San Jose tudor on Meridian Avenue is a house fire waiting for the right night.
Chimney Fire
A chimney fire happens when creosote inside the flue ignites, often burning at over 2,000°F, and in San Jose we see them most often in January and February when cold snap fires get lit after months of disuse. If you’ve had a chimney fire, even a small one, you need a Level 2 inspection before lighting anything again, which costs $289 to $389 and includes the full camera work and written report. What you can’t see after a chimney fire is the damage inside the flue, and that’s what matters.
After a Fire
Even a fast, quiet chimney fire can crack flue tiles, warp a steel liner, or separate mortar joints. We document everything with a camera so you know exactly what survived and what didn’t, and we give you a written repair price if anything needs to be done.
Prevention
Annual sweeps remove the creosote that fuels chimney fires in the first place. If you burn more than a cord of wood per season in a home in Almaden or Evergreen, you should be swept twice a year, and we’ll set up a schedule so you don’t have to remember.
Level 2 Chimney Inspection
A Level 2 Chimney Inspection is the standard we recommend for any San Jose home sale, any change in fuel type, or any event like an earthquake or chimney fire, and it costs $289 to $389 with the full camera scan and written report included. It covers everything in a Level 1 inspection plus a video inspection of the entire flue interior, the attic pass-through, and the exterior crown and flashing. If you’re buying a home in San Jose, this is the inspection real estate agents and lenders often require. We also provide Chimney Inspection in Santa Clara for those purchasing in neighboring communities.
When It’s Required
Real estate transactions, relining or fuel conversion, and any suspected damage after seismic activity all call for a Level 2. We also recommend it if your home was built before 1980 and has never had the flue cameraed, because older San Jose construction often used unlined or under-lined masonry.
What You Get
You get a complete video record of your flue’s condition, a written report with still photos, and a written quote for any repairs we recommend. We review the footage with you in person, so you see what we see and understand the why behind every recommendation.
Chimney Leak
A chimney leak in San Jose is usually caused by a failed crown, cracked flashing, or a missing chimney cap, and it can cost anywhere from $149 to diagnose with a full inspection to several hundred more if repairs are needed, with every repair priced in writing before work starts. Water is the enemy of every chimney in the South Bay, because rain followed by heat cycling expands cracks and lets moisture into masonry. Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney are the clearest signal to act.
Diagnosing the Source
We trace the water path from the outside in, checking the crown for hairline cracks, the flashing for gaps, and the flue interior for signs of water entry. Sometimes the leak isn’t from the chimney at all; a roofline issue can look like a chimney leak, and we’ll tell you if that’s the case.
Repair Options
Small crown cracks can be sealed with Gelco crown sealer, and damaged flashing can be reworked with copper or aluminum matched to your roofline. Bigger structural issues get a written quote with materials and labor spelled out, no percentages and no vague “we’ll see when we get in there” pricing.
Chimney Camera Inspection
A chimney camera inspection is the difference between guessing and knowing, and it’s included in every Level 2 service we perform in San Jose, because we’d rather show you footage than ask you to take our word for a liner’s condition. Our camera systems are high-resolution, with lighting that reveals hairline cracks, joint separation, and creosote glaze in full detail. A camera inspection alone runs $149 to $249 depending on whether it’s paired with a sweep or standalone.
What the Camera Shows
The footage reveals structural problems you can’t see from either end of the flue: mid-flue cracks, shifted tiles, hidden blockages from animal nests, and liner pitting from years of gas-condensate corrosion. We record the entire pass and review it with you, frame by frame if needed.
Why You Want One
Without a camera inspection, a technician is guessing about what’s happening in the middle of your flue. We don’t do guesswork, and we don’t recommend a single repair on this side of a flue relocation without the footage to back it up, and that’s a promise Nathan Corliss has kept since 2002.
Brands We Service
We work with HeatShield and Gelco repair systems regularly, and our technicians are trained on their specific application methods. HeatShield is our go-to for resurfacing damaged flue tiles, because the cerfractory material bonds to the existing masonry and restores a smooth, insulated surface. Gelco crown sealer is what we use to close hairline cracks on chimney crowns before they spread into full-blown leaks, the kind we see frequently after San Jose’s rainy seasons.
We also service and install Olympia Chimney and Famco components, from chimney caps to dampers and chase covers. Whether you have one of these brands in your system or any other make, we can inspect, repair, or replace it with a written price and a written guarantee.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke backing up into the room. This usually means a blocked flue or a damper that’s not opening fully, and it’s carbon monoxide risk that doesn’t wait. If you have to open a window to get a fire to draw, stop burning and call us.
- Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney. Water is already through the flashing or the crown and is now traveling along structural members. The longer it sits, the more masonry and framing gets replaced.
- Flaking brick or spalling mortar in the firebox. The firebox is literally shedding material, which means heat or moisture has compromised the masonry. It only gets worse from here.
- A smell like an old campfire when the fireplace isn’t in use. That’s creosote off-gassing, often on humid days, and it signals a buildup thick enough to warrant removal before the next fire.
- You just bought the house and have no idea what’s in the chimney. In San Jose, buyers get a Level 2 camera inspection before close, not after the first winter fire. If you skipped it, that’s the first thing to fix.
Our Process, Step by Step
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You call, a person answers. (669) 266-5073 reaches a live person 24/7. We ask a few questions about your fireplace, fuel type, and what you’re seeing, then schedule a window that works for you.
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We show up when we said we would. Our technicians are uniformed and background-checked, and they arrive in a marked truck with the tools and camera gear ready. There’s no “I need to go grab something from the shop.”
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We inspect and show you everything. We work top to bottom: crown, cap, flashing, flue, damper, firebox. The camera recording happens during the inspection, and we review the footage with you on-site before writing anything up.
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You get a written report and written price. The report includes photos and a plain-English summary of what we found. If repairs are needed, the price is on paper before we do anything, and it matches the invoice.
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The 365-Day Done Right Promise. Every repair gets a written guarantee, and if it fails within the period, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s the Kingswell Way, and we’ve stood by it since 2002.
How Much Does Chimney Inspection Cost in San Jose?
A typical chimney inspection in San Jose runs $149 to $389 depending on the level, the home’s size, and whether it’s paired with a sweep. We also offer Chimney Inspection - Sunnyvale with the same transparent pricing structure. A Level 1 visual inspection, often bundled with a sweep, falls at the lower end of that range. A Level 2 with full camera work, required for home sales and post-fire situations, sits at the upper end. Multi-story homes and chimneys with difficult roof access add modestly to the total, and we’ll quote that in writing before we start.
| Service | Typical San Jose Price |
|---|---|
| Level 1 visual inspection (standalone) | $149 – $189 |
| Inspection bundled with chimney sweep | $189 – $249 |
| Level 2 camera inspection | $289 – $389 |
| Chimney leak diagnosis with camera | $149 – $249 |
What affects the price: roof pitch and height, number of flues, whether the chimney has caps or chase covers that need removal, and whether it’s wood-burning or gas-vented. The way to avoid overpaying is to work with a company that gives you the price before the work starts and doesn’t invent repairs. Our free estimates include the inspection itself; if we recommend repairs, you get a line-item written quote with the material brands spelled out, and you decide what happens next.
Our Service Area Near San Jose
We serve San Jose and the surrounding South Bay communities, including Chimney Inspection in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas, Los Gatos, and Campbell. We also run routes into Chimney Inspection in Fremont, Newark, and the Peninsula down through Mountain View, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Atherton. Most inspections are scheduled within a few days, and we always honor the arrival window we give you. From our home base in San Jose, you’ll get a call when we’re 20 minutes out so you’re not waiting around.
Serving San Jose, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Jose area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Inspection in San Jose
A chimney inspection is a structured examination of the entire chimney system, including the exterior masonry, crown, cap, flashing, flue liner, damper, smoke shelf, and firebox, using visual checks and camera equipment where needed. The National Fire Protection Association defines three levels, and which one you need depends on whether you’ve had a fire, a fuel change, or an earthquake. We’ll explain which level fits your situation before we start.
A Level 1 inspection typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, and a Level 2 camera inspection runs 60 to 90 minutes depending on roof access and the number of flues. We review the footage with you on-site, so add 10 minutes for the walkthrough. You’ll have your written report in hand before we leave the driveway.
Chimney inspection in San Jose costs between $149 and $389 depending on the level and your home’s specifics. A bundled sweep-and-inspect runs $189 to $249, and a standalone Level 2 with camera work is $289 to $389. Every estimate is free, and every price is in writing before work begins. Call (669) 266-5073 for an exact quote.
Yes, we work with HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Famco products regularly, and our technicians are trained on each manufacturer’s application methods. If you have an existing HeatShield resurfacing or Gelco crown seal that needs attention, we can inspect it and tell you whether it’s holding up or needs work.
We keep time in the schedule for urgent situations, like after a chimney fire, a hard rain leak, or a gas smell near the fireplace. Our phones are answered by a live person 24/7, and we’ll get someone to your San Jose home as quickly as the schedule allows, usually within a day or two for genuine emergencies.
Every repair we make after an inspection is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise, with a written guarantee on the repair and a free second visit if it fails within the guarantee period. The inspection report itself is yours to keep, with photos and footage, whether you hire us for repairs or not.
Clear the area around the fireplace so our technicians have room to work, and if you have a gas fireplace, turn off the pilot light the morning of the appointment. Make sure roof access is clear of locked gates or dogs, and don’t light a fire for at least 24 hours before we arrive so the firebox is cool.
Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Service in San Jose Today
If you live in San Jose and haven’t had your chimney looked at recently, call (669) 266-5073. You can also schedule our Chimney Inspection in San Jose online or by phone. A live person answers, every time, day or night. We’ll give you a straight answer on price, a real arrival window, and a written report with camera photos when the inspection is done. No guesses, no surprises, no work without your approval in writing. That’s how we’ve done it since 2002, and that’s how we’ll do it for you.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney San Jose, serving San Jose since 2002.