Chimney Sweep Service

Most chimney problems start out of sight. Creosote builds up along the flue liner a little more with every fire, a bird nest settles on the damper over the summer, and a cracked clay tile lets heat reach the framing around the chimney. A chimney sweep clears the buildup, and the inspection that comes with it finds the rest before you light the first fire of the season.

What a Chimney Sweep From Ember Includes

An Ember chimney sweep cleans the whole path smoke takes, from the firebox to the cap, and ends with photos of what we found. Here is what happens on every visit:

• Rods and brushes sized to your flue. A clay-lined masonry flue, a stainless steel liner and a prefab metal chimney each take a different brush. Using the wrong one either misses buildup or scratches the liner.
• HEPA vacuum running the whole time. Soot and creosote dust are captured at the firebox, not released into the room.
• Firebox, smoke shelf and smoke chamber cleaned. The smoke shelf behind the damper is where debris and creosote flakes collect, and it is the part most quick sweeps skip.
• Safety inspection. The technician checks the damper, firebox, liner, crown, flashing and cap and looks for cracks, gaps, water damage and blockages.
• Photo report. You see the inside of your own chimney, before and after, so you are never asked to take a repair on faith.

How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost?

Ember’s chimney sweep costs $149 with the Chimney Safety Package, and that price includes the safety inspection and the photo report. Our Colleyville, Fort Worth and Alpharetta offices also offer a $99 chimney sweep + inspection and a $69 chimney inspection on their own.

For comparison, three Fort Worth chimney companies published sweep prices of about $129 to $170 in October 2026 (Emerson Pro Services at $129 with a safety check, Chimney Professionals at $149 for a Level 1 cleaning, and Fort Worth Chimney Sweeps at $169.99 with a visual inspection). Nationally, homeowners pay $129 to $381, about $254 on average, according to Angi’s 2026 data. Our chimney sweep cost guide goes through the numbers in detail.

What moves the price up or down:

• Number of flues. A fireplace and a furnace flue in the same chimney are two sweeps.
• How much creosote is inside. Flaky stage 2 creosote takes longer than light soot. Glazed stage 3 creosote needs chemical treatment or special rotary tools.
• Roof height and pitch. A steep two-story roof takes more setup time than a single-story ranch.
• Inspection level. A Level 2 camera inspection of the flue costs more than the visual inspection included with the sweep.

The cheapest sweep you see advertised is often the most expensive visit. A low price that skips the smoke shelf, skips the inspection or turns into a pressure pitch for repairs you cannot see is not a deal. Ask for photos. If a company cannot show you the problem, do not pay to fix it.

If the inspection finds something, you get a free repair estimate with the photos and a written price. Book that repair within 30 days and the full $149 package price is credited toward it. One package per household.

How Often Should a Chimney Be Swept in Texas and Georgia?

Have the chimney inspected once a year and swept whenever the inspection finds buildup. That is the rule in NFPA 211, the fire safety standard for chimneys and fireplaces, and it fits how fireplaces get used in Dallas–Fort Worth and metro Atlanta.

Most homes here burn wood on winter weekends and during the two or three cold snaps each year, not every night. That pattern still produces creosote, because short, cool fires leave more residue than long, hot ones. A chimney used most weekends from November to February usually needs a sweep every year. A chimney that sees a handful of fires can often go two years between sweeps, as long as the yearly inspection says so.

The best time to book is late summer or early fall, before the first cold front fills the schedule. Spring works too, and it gives you the whole summer to fix anything the inspection finds. Our post on why booking a chimney sweep in spring saves money covers the timing.

Does a Gas Fireplace Need a Chimney Sweep?

A gas fireplace needs a yearly inspection, and a sweep only when the inspection finds a reason for one. Gas burns clean, so creosote is not the problem. Blockages are. Birds nest in gas vents over the summer, mortar and debris fall onto the damper, and vent sections come loose. Any of those can push carbon monoxide back into the room.

The gas unit itself also needs care. Dust on the burner, a dirty pilot assembly and the white film on the glass all come off during a fireplace cleaning. If the burner will not light or the flame is yellow and sooty, that is a job for fireplace repair.

Signs You Need a Chimney Sweep Now

Do not wait for the yearly visit if you notice any of these:

• Smoke comes into the room when the fire is going, even with the damper open.
• A strong campfire smell from the fireplace in summer, especially on humid days or when the air conditioning runs.
• Black flakes or shiny tar on the inside of the firebox or the damper. A layer of 1/8 inch or more is enough to fuel a chimney fire.
• Fires that are hard to start or that burn weakly, which points to a poor draft.
• Animal noises or nesting material in the firebox.
• Oily black streaks running down the outside of the chimney.
• You just bought the home and have no record of the last sweep.

A chimney fire often sounds like a low roar or a freight train in the flue and can leave puffy, honeycomb-shaped creosote behind. If you think you had one, stop using the fireplace and book a Level 2 chimney inspection before the next fire.

What Happens During a Chimney Sweep Visit

Most chimney sweeps take 45 to 90 minutes. Here is the order of a typical Ember visit:

1. Walkthrough. The technician looks at the fireplace, asks how you use it and what you have noticed.
2. Floor protection. Drop cloths go down from the door to the hearth. The HEPA vacuum is set up at the firebox and runs until the job is done.
3. The sweep. Rods and brushes sized to the flue clean the liner from the firebox up (or from the roof down when the chimney calls for it). The smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper and firebox are brushed and vacuumed.
4. The inspection. The technician checks the firebox, damper, liner, crown, flashing and cap, and photographs each one.
5. The report. You see the photos on site and get them sent to you. If something needs attention, you get a free written estimate before the technician leaves.

Nothing is sold during the sweep. You get the photos, the price in writing and time to decide.

After the Sweep: Photos, Then a Written Price

The photo report is the point of the visit. A sweep removes buildup, but the inspection is what catches the cracked crown that lets water in, the missing liner section that lets heat reach the framing, or the rusted damper that will not close.

When the photos show a problem, the next step depends on what it is:

• Cracked crowns, failed flashing and leaks go to chimney repair.
• Cracked or missing flue tiles go to chimney relining.
• Spalling brick and crumbling mortar joints go to masonry repair.
• A missing or rusted cap goes to chimney cap installation.
• Cracked firebrick, dampers and gas burners go to fireplace repair.

Each of those gets a free estimate with a written price. The $149 package price is credited toward any repair booked within 30 days.

Chimney Sweep Service Areas: Dallas–Fort Worth and Metro Atlanta

Ember sweeps chimneys from three offices. Each one has its own page with the address, local phone number, hours and the neighborhoods its trucks reach:

• Colleyville, TX, 97 Village Ln, Suite 300, (817) 809-2184. Open 24 hours. Covers Colleyville, Southlake, Grapevine, Keller and the HEB cities, and reaches Dallas and the northern suburbs.
• Fort Worth, TX, 1751 River Run, Suite 200, (817) 764-1287. Covers Fort Worth from Arlington Heights and Tanglewood to TCU and Benbrook, plus western Tarrant County.
• Alpharetta, GA, 3480 Preston Ridge Rd, Suite 500, (770) 762-0310. Open 7 days, 7 AM to 8 PM. Covers Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell and north Fulton County, and reaches metro Atlanta.

Not sure which office is closest? Call the main line at (844) 803-0373 and the office will route you.

Why Homeowners Choose Ember for Chimney Sweeping

• BBB Accredited, rated A. Ember Chimney & Fireplace is a BBB Accredited Business. The profile is public on bbb.org.
• CSIA-certified chimney technicians. Our technicians hold the Chimney Safety Institute of America certification.
• 5.0 stars on Google across our Colleyville and Alpharetta profiles. The reviews on this page load live from Google.
• Photos of everything. You see the inside of your chimney before you spend a dollar on repairs.
• Written price before work. No repair starts without a price on paper.
• Zero-Mess Guarantee. Drop cloths and HEPA vacuums on every visit.
• 10% senior and 5% military discounts. Ask when you book.

Send the form on this page or call, and a real person calls you back within 10 minutes to book a time. For a complete pre-season checklist, read how to get your fireplace ready for the first cold front.