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.
Trusted Chimney Inspection for Atlanta Homeowners
A chimney inspection in Atlanta typically costs between $129 and $329 depending on the level of inspection and what we find inside your flue. Alcott Chimney Atlanta has served local homeowners since 2002, and every inspection comes with a written price before work begins. If you’re seeing water stains near the firebox, smelling smoke when the fireplace isn’t lit, or you just bought an older home in Druid Hills or Gresham Park, we’ll tell you exactly what’s going on. Call (762) 356-6423 for a straight answer and a same-week appointment.
Fireplace Inspection
A fireplace inspection is the visual and mechanical review of your firebox, damper, and the area directly around the opening. Many Atlanta homeowners only think about it before their first fire of the season, but a Chimney Inspection in Atlanta also catches problems while they’re small and cheap. We check for cracked firebrick, a damper that won’t seal, and any sign that smoke is escaping into the room instead of up the flue. In most cases this costs $129 to $189 as part of a standard visit.
Signs Your Firebox Needs a Closer Look
White staining on brick, called efflorescence, means moisture is moving through the masonry. Crumbling mortar joints around the firebox floor let heat reach the framing behind your wall. Both are quiet problems until they’re expensive ones. We flag them during every inspection, not just when you ask.
What We Include on Every Fireplace Visit
Every fireplace inspection includes checking the damper from both sides, the firebox floor and walls, the lintel, and the smoke shelf. We’ll also run a handheld camera up the first few feet of flue if we suspect creosote buildup. You see the same images we see, so nothing gets recommended without proof.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Inspection Services
Chimney inspection services at Alcott Chimney Atlanta cover the entire system from the crown on your roof down to the ash dump door. Homeowners typically schedule them after buying a home, before selling one, or after noticing a problem like a chimney odor or a slow-drafting fire. We inspect with the same protocol every time, then give you a written price for any repair before we touch a tool. Plan on $129 to $329.
When Atlanta Homes Need More Than a Quick Look
Older neighborhoods like Candler-McAfee and Forest Park have chimneys built before modern liners and caps were standard. Rain, humidity, and decades of heat cycling wear down mortar and corrode dampers. A standard inspection catches the visible stuff. A camera inspection catches what’s hiding behind the flue walls.
Why Technicians Matter More Than Equipment
Cameras are useful. The person holding one matters more. Ruben Castellano sends out background-checked, identity-verified technicians only, and you’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive. That’s the Threshold Standard, and we’ve never made an exception.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Flue Inspection
A chimney flue inspection focuses on the passage that carries smoke and gases from your firebox to the outside air. It’s the part of the chimney that, if compromised, lets carbon monoxide leak into bedrooms and hallways. In Atlanta, flue problems usually show up as failing mortar joints in a clay tile liner or as rust staining on a metal liner. A flue inspection runs $129 to $229 as a standalone service.
What the Camera Shows Us
We run a high-resolution camera the full length of the flue and record what we find. Cracked tiles, gaps between sections, and creosote that has hardened into a glaze all get documented with photos. That record is yours to keep, and it’s the reason we can give you a written repair price instead of a vague estimate.
Common Flue Findings in Atlanta Homes
We regularly see flues in Druid Hills and North Druid Hills with cracked liners from decades of temperature swings. In some cases, a HeatShield resurfacing treatment can restore the liner without a full rebuild. In others, a DuraFlex liner replacement is the only safe fix. You’ll see exactly which one applies to your chimney before we quote it.
Chimney Fire
A chimney fire happens when creosote, the tar-like buildup that condenses inside your flue, ignites and burns at temperatures that can crack tile liners and warp metal ones. Most homeowners never see the fire itself, but they see the evidence: creosote that looks puffy or honeycombed, cracked flue tiles, or a masonry chimney that smells sharp and oily after a burn. Let us inspect after any suspected chimney fire, which in Atlanta falls between $129 and $189.
What a Chimney Fire Leaves Behind
Even a small chimney fire can compromise a liner enough that the next burn is dangerous. We’ll look for thermal damage in the flue, scorching on the cap, and any sign that adjacent framing got hot. If the chimney is unsafe, we’ll tell you plainly and stop the inspection there until it’s repaired.
Preventing the Next One
Burning seasoned hardwoods and scheduling annual sweeping are the two highest-impact habits. If your chimney has already had a fire, we may recommend an annual inspection for the next few years. It’s a small cost compared to a liner replacement.
Level 2 Chimney Inspection
A Level 2 chimney inspection is the industry standard whenever a property changes hands, after a chimney fire, or after a structural event like the windstorms that come through Atlanta every spring. It includes everything in a standard inspection plus a full video scan of the flue interior and access to the attic, crawlspace, and roof. Expect to pay around $229 to $329 for a Level 2 inspection from Alcott Chimney Atlanta.
What Level 2 Means in Practice
We’re looking at the flue walls, the liner joints, the crown, the cap, and the clearances between the chimney and any combustibles. This is the inspection the National Fire Protection Association specifies for real estate transactions. We provide the written report you need for closing.
Real Estate and Insurance Requirements
Buyers in Atlanta and nearby Decatur often ask for our Chimney Inspection in Decatur after a home inspection flags a chimney concern. Sellers use it as a way to close without surprises. Either way, you’ll get a documented report with photos, something the $99 flyer specials rarely include.
Chimney Leak
A chimney leak in Atlanta usually shows up as brown stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, dampness in the attic around the chimney chase, or rust marks on the damper. Rain, not condensation, causes most of what we diagnose. The fix may be as simple as a new cap and crown seal, or it may be a flashing failure at the roofline. Leak diagnostics run $129 to $229.
Flashing, Crown, or Liner?
Three things let water into a chimney: the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, the concrete crown on top, and the liner itself if the cap is missing. We test each one during a leak inspection, starting with the flashing because it’s the most common failure point in Atlanta’s older roofs. You’ll see photos of what’s leaking before we ask you to approve any work.
Why a Leak Never Fixes Itself
Water in a chimney accelerates masonry damage every freeze-thaw cycle. Atlanta doesn’t get many hard freezes, but it gets enough. A hundred-dollar crown seal this year prevents a three-thousand-dollar masonry rebuild in five years.
Chimney Camera Inspection
A chimney camera inspection is exactly what it sounds like: a small, high-resolution camera lowered or pushed through your entire flue while you watch the live feed. It’s the only way to see cracks, gaps, or creosote accumulation behind the surfaces you can’t reach. We include camera footage on every Level 2 job, or you can add it to a standard inspection for $99.
See What We See
During the scan, we explain what the camera is passing and stop when we find something worth a closer look. The footage is recorded, and you get a copy. That’s the same standard we use when performing a Chimney Inspection in Clarkston and Redan.
When the Camera Catches What the Eye Misses
Last year, a customer near Conley had a standard inspection that looked fine from the rooftop, so we recommended our Chimney Inspection in Conley to be sure. The camera found a loose clay tile 12 feet down, blocking the draft and building creosote. Without the scan, she’d have burned another season with a hidden hazard. That’s what we mean by showing our work.
Brands We Service
We install and repair HeatShield and DuraFlex systems, the two names most trusted by chimney professionals for liner resurfacing and replacement. HeatShield is a cerfractory flue sealant we apply when a clay liner has hairline cracks but the structure is still sound. DuraFlex is a flexible stainless steel liner we use when the old liner has to be completely replaced, and we size and insulate each install to manufacturer spec.
We also carry and work with Gelco and Olympia Chimney products, particularly caps, dampers, and chase covers. These are the same trade-grade materials used on Atlanta’s HOA and condominium chimney systems. Whether you have an existing setup that needs matching parts or an older system that needs a proper cap, we can help.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke backing into the room when the fire is lit. A healthy chimney pulls air up and out. Smoke entering your living space means a draft problem, a blockage, or a closed damper. Any of the three deserves a camera scan before your next fire.
- A chemical, oily, or sharp smell near the fireplace on humid days. Creosote absorbs moisture and releases an odor that’s hard to mistake once you’ve smelled it. In Atlanta’s wet months, that smell often gets stronger. It’s also a sign your flue needs cleaning before the season starts.
- Water stains on the ceiling or walls around the chimney. If the stain is directly below the roofline near the chimney, the flashing has probably failed. If it’s in the attic around the chase, the cap or crown is leaking. A chimney inspection identifies which one before you start cutting drywall.
- Chunks of brick or tile in the firebox. Noticed little pieces of clay or mortar on the fireplace floor? Something above the firebox is shedding. It could be the liner, the throat, or the smoke chamber. You should not burn again until a professional has looked.
- Birds, squirrels, or dripping sounds coming from the flue. Animals nesting in chimneys are common in Atlanta neighborhoods like Conley and Fair Oaks. Nest material can burn or, worse, block the flue completely. A simple cap installation fixes it permanently.
Our Process, Step by Step
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You call, a live person answers. No voicemail, no callback queue. You’ll speak with someone at Alcott Chimney Atlanta who can schedule your inspection and answer basic questions on the spot. You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive.
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We verify the technician at your door. The technician you were promised is the technician who shows up, in uniform and with a photo ID badge. It’s the same standard we’ve followed since 2002, and it’s non-negotiable.
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We inspect the entire system. From the rooftop crown and cap to the firebox and ash dump, we’re looking at every accessible part of your chimney. On a Level 2 job, we add a live camera scan of the flue interior. You can watch the feed while we work.
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We show you what we found. Photos, camera stills, and plain-English explanations of anything that needs attention. Nothing gets recommended unless you can see the evidence with your own eyes. If the chimney is safe, we’ll tell you that too.
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We hand you a written price before any work. If repairs are needed, you’ll see the exact line-item cost before we pick up a tool. If you decide it can wait, that’s fine. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to any repair you do approve.
How Much Does Chimney Inspection Cost in Atlanta?
A standard chimney inspection in Atlanta typically runs $129 to $189. A Level 2 inspection, which includes a full camera scan and is required for most real estate transactions, costs $229 to $329. A standalone flue camera scan added to a standard visit runs about $99. Leak diagnostics fall in the $129 to $229 range depending on how long the water trail takes to trace.
What changes the price? The age of the chimney, the height of the roofline, and whether we’re accessing an interior chase or an exterior masonry stack. Homes in North Druid Hills and Druid Hills with steep roof pitches sometimes require a little more time. Homes with crawlspace access for attic checks can add a few minutes too. The best way to avoid overpaying is to get one written price that includes everything, not an hourly rate that grows. Our free estimates do exactly that. Call (762) 356-6423 and you’ll know your cost before the truck rolls.
Our Service Area Near Atlanta
Alcott Chimney Atlanta serves homeowners throughout the metro area, including our home service hub in Atlanta, plus Decatur, Clarkston, Redan, Forest Park, Fair Oaks, Conley, Druid Hills, Gresham Park, North Druid Hills, Hapeville, and Candler-McAfee. We offer Chimney Inspection in Atlanta with same-week scheduling in most cases. You’ll find the same standards of care in Chimney Inspection in Decatur and Chimney Inspection in Clarkston.
Serving Atlanta, GA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Atlanta area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Inspection in Atlanta
A chimney inspection is a professional evaluation of your entire chimney system, from the crown on the roof to the firebox floor. We’re looking for creosote buildup, cracked flue tiles, failing mortar, water intrusion, and anything else that affects safety or performance. You receive a written summary and photos of everything we find.
A standard inspection takes about 45 to 60 minutes on site. A Level 2 inspection with a full camera scan usually runs 90 minutes to two hours, depending on how much access we need. You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive.
Most inspections fall between $129 and $329. A standard visual inspection is $129 to $189, while a Level 2 with full camera documentation runs $229 to $329. You’ll receive a written price before any work begins, and our estimate is free. Call (762) 356-6423 for an exact quote.
Yes, we install and repair both HeatShield resurfacing and DuraFlex liner systems, and we have extensive experience with homes throughout the Atlanta area. Our technicians follow manufacturer spec on every install. We also work with Gelco and Olympia Chimney products for caps and damper systems.
Yes, we answer our phones around the clock. If you’ve had a chimney fire or you suspect a carbon monoxide issue, call us any time and we’ll get you scheduled. In a true emergency, call 911 first, then call us.
Every repair includes a written 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the repair fails within a full year, we return and make it right at no cost to you. It’s written on every repair invoice, and it’s been our standard since 2002.
Clear the area around the fireplace so we have room to work, and move any furniture or decor you don’t want dust from the inspection. If you have pets, secure them before our technician arrives. Other than that, we handle the rest, including roof access and protecting your floors.
Schedule Your Chimney Inspection Service in Atlanta Today
You’ll know exactly who’s coming to your door and exactly what it will cost before we arrive. Call (762) 356-6423 for a free, no-obligation estimate from Alcott Chimney Atlanta, serving Atlanta since 2002. If your request is urgent, we’ll work to get you on the schedule this week.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney Atlanta, serving Atlanta since 2002.