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 Pasadena, CA
Chimney repair in Pasadena comes down to one reality: most of the fireplaces we work on were built between 1890 and 1935, and their original clay liners, brickwork, and flashing have been through nine or ten decades of Southern California heat, Santa Ana winds, and the occasional earthquake. At Imperial Chimney, we specialize in older chimneys that need more than a sweep, from spalled clay liners to crumbling crowns across Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, and the neighborhoods around Orange Grove. Call (866) 253-3809 when your chimney needs a specialist who understands pre-war masonry.
Why Pasadena Homes Are Different
Pasadena’s chimney stock is unlike most of Los Angeles County. The city’s Craftsman bungalows and Tudor Revivals from roughly 1890 to 1935 were built with single-wythe brick fireplaces, hand-laid flues, and clay tile liners that were never meant to last a century. In Bungalow Heaven, we routinely open dampers and find that the original terra cotta flue sections have spalled, cracked, or separated at the joints. What looks like a simple sweeping job is often the first look anyone’s had inside that flue in decades.
The climate makes it harder. Pasadena’s hot, dry summers and Santa Ana wind events create a long fire season, and chimneys sit dormant through the mild winters, collecting squirrel nests, palm fronds, and leaf litter from the mature deodar cedars and oaks that canopy so many streets. A dormant flue becomes a firebox of debris. And because the city’s historic-preservation culture is strong, any repair has to respect original masonry, not just retrofit a modern liner and walk away.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Pasadena Services
Most Pasadena homeowners call us for one of two reasons: a chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in years and needs to be made safe again, or a dryer vent that’s packed with lint and pushing the limits of airflow. Both are fire-safety jobs, and both get the same inspection-first treatment.
Chimney Sweep in Pasadena
In Pasadena, a chimney sweep often means clearing out more than soot. We regularly pull squirrel nests, palm debris, and packed leaf litter from flues that haven’t been used since the previous winter, especially in tree-lined Craftsman neighborhoods where mature oaks and deodar cedars hang directly over rooftops. Our team sweeps the full flue, inspects the liner and masonry, and documents everything we find with photos so you can see the condition for yourself. A sweep here is as much an inspection as it is a cleaning, because on century-old homes the real risk is what the soot is hiding. Read the full scope on our Chimney Sweep in Pasadena page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena
Dryer vent fires are the leading appliance-related cause of house fires nationwide, and Pasadena’s older homes often have long, convoluted vent runs that trap lint faster than newer construction. We clean the full vent path from the dryer to the exterior termination, clear out bird nests and debris, and check the vent cap for proper operation. If your dryer has been taking longer to dry a load or the exterior flap barely moves while the machine runs, the vent is telling you something. See the full approach on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Pasadena 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 Pasadena
Chimney repair in Pasadena usually means working on a fireplace that was built before 1935, when clay tile liners were the standard and nobody anticipated a hundred years of thermal cycling, Santa Ana-driven moisture intrusion, and deferred maintenance. We see the same pattern again and again: the flue liner has spalled and left gaps where creosote can accumulate and heat can reach combustibles, while the crown and flashing above have let water in for so long that the mortar joints are soft and the brick face is starting to powder. At Imperial Chimney, our repair work covers everything from Chimney Repair caps and crowns to full liner restoration using HeatShield ceramic resurfacing, and we photograph every finding so you can see exactly what we saw before you approve any work.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Rainwater is getting into the fireplace after storms, you hear birds or animals in the flue, or the old cap is rusted through and sitting loose on the crown.
What it costs in Pasadena
Expect $300 – $600 for a standard stainless or copper cap sized to your flue, with custom or multi-flue caps running $500 – $900.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, match the cap to your existing crown and masonry profile, and install it with mechanical fasteners and a weather-resistant seal so it stays put through Santa Ana gusts.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Your clay tile liner has visible cracks, missing sections, or spalling that shows up in photos from a camera inspection, and you’re seeing smoke or odor inside the home during fires.
What it costs in Pasadena
Replacement with a DuraFlex stainless liner typically runs $2,500 – $5,000 depending on flue height and access, while HeatShield resurfacing often lands in the $3,000 – $6,000 range when the original masonry is worth preserving.
How we do it
We run a camera through the flue first to document every defect, then either pull a new DuraFlex liner through the existing chase or apply HeatShield ceramic coating to resurface the original flue without demolition.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You see water stains on the ceiling near the chimney or damp spots in the attic after rain, and the existing flashing is torn, lifted, or sealed with old, cracked tar.
What it costs in Pasadena
Most flashing repairs fall between $400 and $900, though tear-off and re-roofing work where the chimney meets the roofline can push toward $3,500 when roofers get involved.
How we do it
We cut out the failed flashing, install new step flashing and counter-flashing that overlap correctly with the roof’s existing layers, and seal everything with a high-temperature, UV-stable sealant made for Southern California sun exposure.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete or mortar crown on top of the chimney has visible cracks, is missing chunks along the edge, or lets water sit in the flue area during wet weather.
What it costs in Pasadena
Expect $800 – $1,600 for a full crown rebuild with a proper drip edge, and $2,000 – $10,000 for larger structural or poured-crown projects on taller chimneys.
How we do it
We chip out the failed crown material, form and pour a new crown that extends beyond the brick line with a built-in drip edge so water runs off rather than down the masonry, and finish it with a weatherproof bonding sealant.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Pasadena
Here’s what we tell Pasadena homeowners to plan for, based on the repair work we most often quote:
| Item | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 standard / $500 – $900 custom |
| Chimney liner replacement | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Flashing repair | $400 – $900 |
| Crown repair | $800 – $1,600 |
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be saved?
It depends entirely on what the camera shows. If the clay tiles are intact and only the joints are deteriorated, HeatShield resurfacing can often restore the flue without tearing anything out. If the tiles are spalled, missing, or the flue is oversized for the appliance, a new liner is the only safe fix. We show you the photos so you can see the evidence yourself.
Can you do chimney repairs during Pasadena’s fire season?
Yes, and we treat it as priority work. A damaged flue or missing cap during a Santa Ana wind event is exactly when a chimney becomes a hazard. We schedule repairs year-round, and the mild Pasadena climate means no weather window interrupts the masonry work. Call (866) 253-3809 to get on the calendar before the next red-flag warning.
Brands We Service in Pasadena
We stock and install the same lines Pasadena’s restoration contractors rely on: our brands including Copperfield caps and dampers, Gelco chimney covers, and Famco venting components. Because we keep these parts in our local inventory, most cap and damper work in Pasadena can be quoted and completed without waiting on a distributor.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Pasadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $150 – $400 (spot check in Los Angeles metro) |
| Chimney cap installation | $300 – $600 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $400 – $700 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,500 – $5,000 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $400 – $900 |
| Chimney crown repair | $800 – $1,600 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $150 – $400 |
Pasadena prices get pushed up by a few local factors: century-old flues that need unexpected liner work once the soot is cleared, decorative masonry that demands careful matching rather than patch, and the permits required on landmarked homes. We price every job upfront from what we actually see on the inspection, and we never add a fee after the fact just because the liner turned out worse than expected.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pasadena
We work throughout Pasadena, from the historic Craftsman blocks to the newer builds and everything in between. Our team covers the city’s ZIP codes including 91101, 91189, 91191, and 91199, and we’re typically on site within a few days of your call, depending on the season.
- Bungalow Heaven
- Madison Heights
- Orange Grove area
- San Rafael
- Normandie Heights
Service Area – Cities Near Pasadena
Beyond Pasadena, Imperial Chimney serves the neighboring foothill communities where the housing stock and fire-safety needs are similar. We’re in South Pasadena, CA, San Marino, CA, Altadena, CA, and East Pasadena, CA, giving homeowners throughout the western San Gabriel Valley access to the same inspection-first chimney work.
Serving Pasadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Pasadena 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 Pasadena
We’re usually on site within two to five business days of your call, depending on the season and where you are in Pasadena. During the fall rush before the first fires of the year, scheduling tightens, so calling earlier in the season is smarter. You can reach us at (866) 253-3809 to book a specific window.
Yes, particularly in Bungalow Heaven and other landmark districts. Repairs to street-facing masonry or the chimney’s exterior profile may need design review, and flue work on a listed home often has to meet current fire-safety codes while matching the original materials. We handle the chimney side and flag any city approvals you’ll need before we start.
We cover all of Pasadena’s ZIP codes, including 91101, 91189, 91191, and 91199, across the flatlands and up into the foothills. Our team works in every neighborhood from the Arroyo to Eaton Canyon, and we don’t charge different rates based on where in the city you live.
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 Pasadena Customers Say
"Drop cloths everywhere, HEPA vac, and not a speck of soot on the carpet. I'd been dreading the mess for nothing."
— Adriana Garcia"Fireplace had never drawn properly since we moved in. He found the damper was only opening halfway due to a bent linkage and fixed it in ten minutes."
— Salma Haddad"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
— Christine Lin