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 Inspection Across San Antonio
Chimney inspection in San Antonio typically costs $175 to $450 depending on the level, with a Level 2 camera inspection running $325 to $600 in most neighborhoods from Monte Vista to Stone Oak. We serve the entire San Antonio metro with crews who know the difference between a 1920s masonry flue in King William and a mid-century brick veneer chimney in Castle Hills. That matters because what a chimney needs here is shaped by age, humidity, and how it was built. Call (361) 491-3153 for a free estimate and a written price before any work starts.
Why Kindling Chimney San Antonio Is San Antonio’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
San Antonio homeowners call us because we document what we find with a camera, not a clipboard guess. Danny Cortes leads our San Antonio Chimney Sweep crews, and every technician who walks through your door is background-checked, uniformed, and trained to follow the C.A.R.E. values: shoe covers and drop cloths go down on arrival, nothing gets moved without asking, and a photo of the clean-up is taken before we leave. That’s the Cedarwell Care Promise on every visit, alongside a written price handed to you before work begins.
We’re independently owned and operated as part of the Cedarwell family of companies, established in 2003. Our San Antonio office coordinates dispatch and scheduling locally, so when you call, you talk to a live person who knows this city. No voicemail trees. No callbacks three days later.
We also carry professional-grade brands like DuraFlex and HeatShield for liner repairs, which means if your inspection finds a cracked clay tile flue in a 1950s home we serve in Alamo Heights, you don’t wait weeks on parts. The 365-Day Done Right Promise stands behind every inspection we do in San Antonio.
Styles & brands we work with
Level 2 Chimney Inspection in San Antonio
A Level 2 Chimney Inspection is what most San Antonio homes need when something has changed: you bought the house, the fireplace has never been checked, or a freeze-thaw cycle left you wondering what’s happening inside the flue. This inspection includes everything in a Level 1 plus a camera scan of the interior flue, the smoke chamber, and accessible attic or crawlspace areas. In San Antonio, we recommend it for any real estate transaction, after any chimney fire, or before switching from gas back to wood. Cost in San Antonio runs $325 to $600 depending on access and chimney height.
Camera Scan of the Flue Interior
We run a high-resolution camera through the entire flue to photograph every crack, gap, and creosote deposit. You see the images before we recommend anything. Nothing gets quoted without camera evidence you can point to.
Real Estate and Pre-Purchase Inspections
Selling or buying in San Antonio? Many homes in Converse and Universal City are mid-century builds with original clay tile liners. A Level 2 camera inspection before closing catches issues a visual-only inspector misses, and we deliver the report and photos quickly so escrow stays on track.
Chimney Leak in San Antonio
A Chimney Leak in San Antonio usually shows up as water staining on the ceiling near the fireplace, a rusted damper, or white efflorescence on the masonry outside. The root cause is almost always one of four things: a cracked crown, failed flashing, a rusted-out cap, or a damaged flue liner. We locate the actual entry point with a camera and moisture test, then give you a written price to stop the water at the source. Repair pricing for a chimney leak in San Antonio typically runs $225 to $1,500 depending on what the inspection finds.
Crown and Cap Repairs
San Antonio’s hot humid summers and occasional winter freezes crack chimney crowns faster than homeowners expect. A hairline crack today becomes a water channel by spring. We seal or rebuild crowns and replace rusted caps with stainless or copper, quoted clearly before we start.
Flashing and Masonry Sealing
Flashing failures are common on the gentle-pitch roofs you see throughout Helotes and Bulverde. Our crews replace step and counter flashing with correct overlaps, and for limestone chimneys north of Loop 1604 we apply breathable sealers that stop water absorption while letting moisture escape. That prevents what locals call ‘Texas leprosy’ – the white flaking that’s actually efflorescence and spalling working together.
Trusted Brands We Service in San Antonio
When an inspection in San Antonio finds liner damage, we repair with products we’re willing to stake the 365-Day Done Right Promise on. We stock HeatShield and Gelco materials for clay tile flue resurfacing, and we provide Duraflex service in San Antonio with stainless liners where the original clay has failed beyond repair. For replacement caps and dampers, we carry Olympia Chimney components in our San Antonio inventory. Families with kids and pets appreciate that these products are specified for their home, not what was cheap on a shelf. Quick turnaround on parts means your repair isn’t delayed by supply-chain guessing.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in San Antonio Homes
- Cracked clay tile liners in 1950s to 1970s homes. The original terra cotta flue tiles crack from decades of thermal cycling. A visual-only inspection from the top cannot see mid-flue breaks, which is why we camera-scan every Level 2 in San Antonio.
- Rusted dampers from high humidity. San Antonio’s summer humidity seizes dampers shut or corrodes the frame. A seized damper is not an automatic replacement; often a cap repair and proper lubrication restores function for a fraction of the cost.
- Spalling limestone on Hill Country chimneys. North of Loop 1604, stone chimneys built with local limestone absorb water and shed their face. It’s called Texas leprosy for good reason, and the fix is sealing and water management, not a rebuild quote.
- Gas appliances vented into old wood flues. In neighborhoods like Monte Vista and King William, vintage wood-burning chimneys were later repurposed for gas logs or water heaters. The original flue was never designed for that, and an inspection catches condensation damage and venting issues before they become health risks.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Inspection in San Antonio, TX
A standard Level 1 Chimney Inspection in San Antonio runs $175 to $275. A Level 2 with full camera scan runs $325 to $600. Level 3 inspections, which involve opening walls or masonry to access hidden flue sections, run $1,000 to $5,000 depending on scope – we only recommend these when Level 2 findings require it, and we show you the camera images first. Real estate inspections with report and photos typically fall between $325 and $500. Chimney leak diagnosis and repair pricing depends on the source but most San Antonio jobs land between $225 and $1,500. Call (361) 491-3153 for a free estimate, and you’ll get a written price before anything starts.
We Also Serve Cities Near San Antonio
Our San Antonio crews regularly work in Converse, Universal City, Helotes, and Bulverde. If you’re in any of these communities and need a Chimney Inspection, we’ll bring the same camera documentation, written pricing, and C.A.R.E. values to your door. Dispatch is coordinated from our San Antonio office, so scheduling is simple and local.
Serving San Antonio, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Antonio 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 Inspection in San Antonio
You can’t know from the outside, and that’s the point. Clay tile liners crack from decades of San Antonio’s freeze-thaw cycles and heat stress, and you’ll rarely see it without a camera. Warning signs include pieces of tile at the bottom of the fireplace, white staining on exterior brick, or a strong smoke smell after a fire. A Level 2 inspection is required to document these cracks, and in San Antonio it’s the standard we recommend for any mid-century home that hasn’t been camera-inspected in years. Call (361) 491-3153 and we’ll schedule it around the weather.
That white powder is efflorescence caused by water moving through the limestone and depositing salts on the surface. Locals call it Texas leprosy, especially north of Loop 1604. It’s a moisture problem, not a structural emergency at first, but left unaddressed the stone face can spall and shed. Our Chimney Inspection in San Antonio determines whether you need sealing, water management, or something more. We photograph the areas so you can see the evidence for whatever we recommend.
No, you shouldn’t use a fireplace with a damper that won’t open. A rusted damper can trap carbon monoxide and smoke inside the home. That said, a seized damper is often repairable with lubrication or a minor part replacement, not a full rebuild. We’ll confirm the condition during inspection and show you the photos before quoting anything.
Gas fireplaces still produce exhaust, moisture, and sometimes acidic condensation that eats flue liners from the inside. In San Antonio’s humid climate, that corrosion can happen faster than you’d expect. Vented gas logs also need a clear, smoke-safe path up the flue, which an annual inspection verifies. It’s not about burning wood; it’s about making sure the gas byproducts leave your house safely.
Water gets into mortar joints during rainy periods or high humidity, then winter freezes make it expand. Repeated cycles crack and loosen mortar, which lets more water in and accelerates spalling on brick and stone. An inspection catches early mortar deterioration before chimney sections loosen or water reaches the interior walls. In San Antonio, we check crown integrity, mortar joints, and step flashing as a routine part of both Level 1 and Level 2 work.
Call Kindling Chimney San Antonio for a Straight Answer
If you’re in San Antonio and want a chimney inspection that shows you the evidence instead of guessing at it, call (361) 491-3153. Danny Cortes and our team will put shoe covers on, protect your floors, and hand you a written price before any work starts – camera images included. No pressure, no scare tactics, just a clear picture of what your chimney actually needs. The 365-Day Done Right Promise and the Cedarwell Care Promise back every visit we make in San Antonio.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner at Kindling Chimney San Antonio, serving San Antonio since the Cedarwell family of companies was established in 2003.