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
Chimney repair in Van Nuys usually means working on a masonry fireplace built between 1948 and 1965, often with original clay tile liners and mortar joints that have been drying out for sixty years. Most of the homes we service are single-story tract ranches spread across the Valley floor, where hot summers leave fireplaces unused for months and Santa Ana winds push debris back down the flue. If you’re dealing with smoke backing into the living room or a damper that won’t seal, call Ashwood Chimney Sweep at (833) 805-3229 and we’ll get it diagnosed.
Why Van Nuys Homes Are Different
Van Nuys is San Fernando Valley ranch-house country. The housing stock here was built fast in the post-war boom, late 1940s through the 1960s, and most of those original brick and stone fireplaces are still in place. That means we’re rarely working on modern factory-built units. We’re working on clay tile liners, cast-iron dampers that have warped or rusted shut, and mortar crowns that have been baking in Valley sun since Eisenhower was in office.
The climate shapes the work more than people expect. Fireplaces sit dormant from April through October. Creosote hardens. Birds and squirrels move in. Then the first cold snap hits, or a Santa Ana wind event kicks up overnight, and suddenly there’s a smoky smell in the house on a hot, still day. By the time homeowners call us, the ash pit and smoke shelf are often packed with leaves, dust, and soot blown down from the cap. Van Nuys calls spike after wind events, not just after winters. That’s a pattern we’ve learned to plan around, and it changes how we inspect: here, we pay extra attention to what the wind deposits, not just what the fire leaves behind.
Most Van Nuys homes fall in the 91401, 91405, and 91406 ZIP codes, with service extending to 91410, 91411, 91470, and 91482. The older the tract, the more likely the fireplace still runs on its original components. Some homeowners converted to gas logs decades ago. Others added inserts. Either way, the flue behind the firebox is usually still the original clay tile, and that’s where most repair work starts.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Van Nuys Services
Most Van Nuys homeowners call us for one of two things: an annual sweep to keep the fireplace safe and clean, or a dryer vent that’s never been cleaned since the house was built. Here’s what each one involves in this city.
Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys
In Van Nuys, a chimney sweep means more than brushing the flue. It means clearing out what the Santa Anas blew in, checking damper operation, and looking for cracked clay tiles that are common in homes built before 1970. We run a full visual inspection with every sweep so you know whether the fireplace is safe to use or needs repair. Most sweeps here take about an hour, and we leave the firebox and hearth clean. See the full breakdown on our Chimney Sweep in Van Nuys page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys
Dryer vents in Van Nuys ranch homes are often long, narrow runs through attics or crawl spaces, and lint builds up fast in the dry Valley air. The risk is real: a clogged dryer vent is a fire hazard, not a convenience issue. We treat it as seriously as any flue cleaning, using professional ventilation hardware from Famco rather than improvised fittings. You can read the full scope and local details on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Van Nuys page.
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 most often comes down to two things: water getting where it shouldn’t, and sixty-year-old liners reaching the end of their service life. The original clay tiles in these 1940s and 1950s fireplaces crack under decades of heating and cooling cycles. Once a tile cracks, heat and gases can reach the surrounding masonry, which nobody wants. The good news is we repair with the same materials professional contractors specify, including Chimney Repair products from Copperfield and DuraFlex, and when a liner is deteriorating but not destroyed, HeatShield lets us restore it without a full tear-out. Here are the repair jobs we handle most in Van Nuys.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You find leaves, twigs, or bird nesting material in the firebox, or you hear animals in the flue between seasons.
What it costs in Van Nuys
A new chimney cap installed in Van Nuys typically runs $185 – $390 depending on the flue size and material.
How we do it
We measure the flue, set a stainless or copper cap sized for proper draft, and anchor it so Santa Ana gusts don’t move it.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Your sweep or camera inspection shows cracked, spalled, or missing clay tiles, or you smell smoke even when the fireplace isn’t in use.
What it costs in Van Nuys
A full chimney liner installation in Van Nuys generally falls between $1,200 and $2,500, with HeatShield restoration running less when the original liner is still structurally sound.
How we do it
We inspect with a camera first, then either restore the existing flue with HeatShield or install a DuraFlex flexible liner sized to the chimney, and we document everything with photos.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You see water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, or the flashing around the roofline is pulling away or rusted through.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney flashing repair in Van Nuys typically costs $350 – $800 depending on how much of the roofline needs to be opened and resealed.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing, check the mortar underneath, and install new step and counter flashing with the correct overlap for the low-slope Valley roofs common here.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete crown at the top of the chimney is cracked, crumbling, or missing chunks, letting water soak into the masonry below.
What it costs in Van Nuys
Chimney crown repair in Van Nuys runs $300 – $750 for minor patching and more when the crown needs to be re-poured.
How we do it
We clean and prep the old crown, fill cracks with a flexible sealant, or re-form and pour a new crown with proper slope so water sheds away from the flue.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Van Nuys
| Item | Typical range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $185 – $390 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $1,200 – $2,500 |
How long does chimney repair take in Van Nuys?
Most cap, flashing, and crown repairs are done in a single visit, usually two to four hours on site. A full liner installation can take a full day, and HeatShield restoration adds cure time before the fireplace can be used again.
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be repaired?
If the existing clay liner has minor cracks and spalling, HeatShield restoration can often repair it without full liner replacement. If the tiles are collapsed or the flue is too far gone, a new DuraFlex liner is the safer long-term answer, and we’ll show you the camera footage so you can see exactly what we see. Call (833) 805-3229 and we can talk through the options.
Brands We Service in Van Nuys
Van Nuys homeowners don’t want bargain-bin parts, and we don’t install them. We stock and install DuraFlex liners, HeatShield restoration product, and Copperfield-sourced repair components. Parts are typically on hand for common jobs, so repairs don’t stretch out waiting on the mail. Read more on our brands.
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 | $190 – $340 |
| Chimney cap installation | $185 – $390 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $800 |
| Chimney crown repair | $300 – $750 |
| Chimney liner installation | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $160 – $310 |
| Dryer vent reroute | $390 – $880 |
| Dryer vent repair | $190 – $420 |
Prices in Van Nuys move up when a chimney is on a steep roofline or when sixty-year-old mortar makes cap and crown work more involved. Wind-damaged flashing usually costs more because the repair has to be tied back into the roofing correctly. We give you a flat price before any work starts, so there’s no surprise after the fact.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Van Nuys
We work across all of Van Nuys, from the older tracts near Van Nuys Boulevard to the quieter streets north of Victory. Most of our calls come from the ranch-house blocks where every third home still has its original fireplace.
- Van Nuys Civic Center area
- Sherman Village
- Midvale
- Sepulveda Basin area
- Northeast Van Nuys near Valley Glen
We schedule most Van Nuys appointments within a few business days, and we batch visits by area so a crew that’s already in the 91405 ZIP can get to a 91406 job without long delays.
Service Area – Cities Near Van Nuys
Ashwood Chimney Sweep serves Van Nuys and the surrounding San Fernando Valley communities. If you’re in Valley Glen, CA, Sherman Oaks, CA, Encino, CA, or North Hills, CA, we cover your chimney and dryer vent work too, and the same flat-price quote and camera-documented inspection apply.
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 appointments are scheduled within two to five business days. If you’re calling after a Santa Ana wind event and smoke is backing into the house, tell us when you call and we’ll work to get you in sooner, especially if there’s a safety concern.
Most routine repairs like cap installation, flashing work, and liner restoration don’t require a permit. If a repair expands into structural masonry work, city requirements can shift, and we’ll tell you plainly whether a permit applies before the job starts.
Gas conversions still need annual inspection and cleaning, because the flue is the same original passageway. We check the damper setting, the liner condition, and the gas log installation to make sure everything is venting correctly and no exhaust is spilling into the room.
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
"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— Yolanda Martinez"Fireplace had never drawn properly since we moved in. He found the damper was only opening halfway due to a bent linkage and fixed it in ten minutes."
— Paige Norris"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."
— Ryan Sullivan