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 Crestline, CA
Chimney repair in Crestline usually starts with a cracked flue tile or a rusted-out damper that the homeowner noticed when snow melted into the firebox. Most of the chimneys we work on here were built between the 1950s and 1980s, with original clay liners that were sized for open fireplaces, not the airtight wood stoves people install to stretch firewood through a mountain winter. Santa Ana Chimney Sweep has served Crestline since 2016, and the calls we get follow a pattern: a sweep turns up damage, or a homeowner opens up the cabin for the season and finds the chimney won’t draw. We fix what we find. Call (855) 341-9658 when you’re ready to have it looked at.
Why Crestline Homes Are Different
Crestline sits at 4,600 feet, and the elevation drives everything about chimney work here. Freeze-thaw cycles push water into hairline cracks in clay tile liners, freeze, and wedge them wider. After a hard winter, a flue that passed inspection in October can have spalling tiles by March. Snow loads cap flues and back up exhaust, especially when chimney caps weren’t installed or have rusted through. We see snow-packed caps and cracked exterior masonry on 1970s cabins along the lake side every spring, and the freeze damage is often worse on the north-facing exterior chimneys that never get afternoon sun.
The housing stock adds another layer. Most Crestline homes are mid-century mountain cabins and second homes, lightly insulated, with exterior chimneys exposed to the weather on three sides. Original clay-tile liners from that era were rated for open fireplaces burning moderate fires. Many have since been converted to wood stoves or pellet inserts that run hotter and longer, which the flue was never designed to handle. That mismatch is the single most common reason we recommend a liner inspection in Crestline before the burn season starts. When a cabin sits unheated for months, creosote hardens into a glaze that’s harder to remove, and summer heat can push stale-smoke smells down through a cold flue into the living space. These aren’t problems we read about. They’re what we see on the job.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Crestline Services
The two calls we get most from Crestline homeowners are for chimney sweeping before winter and dryer vent cleaning when fire-safety concerns come up during a home inspection or after a lint-buildup scare. Both are handled by the same crew.
Chimney Sweep in Crestline
Mountain burning seasons are long, and creosote builds differently at 4,600 feet than it does down the hill. Cold flues and frequent reloads encourage condensation, which turns creosote into a thick glaze that a brush alone won’t remove. We sweep for the actual condition of your flue, not just a courtesy pass, and we’ll flag any freeze damage we find while we’re in there. If you burn softwood from the local forest, expect more buildup than someone burning seasoned oak. We explain what we find and whether it needs more than a sweep. Read the full detail here: Chimney Sweep in Crestline.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Crestline
Dryer vents are a house fire risk that gets ignored in mountain cabins, especially when the dryer stacks against an exterior wall and the vent run collects lint behind the machine. Seasonal use makes it worse: a cabin closed for six months traps humid air and lint debris, and the first load of a new season pushes against a partially blocked run. We treat this as fire-safety work, not a side job, and we check the full run from dryer to termination. See specifics here: Dryer Vent Cleaning in Crestline.
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 Crestline
Chimney repair in Crestline is rarely cosmetic. What starts as a small crack in a clay tile, a loose cap, or worn flashing becomes a water entry point, and mountain winters make it worse every cycle. The housing era matters here: most chimneys were built for open fires, and when an owner adds a wood stove insert, the old flue has to work harder than it was designed to. Repair work in Crestline is usually about correcting that mismatch, sealing out water before the next freeze, or relining a flue so that a stove burns safely without overheating the surrounding structure. The full scope of what we fix is outlined on our Chimney Repair service page, and the short version below covers what Crestline homeowners call us for most.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You’ll notice snowmelt or rain coming down the flue into the firebox, or birds and squirrels working their way through a rusted or missing cap.
What it costs in Crestline
Chimney cap installation in Crestline typically runs $220 – $460 depending on flue size and the cap material chosen.
How we do it
We measure the flue opening, match a copper or stainless cap to the chimney’s exposure profile, and secure it so it stays put through Crestline’s wind and snow loads.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Cracked flue tiles found during a sweep, smoke backing into the room, or a wood stove install that calls for a smaller, correctly sized flue are the usual triggers.
What it costs in Crestline
A stainless liner installation in Crestline typically lands between $2,900 and $5,500 once the flue size, length, and access are factored in.
How we do it
We size the liner to the appliance and the flue’s actual dimensions, run it through the existing chimney, and insulate where Crestline’s freeze-thaw exposure demands it.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water staining on the ceiling near the chimney, damp drywall in upstairs rooms, or visible rust and separation where the chimney meets the roofline are the signs to look for.
What it costs in Crestline
Flashing repair in Crestline ranges from $450 to $1,100 depending on whether it’s a patch job or a full replacement of the step and counter flashing.
How we do it
We pull the damaged flashing, inspect the underlayment where the roof meets the chimney, and rebuild the transition so water sheets away from the chimney rather than into it.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
A cracked or eroded concrete crown shows up as water in the firebox, spalling brick near the top, or crown pieces on the ground after a thaw.
What it costs in Crestline
Crown repair in Crestline averages $400 – $900, with full recasting on the upper end depending on the crown’s size and degree of damage.
How we do it
We remove the compromised concrete, build or recast the crown with the correct overhang and slope, and optionally treat it to shed water instead of absorbing it.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Crestline
| Item | Typical range in Crestline |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $220 – $460 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $450 – $1,100 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $900 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,900 – $5,500 |
Can you fix chimney damage the same day you find it in Crestline?
We can handle minor repairs like cap replacement and flashing patch work the same visit. Liner jobs and crown recasts are scheduled, because the materials are cut to your chimney’s dimensions and need time to set properly.
Do I need a permit for chimney repair in Crestline?
Most repair work that replaces existing components with the same type, like caps, flashing, and liners, doesn’t require a separate permit in Crestline. We’ll confirm before starting any structural work. Call (855) 341-9658 for a straight answer on your specific chimney.
Brands We Service in Crestline
We stock and install professional-grade chimney parts from Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, and we specify DuraFlex liner systems on most Crestline relines because they hold up to the mountain’s freeze-thaw cycle better than generic stainless. Turnaround on stocked parts is usually the same week. See the full brand list on our brands page.
See the difference
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After
Before
After
Before
AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Crestline, CA
| Service | Typical range in Crestline |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard masonry fireplace) | $169 – $249 |
| Chimney sweep with creosote glaze treatment | $269 – $399 |
| Wood stove or insert sweep | $189 – $279 |
| Level 2 camera inspection | $149 – $299 |
| Chimney cap installation | $220 – $460 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $250 – $500 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $450 – $1,100 |
| Chimney crown repair | $400 – $900 |
| Chimney liner installation | $2,900 – $5,500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $129 – $229 |
Two things push chimney pricing higher in Crestline: access and elevation. Steep driveways, snow-season scheduling, and exterior chimneys on the lake side of a cabin all add setup time, and a flue that’s been burning pine all winter often needs a glaze treatment rather than a basic brush. We quote flat prices before work starts, so the number we give you is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Crestline
We cover all of Crestline and the surrounding 92325 ZIP, from the lakefront cabins near Lake Gregory to the hill streets off Lake Drive and the older sections up toward Rim of the World Highway. Most calls get a scheduled visit within a week, and we try to group service in the same part of Crestline on the same day so scheduling stays tight.
- Lake Gregory area
- Top Town
- Valley of Enchantment
- Rim of the World Highway corridor
- Old Crestline cabins near Lake Drive
Service Area – Cities Near Crestline
We run regular service routes up and down the mountain and into the valley, so if you’re just outside Crestline, chances are we’re already in your area during the week. We often see homeowners from Lake Arrowhead, CA with the same freeze-damage patterns, and from Muscoy, CA and San Bernardino, CA where creosote and liner wear are the bigger drivers. Around Highland, CA, the work skews more to cap and flashing repairs. Call (855) 341-9658 to see when we’re next up your way.
Serving Crestline, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Crestline 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 Crestline
Most Crestline appointments are scheduled within a week, and if you’re opening a cabin after a long winter, we can work around your arrival dates. Snow-season calls for water leaks or smoke problems get priority because the freeze-thaw cycle doesn’t wait.
Yes, and a surprising number of our Crestline callers are second-home owners who only see the property a few weekends a year. We recommend a camera inspection before the first burn each season, because damage from a winter you weren’t there to watch is the most common repair trigger.
If the repair is something like a cap replacement or a flashing patch, yes. Bigger jobs like a liner install or crown recast get their own visit because the materials are cut to your chimney. Tell us what you’re seeing, and we’ll schedule the right amount of time. Call (855) 341-9658.
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 Crestline Customers Say
"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Roger Novak"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."
— Danika Bryant"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— Tim Norris