Chimney Inspection in Pasadena, CA

Pasadena fireplaces actually get used. At the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, temperatures drop enough from November through March that homeowners burn real fires — and real use means real creosote, worn dampers, and aging masonry. Many of the Craftsman bungalows and Victorian estates in Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, and Prospect Park still have their original early-1900s chimneys: often structurally sound, but with predictable wear — eroded mortar joints, cracked or missing caps, deteriorated crowns, and in some cases a flue that was never lined.

We also hear from Pasadena homeowners at turning points: buyers who just closed on a home near Caltech or the Huntington Library and want to know what they actually bought; owners planning a renovation who want the chimney assessed before walls are opened; and sellers who need documented chimney condition for disclosure. A standard home inspection does not cover this — home inspectors note the exterior and the visible firebox, but they do not scan inside the flue.

Level 1 — Visual Inspection ($99). A thorough examination of all readily accessible areas: the firebox, damper, smoke shelf, and the visible portions of the flue liner. This is the right inspection for a chimney that is used regularly with the same appliance, with no known changes or events. Takes about 30–45 minutes and satisfies the NFPA 211 annual inspection requirement.

Level 2 — Video Camera Inspection ($399). Everything in Level 1, plus a continuous video camera scan of the entire flue interior, from the firebox to the chimney crown. The camera reveals what eyes cannot: hidden cracks, spalled liner sections, and open mortar gaps. Includes the written report and the video footage. Takes about 60–90 minutes.

NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection in three situations:

• When a property with a chimney changes ownership (buying or selling)
• When the chimney is connected to a new appliance — for example, converting a wood-burning fireplace to a gas insert
• After a chimney fire, or an event such as an earthquake that could have damaged the flue

If your Pasadena chimney has not been inspected in more than two years, or you have noticed changes in draft or smoke behavior, a Level 2 is the safer starting point — especially on an original, unlined flue.

We inspect chimneys throughout Pasadena, including the historic districts of Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, and Prospect Park, where original masonry fireplaces are the norm; Old Town Pasadena's mixed residential properties; and homes near Caltech and the Huntington Library.

Multi-fireplace homes are common in Pasadena — a formal living room hearth, a master bedroom fireplace, sometimes an outdoor hearth — and we can inspect all of them in a single visit, scheduling enough time for each.

One Pasadena-specific note: if your home is a contributing structure in a locally designated historic district, certain exterior repairs to the chimney may require review under the city's historic preservation rules.

An inspection itself is non-invasive and needs no approval — and it gives you the documented condition you need before any repair conversation starts.

Level 1 Visual Inspection — $99

all readily accessible areas (firebox, damper, smoke shelf, visible flue); written summary provided

Level 2 Video Camera Inspection — $399

full interior video scan from firebox to crown; written report + video footage; required for real estate transactions

Level 1 visual inspection: $99

Level 2 video camera inspection: $399

Level 2 required by NFPA 211 for real estate transactions, appliance changes, and after a chimney fire

Written report with every inspection; video footage included with Level 2

Professional & insured

Open Sun–Fri 8AM–10PM · Sat 10AM–10PM

• Service area: We provide mobile chimney inspection service across Pasadena — ZIP codes 91101, 91103, 91104, 91105, 91106, 91107
• Areas covered: Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Prospect Park, Old Town, and the Caltech, Huntington Library, and Rose Bowl areas
• Hours: Sunday–Friday 8:00 AM–10:00 PM · Saturday 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Call: (818) 301-4365
• Rated: 5.0 from 439 reviews