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.
Chimney Company in Altadena, CA
Chimney repair in Altadena runs into a specific set of conditions we don’t see ten miles south: fireplaces built between 1900 and 1935 with soft local brick and lime mortar that degrade faster than modern materials, flues that were never lined in the first place, and a wildland-urban interface that means spark arrestors and brush clearance aren’t optional here. We’re Imperial Chimney, and we’ve served Altadena since 2017. If your chimney is showing cracks, spalling brick, or a failing crown, call (866) 253-3809 and we’ll tell you what we found, and show you.
Why Altadena Homes Are Different
Altadena sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, and that geography shapes every chimney we touch. Winter nights regularly drop into the 40s and 30s, driving heavy fireplace use from November through February. The dry, windy autumns create extreme fire risk, which means creosote buildup and spark arrestors stay a year-round safety concern, not a seasonal checklist item.
The housing stock compounds it. A large share of Altadena homes date from the 1900s through the 1930s, built in the Arts and Crafts and Spanish Revival styles that define the foothills. Those original masonry fireplaces were constructed with local brick and lime mortar, materials that absorb moisture and crumble far faster than the Portland-cement construction used after WWII. Many of those flues were never lined. Others have terra cotta liners that have cracked after 80 years of heating and cooling cycles. And in the 91001 and 91003 ZIP codes, we also work on plenty of later additions with factory-built metal fireplaces, which require different sweeping brushes and inspection protocols than their masonry counterparts.
After a Santa Ana wind event, the picture changes again. Downdrafts litter fireboxes with leaves and debris from the live oaks and deodar cedars that canopy so many Altadena streets. Ember screens get bent or dislodged. A routine cleaning call frequently turns into a spark-arrestor repair and a brush-zone compliance check.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Altadena Services
Most Altadena homeowners reach out to us for one of two reasons: a chimney that needs sweeping before the burning season, or a dryer vent that’s become a silent fire hazard. Both live under the same roof here.
Chimney Sweep in Altadena
A sweep in Altadena is rarely just a sweep. The original masonry fireplaces common to the foothills collect creosote differently than modern units, and the debris that Santa Anas push into flues means we’re often clearing more than combustion byproducts. Our team handles both original brick fireplaces and later factory-built units, matching the sweeping technique to the flue type. We document everything with photos so you can see the condition before and after. For the full scope of how sweeping works in this area, see our dedicated page on Chimney Sweep in Altadena.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Altadena
Dryer vent cleaning removes the lint that builds up inside the duct run, which is the leading cause of appliance-related house fires according to NFPA data. In Altadena, vent runs often travel through tight crawlspaces or up through walls in older homes, and the dry foothill air makes lint especially brittle and fast to accumulate. We clean the full run from dryer to exterior termination and show you what came out. Details on scheduling and pricing are on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Altadena page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Altadena
Chimney repair in Altadena usually means one of two things: weather damage to the exterior masonry, or a flue that’s no longer safe to burn. The early-20th-century brick and lime mortar used in foothills construction holds up poorly against heat cycling and winter moisture, and unlined flues are common enough that we find them on roughly a third of the older homes we inspect. When we recommend repair, it’s because we have camera footage showing exactly what failed. See our full Chimney Repair service page for the complete scope.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You don’t have a cap, or the existing one has rusted through, bent, or blown off entirely, leaving the flue open to rain, birds, and leaves.
What it costs in Altadena
Chimney cap installation in Altadena typically ranges from $250 to $650, depending on the flue size and whether we’re replacing a damaged cap or installing one for the first time.
How we do it
We measure the flue, select a properly sized cap from Gelco or Copperfield, secure it to the crown, and verify the spark-arrestor mesh meets brush-zone requirements for foothills homes.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Your chimney was built without a liner, or the existing clay liner has cracked, spalled, or failed a level 2 camera inspection.
What it costs in Altadena
Chimney liner installation in Altadena typically ranges from $2,900 to $5,400 for a full reline, with partial repairs running lower.
How we do it
We run a camera through the flue to document the damage, size the correct DuraFlex liner, pull it through the existing chimney, and insulate around it for draft stability.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You’re seeing water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, or the flashing has pulled away from the roofline where it meets the masonry.
What it costs in Altadena
Chimney flashing repair in Altadena typically runs from $350 to $900, though the final number depends on how much of the existing flashing can be salvaged.
How we do it
We remove the damaged flashing, inspect the underlying mortar, install new step and counter flashing from Famco, and seal the transition so water can’t re-enter.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete crown on top of the chimney has cracks, spalling, or missing sections, which lets water soak into the brick and accelerate freeze-thaw damage.
What it costs in Altadena
Chimney crown repair in Altadena typically falls between $450 and $1,100 depending on whether we’re patching or rebuilding the full crown.
How we do it
We form and pour a new concrete crown with a proper drip edge and slight slope away from the flue, preventing the pooling that causes most crown failures.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Altadena
| Item | Typical range in Altadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $250 – $650 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $450 – $1,100 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,900 – $5,400 |
Do I need a new liner if my chimney was built without one?
Usually yes. An unlined flue lets heat and combustion gases reach the surrounding masonry directly, which is how house fires start in older Altadena homes. We’ll show you the camera footage before we recommend anything.
Can chimney repair wait until after burning season?
Exterior repairs like flashing and crowns can often wait for dry weather, but a failed liner or missing cap should be addressed before you burn again. Call (866) 253-3809 and we’ll tell you plainly whether it’s urgent.
Brands We Service in Altadena
We work with a curated set of professional-grade materials: Gelco caps, Olympia Chimney components, Famco flashing, and Copperfield products. Most replacement parts are stocked locally, which keeps turnaround on Altadena repairs to days rather than weeks. See our brands for the full lineup.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Altadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Altadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney inspection (Level 2) | $250 – $550 |
| Chimney cap installation | $250 – $650 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $200 – $500 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $450 – $1,100 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,900 – $5,400 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $130 – $260 |
What pushes a price toward the top of a range in Altadena is usually chimney height and access. Steep foothill roofs, second-story chimney stacks, and flues that require a full reline with insulation all add labor. We quote a flat price before we begin, and nothing changes unless the camera inspection reveals something neither of us knew was there.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Altadena
We work throughout the 91001 and 91003 ZIP codes, from the streets around Christmas Tree Lane up toward the Sam Merrill Trail and across to the eastern edge near Eaton Canyon. Most Altadena appointments can be scheduled within a week, with shorter lead times in the spring and summer months before burning season demand picks up.
- Altadena Meadows
- The Meadows
- President Streets
- Country Club Park
- Upper Hastings Ranch
Service Area – Cities Near Altadena
Imperial Chimney covers the San Gabriel foothills and the surrounding valley, so if you’re in a neighboring community you’re still in our service area. We work regularly in Pasadena, CA, La Cañada Flintridge, CA, East Pasadena, CA, and San Marino, CA, where the housing stock and climate create many of the same chimney conditions we see in Altadena.
Serving Altadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Altadena 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 Company in Altadena
Most routine sweeps, cap replacements, and flashing repairs don’t require a permit. Structural work like a full rebuild or major liner replacement can, and we’ll tell you if your project falls into that category before we start. We handle the paperwork when it’s needed.
Most appointments in the 91001 and 91003 ZIP codes land within five to seven business days, and faster during spring and summer when the schedule isn’t packed with pre-season sweeps. Call (866) 253-3809 and we’ll give you the first available slot.
Yes. For Altadena homes in the wildland-urban interface, we check that spark arrestors are intact and properly sized during every visit, and we’ll flag any brush clearance issues we can see from the roof. It’s part of the same inspection, not an add-on.
If your chimney in Altadena needs a sweep, a repair, or just an honest look from someone who knows the foothills, call Imperial Chimney at (866) 253-3809 for a free estimate. We tell you what we found, and show you.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Altadena Customers Say
"Thorough sweep and a clear report. He was running late from the job before and arrived near the end of the window, though he did call to warn me."
— Shannon Hoffman"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Stephanie Meyer"Creosote buildup was worse than I realized. He measured it, showed me the glazing on the flue with the camera, and was honest that we were closer to a chimney fire than I wanted to hear."
— Gabriela Torres