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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Sweep Across Melrose
A chimney sweep in Melrose typically costs $189 – $319 for a standard fireplace cleaning with a Level 1 inspection, and most homes in the area can be booked within a few days. The real concern in this neighborhood isn’t heavy use, it’s what happens when chimneys sit idle through long dry stretches and then face winter rain through cracked stucco caps. We know the 1920s and 1930s bungalows along Melrose Ave and the side streets, the ones with original clay flues that were never updated for gas appliances. Call (855) 731-2852 for a free estimate. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
Why Melrose Homeowners Call Carlton Chimney Sweep for Chimney Sweep
Homeowners across Melrose call us because we understand attached housing. A duplex on one side of Melrose Ave and a Spanish Colonial bungalow three streets over have different flue setups, different access points, and different failure patterns. We’ve swept enough chimneys here to know what to look for before we even set up the ladder. Our chimney sweep team handles the full service arc: cleaning, diagnosis, and structural repair, so nobody gets handed off to a second contractor mid-problem.
Transparency is the other reason. We show you what we found, with camera footage when it matters, and we explain whether something can safely wait or needs attention now. If a liner is cracked or a cap is letting water in, you’ll see it. Ernie Pennington built the company on that standard, and it’s how we work in Melrose today.
We stock professional-grade materials, including HeatShield for liner restoration and Gelco caps and components, so when a Melrose chimney needs a repair we’re not waiting on a big-box order. That matters when winter rain is coming and a stucco crown has already started cracking.
Styles & brands we work with
- Sweep & inspection
- Caps & crowns
- Flue relining
- Masonry repair
- Gas fireplace service
Fireplace Cleaning in Melrose
Fireplace Cleaning in Melrose usually runs $189 – $279 and covers removing soot and creosote from the firebox, smoke shelf, damper, and flue, followed by a Level 1 visual inspection. Most of the fireplaces we clean here are original wood-burning boxes in 1920s – 1940s bungalows, though many have since been converted to gas logs. A gas log set still puts corrosive byproducts into the flue, and the old clay tiles underneath weren’t designed for that chemistry.
Annual Sweep for Idle Fireplaces
Even if you haven’t lit a fire in two years, your flue can be collecting debris. Bees and birds nest in the dry season, and uncapped or orphaned flues behind stucco are prime entry points. An annual sweep keeps the flue clear and gives us a chance to spot problems before rain finds them.
Soot and Creosote Removal
When we remove creosote in Melrose, we’re often dealing with glaze that’s been baking in a seldom-used flue through hot summers. First-degree creosote brushes out easily. Third-degree is a hard, tar-like glaze that requires chemical treatment or mechanical removal. Our cleaning adapts to what we actually find, not a one-size pass with a brush.
Chimney Services in Melrose
Chimney Services in Melrose start with the same thing every job should start with: a clear look at what’s actually happening inside the flue. That means a Level 1 inspection on a routine sweep, and a Level 2 inspection any time there’s been a property transfer, a fuel change, a chimney fire, or years of disuse. On the dense blocks around Melrose Ave, where flues are shared or only inches apart, a Level 2 inspection is the only way to catch cross-contamination before it puts carbon monoxide in the wrong firebox. Level 2 inspections here typically run $249 – $399, with the written estimate setting the final price.
Liner Restoration and Sealing
We use HeatShield, a certified resurfacing system, to rehabilitate cracked clay liners without tearing out the whole chimney. For flues that are too far gone or shared between units and need separation, we install DuraFlex flexible liners. A typical liner scope in Melrose runs $1,800 – $4,600 depending on flue length and access.
Caps, Crowns, and Flashing
Decorative stucco chimney crowns crack in the dry heat, and once they do, winter rain follows the cracks straight into the flue. We inspect crowns and flashing on every Melrose service call and replace them with Gelco or copper components that hold up better than the original stucco. Cap and crown repair here usually runs $350 – $900, with full crown rebuilds priced by estimate.
Trusted Brands We Service in Melrose
We service and install HeatShield, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney products, plus DuraFlex liner systems for retrofits. These are the brands professional chimney guilds rely on, not what’s on the shelf at a hardware store. For Melrose customers that means we can pull the right cap, crown, or liner component from our stock and get it on the roof without a waiting game. When a shared flue needs separating or an orphaned clay flue needs relining, we’re working with materials built for the job.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterCommon Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Melrose Homes
- Shared-flue cross-contamination. In attached bungalows and duplexes, a neighbor’s gas water heater can vent into your flue if the clay liner is cracked or missing between units. This is a carbon monoxide risk, full stop, and it’s the main reason we push Level 2 inspections in Melrose.
- Cracked stucco crowns. The decorative caps on Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean chimneys look great until the dry heat splits them. Rain gets in, clay tiles start spalling, and the damage compounds every winter.
- Orphaned clay flues. In smaller bungalows near Melrose Ave, we routinely find original fireplace flues that were capped and abandoned when the house switched to central heat. They attract raccoons and bees, block airflow, and need sealing or relining.
- Pest nesting in the dry season. Warm, dry summers bring birds and bees into uncapped flues. We find live nests, dead nests, and the draft problems they cause, all season long.
Pricing for Chimney Sweep in Melrose, CA
A standard sweep with Level 1 inspection in Melrose runs $189 – $319. Level 2 inspections run $249 – $399. Liner work is the big variable: HeatShield resurfacing typically runs $1,800 – $4,600 depending on the flue length and how much prep the clay tiles need. Cap and crown repairs usually land between $350 and $900. Every job gets a written estimate before work begins, and nothing gets recommended without camera evidence you can see yourself. Call (855) 731-2852 for a free estimate. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
We Also Serve Cities Near Melrose
Our service area covers Melrose plus East Hollywood, Atwater Village, Hollywood Hills, and Hancock Park. If you’re in a 1920s duplex in East Hollywood or a hillside Mediterranean in Hollywood Hills, the chimney problems are similar but the access changes. Call (855) 731-2852 and we’ll tell you what we’re seeing on your block.
Serving Melrose, CA – Our Local Coverage Area
We serve Melrose and nearby communities. Use the map below to see the area we cover. If you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Sweep in Melrose
You usually can’t tell without a camera inspection, which is exactly why a Level 2 inspection matters in attached Melrose housing. The telltale signs are a persistent smell of gas exhaust in an unused firebox, soot accumulating when you never light fires, or a faint draft coming down the flue. We scope the flue with a camera to look for missing or cracked clay liners between units. If we find cross-contamination, we can separate the flues with a DuraFlex liner or reseal gaps with HeatShield. Call (855) 731-2852 and we’ll show you exactly what’s happening in your stack.
Because stucco doesn’t flex, and Melrose’s dry heat plus cool winter rain puts it through exactly the kind of expansion and contraction it can’t handle. The decorative caps on 1920s and 1930s Spanish Colonial chimneys are particularly prone. Once a crack opens, rainwater follows it into the flue and starts spalling the clay tiles. We replace failing stucco crowns with materials that handle the thermal cycling better, including Gelco components. A crown replacement runs $350 – $900 in Melrose, and we’ll tell you if the flue liner underneath has already taken water damage.
Yes, and in Melrose the reasons are specific: uncapped flues collect birds and bees, orphaned clay flues trap moisture and debris, and shared flues can be delivering exhaust from a neighbor’s appliance into your firebox even when you never light a fire. An annual sweep and inspection costs $189 – $319, and it’s cheap insurance against a chimney fire or carbon monoxide problem you wouldn’t otherwise notice. If you’ve truly abandoned the fireplace, we can also discuss capping and sealing the flue permanently. Call (855) 731-2852 to schedule.
First-degree creosote is a dry, sooty powder that brushes off easily. Third-degree creosote is a hardened, tar-like glaze that forms when flue temperatures fluctuate, and it’s a serious fire hazard. In Melrose, we see a lot of third-degree creosote buildup in chimneys that sit idle through the warm months and then get used heavily when the weather finally turns. Third-degree glaze doesn’t brush off; it requires chemical treatment or mechanical removal, and it’s one of the main reasons a visual inspection before burning season is worth the cost. Our sweeps include creosote removal appropriate to what we actually find.
Yes. Most Melrose streets are narrow, and driveways on the older bungalows were built for Model Ts, not modern trucks. We’re used to it. Our team stages equipment from the street or a nearby clear spot and carries what’s needed to the roof access point. If your chimney is only reachable from a neighbor’s property line, we’ll talk through access before the appointment so there are no surprises. Mention the access challenge when you call (855) 731-2852 and we’ll plan the route before we arrive.
Written by Ernie Pennington, Owner at Carlton Chimney Sweep, serving Melrose since 2015.