Chimney Cleaning, Inspections & Waterproofing
A fireplace is a wonderful addition to a Southern California home — as long as its chimney works as it should. When there are problems, you need the help of a qualified local expert. Throughout the greater San Diego region, that expert is ChimneySweeps IncPro, with offices in Lakeside, CA and Oceanside, CA.
Chimney Sweeping & Cleaning
Since 1985, we’ve specialized in the art of chimney sweeping and chimney cleaning. We carry the Certified Chimney Professional designation, and our technicians have undergone extensive training in chimney safety, drafting, venting and inspection.
We remove flammable creosote, which causes most of the chimney fires reported each year in our area. To do this, we use specialized scrubbers, rods, whips, solvents and industrial vacuums. Along with creosote, we safely remove tree debris, small animal nests and animals that may have died inside the chimney — all of which can create a major drafting obstruction and send smoke and deadly carbon monoxide into your home.
Most fire safety agencies, including the Chimney Safety Institute of America, recommend annual chimney sweeping for residential chimneys.
Three levels of chimney inspection
There’s nothing better than a licensed chimney inspection to get to the bottom of problems and figure out the best way to solve them. Our inspectors can spot early signs of damage and malfunction before the issues get out of hand.
We can also determine the extent of known damage from a chimney fire, an earthquake, a component breakdown, neglect or plain old age. In certain cases, we perform CCTV video inspections, which allow us to see otherwise invisible areas within your chimney system.
- Level 1 — the basic yearly chimney inspection.
- Level 2 — performed when the home is being sold, the system is being altered, or when serious damage is suspected. Includes video.
- Level 3 — a comprehensive inspection when severe damage is known to exist.
Our inspectors are qualified to perform any needed repairs, component replacements and structural rebuilding.
Keep moisture out of the masonry.
Water is the number one enemy of a masonry chimney. It seeps into brick and mortar, freezes and expands, then takes whole sections of structure with it when it thaws. Our waterproofing treatment penetrates the masonry and repels liquid water while letting vapor escape — so the chimney breathes, just differently.
We apply only products specifically designed for chimney masonry. Paints and generic sealants trap moisture inside, making damage worse. The manufacturer-backed formula we use is good for a decade or more.
If your fireplace isn’t acting right, we’ve seen it before.
Four decades of rooftops means we can usually tell you what’s wrong from the driveway. Here are the three complaints we hear most often — and the most likely causes.
Leaky Chimney
Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, rust on the damper, mortar crumbling at the crown. Usually the flashing, crown or cap — sometimes all three.
Get it diagnosed
Smelly Chimney
A sharp, campfire-gone-wrong odor — especially when humidity rises. Creosote buildup is the likely culprit, combined with a negative pressure issue in the house.
Request a sweep
Smoky Fireplace
Smoke rolling into the room instead of up the flue. Draft issues, undersized flue, stuck damper or a bird’s nest sitting on the cap — we’ll identify and correct the cause.
Book a fix
Your local chimney experts across San Diego County.
We serve Lakeside CA, Oceanside CA and the greater San Diego CA area — including Coronado, Escondido, La Mesa, San Clemente, North Park, Alpine, Solana Beach and every community throughout East San Diego County.