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 Van Nuys, CA
Van Nuys chimney repair calls almost always start the same way: a homeowner who hasn’t used their fireplace in years finally lights a fire, or gets flagged by a home inspector, and a camera finds cracked clay tiles and a crown that’s been quietly failing since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. It’s not neglect. It’s just what happens when a 1950s ranch house sits through decades of Valley heat, Santa Ana winds, and seismic settling without anyone looking inside the flue. Firebrick Chimney Sweep handles the full repair scope, from crown work to liner replacement, and we’ve been doing it in Van Nuys since 2012. If you know something’s wrong but not how bad, call (866) 520-4943 and we’ll put a camera in the flue before we recommend anything.
Why Van Nuys Homes Are Different
Van Nuys is San Fernando Valley ranch-house territory: thousands of 1940s to 1960s single-story homes with original brick fireplaces and clay-tile flues that have gone decades without a sweep, because Los Angeles basin winters are mild enough that many owners never burn. That sounds harmless until you factor in the Valley’s periodic Santa Ana wind events and the 1994 Northridge earthquake legacy. Cracked chimney crowns and separated flue tiles are a routine discovery here, not an exception. The hot, dry summers mean low annual burn hours but heavy seasonal creosote buildup from occasional use, plus wind-driven debris, soot, and bird or leaf blockages that sit in the smoke shelf for a full year between burns. On pre-1970 ranch homes along the Van Nuys Blvd and Victory Blvd corridors, original mortar crowns often show hairline cracks traced back to Northridge shaking. Those cracks widen with every hot-cold cycle, and by the time you see staining on the ceiling near the chimney, moisture has already been getting in for a while. After a Santa Ana event, we routinely find spark-arrestor screens packed with palm fronds, eucalyptus debris, and fine Valley dust. That combination of aging untouched masonry and seismic or wind damage is what makes Van Nuys chimney work different from, say, a cooler, denser neighboring market.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Van Nuys Services
Most Van Nuys homeowners call us for one of two reasons: a fireplace that hasn’t been cleaned in years, or a dryer vent that’s running hot and restricted. Both are ventilation fire hazards, and both deserve the same level of attention.
Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys
A chimney sweep in a Van Nuys ranch house isn’t just brushing soot out of the firebox. Given the age of most chimneys here, every sweep includes a check of the clay flue tiles for separation, the crown for Northridge-era cracking, and the spark arrestor for Santa Ana debris. We pull creosote, dust, and whatever the last windstorm deposited, then run a camera through the flue to confirm nothing is hiding. If the flue is clean and sound, you’re done for the season. If it isn’t, you’ll know exactly what we found and what it means. That’s the full sweep: Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys
Dryer vents and chimneys share the same core risk: restricted, dirty ventilation that becomes a fire. We treat both with the same seriousness. In Van Nuys, dryer vents tend to be short horizontal runs through an exterior wall, but they still pack lint fast, especially in homes where the dryer runs nonstop for a family. We clean the full run from dryer to exterior cap, confirm airflow, and point out any routing or termination problems we find. It’s part of the same combustion-safety picture: Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys.
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 Van Nuys
Chimney repair in Van Nuys starts with the flue. Homes built from the 1940s through the 1960s used clay tile liners, and a lot of those liners have been sitting cracked or separated since the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Add decades of Santa Ana-driven temperature swings and occasional burning, and the result is a chimney that looks fine from the outside but isn’t safe inside. We begin every repair with a camera inspection so you can see exactly what we see, and we never recommend a fix without showing you the footage. Firebrick handles the full Chimney Repair scope in Van Nuys, and most jobs solve the problem in one visit.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You can see daylight through the flue opening from the roof, you hear birds or rustling near the firebox, or you find debris, nests, or standing water at the fireplace floor.
What it costs in Van Nuys
A new chimney cap in Van Nuys typically runs $195 to $575 depending on the flue size and whether a custom stainless steel cap is needed.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, select or fabricate the right-cap, secure it to the crown, and test that the screen and lid sit correctly for spark and moisture control.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
The existing cap is rusted through, the screen is torn or missing so embers escape, or the cap has pulled loose from the crown and shifts in the wind.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Replacing a damaged chimney cap in Van Nuys generally runs $160 to $525 including removal of the old cap and proper mounting of the new one.
How we do it
We remove the failed cap, inspect the crown underneath for damage, install the replacement with mechanical fasteners, and confirm it won’t lift during a Santa Ana gust.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Your camera inspection shows cracked, separated, or missing clay tiles, or an appliance flue is venting into an oversized masonry chimney with no liner at all.
What it costs in Van Nuys
A full chimney liner installation in Van Nuys typically falls between $2,300 and $5,900 depending on the flue size, liner material, and roof access.
How we do it
We size the liner to the appliance or fireplace, drop the stainless steel or aluminum liner down the flue, connect it at the top and bottom, and insulate or seal around it properly.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You see water staining on the ceiling or walls near the fireplace, peeling paint around the chimney chase, or rusted flashing with separated sealant at the roofline.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Flashing repair in Van Nuys usually runs $245 to $595 for a simple reseal or replacement around an average brick chimney.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing and sealant, inspect the surrounding roof penetration, install new step or counter-flashing, and re-seal with a roofing-grade elastomeric sealant.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete or mortar crown at the top of the chimney is cracked, spalled, or missing sections, often after decades of Valley heat and the Northridge shaking.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney crown repair in Van Nuys typically runs $345 to $1,100 depending on the extent of cracking and whether the crown needs a full rebuild or a proper crown sealer.
How we do it
We assess the crown damage by hand, remove loose material, rebuild or seal the crown surface so it sheds water away from the flue, and re-check the mortar joints below it.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Van Nuys
| Item | Typical range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $195 – $575 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $160 – $525 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,300 – $5,900 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $245 – $595 |
| Chimney crown repair | $345 – $1,100 |
Is a cracked chimney crown really a fire risk in Van Nuys?
Not directly, but it’s a water problem that becomes a structural problem. Water enters the crack, soaks the masonry, and weakens the joints, which is exactly how a compromised flue starts. Fixing the crown early stops the chain.
Can damaged chimney flashing wait until after the rainy season?
It can, but every rain event drives water further into the wall and the box frame. By spring, the repair usually involves replacing rotted roof decking, which adds cost that’s easy to avoid now. Call (866) 520-4943 for a free estimate.
Brands We Service in Van Nuys
Firebrick works with professional-grade chimney materials and components from Olympia Chimney, Gelco, and Copperfield. We keep common parts stocked locally so a repair doesn’t sit for a week waiting on a supply house. Full details are on our brands page.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Van Nuys, CA
| Service | Typical range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $169 – $265 |
| Chimney cap installation | $195 – $575 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $160 – $525 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,300 – $5,900 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $245 – $595 |
| Chimney crown repair | $345 – $1,100 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $129 – $215 |
| Camera inspection (included with sweep) | $0 – included |
What pushes a Van Nuys chimney repair higher is usually access: a steep second-story roofline, a two-story chase, or a flue that’s been altered over the years and now needs custom sizing. We give a flat price before we start, based on what the camera shows us, so there’s no surprise when the job is done.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Van Nuys
Firebrick Chimney Sweep works throughout Van Nuys, and we know the difference between a 1950s ranch home near the Van Nuys Airport flight path and a mid-century apartment conversion off Victory Blvd. We cover the full service area and schedule by ZIP code so our routing keeps response times tight.
- Valley Glen area near Van Nuys Blvd
- Sherman Oaks border along the 405
- North Hills neighborhoods off Sepulveda Blvd
- Central Van Nuys between Victory Blvd and Vanowen St
- Encino-adjacent streets west of the 405
Service Area – Cities Near Van Nuys
Our Van Nuys work regularly takes us into neighboring Valley communities, and we keep route coverage tight across the corridor. Homeowners in Valley Glen, CA, Sherman Oaks, CA, Encino, CA, and North Hills, CA call us for the same camera-first inspections and flat-price repairs, without a second contractor in the mix.
Serving Van Nuys, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Van Nuys 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 Van Nuys
Most Van Nuys calls are scheduled within a few days, and we keep our route clustering tight so we’re not driving across the Valley for every single job. If it’s an active leak or a suspected flue problem, we’ll tell you over the phone what to watch for until we arrive.
Most chimney cap, crown, flashing, and liner repairs don’t require a permit in Van Nuys, because they’re maintenance within the existing footprint. If you’re adding a new appliance vent or changing the structure, the city may require it, and we’ll tell you clearly before work starts.
That flag usually comes from a visual inspection: a cracked crown, rusted flashing, or a flue that couldn’t be fully seen. We’ll run a camera inspection, give you a written condition report with photos, and price any required repair so you can negotiate or close with a real number in hand. Call (866) 520-4943 to book the inspection.
If you own a Van Nuys home with a fireplace or a dryer vent against an exterior wall, call Firebrick Chimney Sweep at (866) 520-4943. We’ll send a chimney specialist, not a generalist, and you’ll get a straight answer with camera footage to back it. Estimates are free.
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 Van Nuys 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."
— Robert Sullivan"Drop cloths everywhere, HEPA vac, and not a speck of soot on the carpet. I'd been dreading the mess for nothing."
— Laura Bennett"Liner was cracked in two places. He walked me through the repair options honestly, including the one that was cheaper for him and better for me."
— Lucia Ramirez