Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Cleaning in New Braunfels, TX
These are the questions we hear most from homeowners around New Braunfels, answered plainly. If your question isn't here, call (888) 401-6898 and we'll talk it through.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A standard chimney sweep in New Braunfels typically runs $150 to $300, and a camera inspection often adds $75 to $150 on top depending on what's found. The estimate is free and the price is set per job by the written estimate, so you know the number before anything is booked. What moves the range is how much creosote has built up, whether the flue is accessible from the roof, and whether the job turns into a repair. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
The biggest price driver is the condition inside the flue, not the size of the house. A lightly used fireplace with thin soot sweeps quickly at the low end of the range; heavy creosote, a long flue, or a firebox that needs masonry attention pushes the job higher. Roof access also matters, and so does whether you want a camera inspection with a photo report. We quote per job after seeing it, and the written estimate is what you pay. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Not automatically. A chimney liner only needs replacing when there's real evidence: cracked clay tile, gaps at the joints, corrosion in a metal liner, or a flue that's the wrong size for the appliance venting into it. Nothing is recommended without camera evidence you can see for yourself, and we'll say plainly when a liner can safely wait. If the tiles are sound, a sweep may be the whole job. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A visual check of the firebox, damper, smoke chamber and flue comes with the sweep, and a camera inspection is available when the visual check turns up something unclear. The camera inspection includes a photo report you keep, so you're not taking our word for what's up there. The price for that inspection is quoted up front with the sweep, not added afterward. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Service & Process FAQs
We lay drop cloths, seal the firebox opening, and run a rotary brush up the flue from the bottom or the roof depending on access. Soot and creosote come down into a closed vacuum, so the room stays clean. After brushing, we check the damper, smoke chamber and cap, then inspect the flue with a camera if needed. You get a photo report of what we found and a plain explanation of anything worth watching. Then we're out. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Most wood-burning fireplaces in and around New Braunfels need a sweep once a year or after roughly a cord of wood, whichever comes first. Gas fireplaces need less frequent sweeping but still need an annual inspection because venting can clog or crack without any visible sign. If you burn more than that, or you notice a strong smoky smell in warm weather, don't wait for the calendar. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Creosote builds up in layers on the flue walls, and once it gets thick enough it can ignite. That's a chimney fire, and it can damage the flue or spread beyond it. Carbon monoxide is the quieter risk, especially with a blocked or cracked flue. Neither is a reason to panic, but both are reasons to get the sweep done before burning season. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes. Gas fireplaces get cleaned and inspected differently than wood: the concern is the venting and the burner assembly rather than creosote. Wood stoves and inserts get swept like a fireplace, with the flue checked for the same buildup. We'll tell you what your specific setup needs once we see it. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
We focus on chimneys and flues, so a dryer vent isn't our job. Fireplace glass cleaning is usually something a homeowner can handle with the right product, and we'll point you toward what to use rather than charging for it. If you're unsure whether your setup needs a sweep or something else, call and describe it. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
No, not above the firebox. Roof access, a flue full of creosote, and the risk of dislodging a cracked tile make this one to leave to a trained professional. The chemicals and brushes that work safely on a flue aren't the ones sold at a hardware store, and a botched sweep can leave soot in the house or damage the liner. What you can do yourself is keep the firebox clear and the cap in good shape. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A typical sweep takes about an hour for a standard fireplace, longer if the flue is heavily soiled or the camera inspection turns up something that needs a closer look. A straightforward job on a single-story home in New Braunfels is usually done inside that window. We'll tell you what to expect when we quote the job. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We work with liner systems like DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney because they're built for the job and available with the fittings that make a clean install possible. The brand matters less than the fit: the liner has to match your flue size and the appliance venting into it. We'll tell you which system suits your setup when we quote the work. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes, when the flue calls for it. HeatShield and Gelco are repair systems for cracked or deteriorating flue tiles, and they can restore a flue that would otherwise need a full reline. The right choice depends on what the camera shows, and we'll walk you through that footage before recommending anything. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Sometimes, though it's rarely a good deal. The liner has to match your flue dimensions and the appliance, and a mismatched or undersized liner is worse than the one you had. We'd rather quote the right system up front than install something that won't vent correctly. Talk to us before buying. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Texas doesn't have a single statewide chimney sweep license, so the protection you want is a qualified, insured technician and a written estimate. Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their trade requires, and to carry the coverage that matters if something goes wrong on your roof. Ask any chimney company to show it before they start. Call (888) 401-6898 and we'll answer what you want to know.
Yes. Insured and bonded, and the work is covered by the guarantee described below. Insurance matters on this job because a sweep means someone on your roof and in your flue, and damage from a dropped brush or a cracked tile should never be your problem. We'll show proof of coverage before we book anything. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Same-Day Service & Response FAQs
Often, yes. Same-day sweeping is possible when a technician is available and the job fits, though it's not something we promise in advance. If you call and there's an opening, we'll book you in. Call (888) 401-6898. We answer 24/7. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday.
A live coordinator answers and books you in with the local team who'll do the work. We answer 24/7, and fast dispatch runs 7am to 7pm Sunday through Friday. We're closed on Saturday. A call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening. The estimate is free, the price is set per job by the written estimate, and nothing gets added afterward.
Yes, we work across the area, including Garden Ridge, Cibolo, Seguin, Schertz, Canyon Lake and Universal City. Each job is quoted per home, since flue height and access vary even between neighbors. If you're outside those towns, call and we'll tell you whether we can get out to you. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Call and we'll look at it again. Our work is backed by a satisfaction guarantee, and if something we touched isn't right, we want to know. Repairs like a new liner or a flue reline are covered by the product warranty that comes with the system installed, which we'll explain before you approve the work. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes. The camera inspection includes a photo report you can keep and review, and it's the same footage we use to decide whether a repair is needed now or can wait. Nothing is recommended without camera evidence you can see for yourself, and if work can safely wait, we'll tell you so. That's the point of the report. Call (888) 401-6898 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Written by the team at Beacon Chimney Sweep.