Chimney sweep prices in San Antonio are hard to compare because the advertised number is rarely the final number. One company lists a sweep “from $99,” another “from $195,” and both can be honest: one covers a single masonry flue with no inspection, the other includes a Level 1 look. This guide lays out the typical ranges, what pushes a job to the top of a range, and how to read a written quote so you compare the same work. Everything below is a typical range from published guides, labelled as an estimate; your actual price comes from the independent company that looks at your chimney. The full table, with a calculator, is on our chimney sweep cost page.
What a chimney sweep costs
Two local directories’ estimates set the floor. HomeBlue (June 2024) puts a standard sweep on a one- or two-story San Antonio house at about $120 to $130 per chimney, and ChimScout (2026) puts a sweep with a basic inspection at about $150 to $250, “depending on the chimney, the amount of buildup, and the company.” Local companies advertise starting prices from roughly $99 to $195, which usually exclude prefab units, extra flues and repairs.
National guides sit a little higher. Angi, as reported by Bob Vila (2023), gives $130 to $380 with an average of about $255; Fixr (2025) gives a wider band of $100 to $500. By flue type, a gas fireplace flue runs $85 to $250, a pellet stove $175 to $350 and a wood stove $200 to $500. Adding a camera inspection to a sweep costs about $50 to $75 more. Because most San Antonio fireplaces burn gas logs or see a few dozen wood fires a year, the local job is usually closer to the bottom of these bands than the top. The chimney sweeping page explains what a sweep includes.
Chimney inspection prices by level
Inspections follow the three levels in NFPA 211. A Level 1 inspection is listed at $85 to $950 nationally but usually lands at the low end and is often bundled with a sweep. A Level 2 inspection, which adds a camera scan of the flue, runs $150 to $1,000. A Level 3 inspection, which opens up walls or chimney components to reach a suspected problem, runs $500 to $5,000 and is rare. Level 2 is the one that comes up at a home sale or transfer, after a chimney fire or other event, and when a fuel or appliance changes. Our chimney inspection page covers the differences.
Caps, chase covers, dampers and flashing
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap, installed | $300–$600 |
| Chase cover replacement (prefab chimneys) | $300–$700 |
| Damper repair / install | $100–$225 / $200–$400 |
| Flashing repair / replace | $200–$300 / $300–$800 |
| Animal removal | $200–$600 |
Caps and chase covers are the most common add-on in San Antonio because so many flues sit open most of the year. The region gets 32.38 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Antonio International Airport) and only 1,438 heating degree days, 72% of them in December through February, so a flue that is lit a handful of evenings takes rain for the other eleven months. Uncapped masonry flues in 1950s–70s neighborhoods and rusted chase covers on 1980s–2000s prefab fireplaces are where these line items show up. See the caps and dampers page.
Masonry repair, crowns, waterproofing and relining
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Crown repair / replace | $750–$1,000 / $1,000–$3,000 |
| Waterproofing / sealing | $150–$500 |
| Tuckpointing (chimney) | $500–$2,500 |
| Chimney rebuild (partial) | $500–$4,000 |
| Chimney relining | $1,800–$4,000 (avg about $2,500; up to about $7,000) |
These are the jobs where a written scope with photos matters most. A crown crack can be sealed for a few hundred dollars or rebuilt for a few thousand, depending on how far the water has gotten. Relining is the big-ticket item, quoted by the foot of flue and by liner material. Inside San Antonio city limits, repair work like this is the kind of nonstructural job that calls for a City of San Antonio Home Improvement Contractor registration; ask for it. Whether a rebuild or reline needs a building permit is not stated on the City’s pages, so the contractor confirms with Development Services. The masonry repair page goes through each repair.
Dryer vents and gas fireplace service
Dryer vent cleaning runs $100 to $200, averaging about $150; a roof exit runs $150 to $300, and clearing a bird nest from the vent $150 to $400. Gas fireplace repair runs $200 to $1,000 overall, with a thermocouple at $75 to $150 and a gas valve at $150 to $300. Gas-line work is done only by Texas-licensed plumbers (or, for propane, Railroad Commission-licensed LP-gas companies) and is quoted separately; inside San Antonio a Plumbing, Gas and Sewer permit applies, and the City lists plumbing permits at $50 plus each fixture. Ask who will touch the gas. See the dryer vent page and the gas fireplace page.
What moves the price
- Prefab versus masonry. Factory-built fireplaces with metal flues are swept differently, and local starting prices usually exclude them.
- Number of flues. A second fireplace or a furnace flue in the same stack is a second line item.
- Roof access. HomeBlue notes that “taller chimneys or those hard to reach may need a lift that adds to the expense.” Two-story homes and steep roofs cost more.
- Camera inspection. About $50 to $75 added to a sweep, or a stand-alone Level 2 at $150 to $1,000.
- What the sweep finds. A nest, a rusted damper, a cracked crown or a missing cap turns a sweep into a sweep plus a repair quote. A good company prices the repair separately and in writing.
- Fuel type. A gas log flue ($85 to $250) is usually the least expensive sweep; wood stoves the most.
How to compare written quotes
Ask every company for the same five things. First, a written scope that names the fireplace (masonry or prefab), the number of flues and the inspection level included. Second, photos of anything the company says needs repair, taken from inside the flue or on the roof, before you approve the work. Third, an itemized price that separates the sweep, the inspection, any cap or damper part and labor. Fourth, the credentials behind the quote: a CSIA or NFI certification you can check on csia.org or nficertified.org, a certificate of insurance and, for repairs inside city limits, the City Home Improvement Contractor registration. Fifth, who does the gas work if any is proposed: the plumber’s license, or the Railroad Commission license for propane.
Then compare like with like. A $99 sweep with no inspection and a $250 sweep with a Level 1 and a written report are different products, not a $151 difference. If one quote is far below the local $120 to $250 band, ask what is excluded; if one is far above the national ranges, ask what is included. Neither is automatically wrong, but the explanation should be specific to your chimney.
Getting San Antonio quotes
San Antonio Chimney Sweeps connects San Antonio-area homeowners with independent local chimney sweep, inspection and repair companies for free, no-obligation quotes. Tell us the fireplace type, how many flues you have and whether you want a sweep, an inspection or a repair estimate, and the companies reply with their own written prices; we usually reply the same day. Prices on this page are typical ranges from published guides and two local directories, not quotes. Request a free quote to start, or call: Call (727) 300-6656
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chimney sweep cost in San Antonio?
Two local directories estimate about $120 to $130 per chimney for a standard sweep (HomeBlue, June 2024) and about $150 to $250 for a sweep with a basic inspection (ChimScout, 2026). National guides put a sweep at $130 to $380, averaging about $255 (Angi via Bob Vila, 2023), or $100 to $500 (Fixr, 2025). All are estimates; your quote comes from the company that sees the chimney.
Why do local “from $99” sweep prices end up higher?
Local companies advertise starting prices from roughly $99 to $195. Those prices usually cover one standard masonry flue and exclude prefab (factory-built) units, extra flues, a camera inspection, animal or nest removal and any repair the sweep uncovers. Ask what the starting price includes before booking, and request the final figure in writing after the company has seen the chimney.
Is a Level 2 chimney inspection worth the extra cost?
A Level 2 inspection runs $150 to $1,000 in national guides, against $85 to $950 for a Level 1 that is usually at the low end and bundled with a sweep. The difference is the camera scan of the flue. It is the inspection buyers ask for at a sale or transfer, after a chimney event, or when a new appliance or fuel is involved.