Chimney Sweep Cost Calculator

The calculator sets annual cleanings to 2 specifically for wood stoves (chimney type 3), while both wood-burning and gas fireplaces default to 1. That's because a wood stove is typically used far more continuously through the heating season than an occasional-use fireplace, producing creosote buildup faster and warranting a mid-season sweep in addition to the annual one.

Level 1 is a basic visual inspection from inside the firebox and readily accessible areas — it can't actually see the condition of the flue liner further up the chimney. Level 2 adds a video camera scan that reaches the liner, so the calculator automatically bundles in a $100 liner-condition assessment whenever you select Level 2 or higher, since that visibility is what makes evaluating the liner possible in the first place. CSIA ties its Level 1 tier directly to NFPA 211, the National Fire Protection Association's standard covering chimneys, fireplaces, vents, and solid fuel-burning appliances, which is why "Level 1/2/3" is a consistent, industry-recognized label rather than a per-company invention.

The annual maintenance figure adds inspection cost to cleaning cost only if inspectionLevel is 1. Level 1 visual checks are cheap enough to reasonably repeat every year alongside routine cleaning, but Level 2 video scans and Level 3 invasive inspections are periodic diagnostic services you wouldn't typically pay for annually, so they're left out of the recurring annual estimate.

The surcharge jumps from $0 at light buildup to $100 at moderate to $300 at heavy or glazed buildup. Glazed creosote is tar-like and highly flammable, and it can't be removed with a standard wire brush — it typically requires mechanical rotary tools or chemical creosote removers, which take substantially more labor time than a routine sweep.