Free written estimate before any work begins
Chimney Sweep in Millbrae, CA
Creosote and soot removed to CSIA standard, with drop cloths down and a HEPA vacuum running the whole time.
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Chimney Sweep for Millbrae homes
Millbrae is where our shop is, on Broadway, so this is the one city where we are not driving in from somewhere else. The housing here is mostly post-war: single-story ranch homes through Millbrae Meadows and the Highlands, built in the 1940s and 1950s with simple masonry fireplaces, alongside a pocket of older bungalows closer to downtown that predate them by a generation. Almost all of it is unreinforced brick, and a good deal of it has never been relined. Being a short distance from the bay and directly under the approach to the airport, the stacks here take a steady load of damp marine air, and we see the results of that at the crown far more often than we see genuine creosote emergencies. Most Millbrae calls start as a leak and end as a crown or a cap.
Predominantly 1940s-1950s ranch construction with unreinforced brick stacks, plus older bungalows near downtown. Marine air off the bay drives crown and cap deterioration ahead of flue problems. Short, level driving means we can usually offer same-week appointments and come back quickly if something needs a second visit.
Included in every job
- Chimney fire risk removed
- A fireplace that actually draws
- Problems found while they are cheap
- No mess left behind
Warning signs
When Millbrae homes need this service
- It has been more than a year, or more than a cord of wood, since the last sweep
- Smoke pushes into the room when you light a fire
- A sharp, tarry smell from the fireplace on warm days
- Black, flaky or shiny tar-like deposits visible above the damper
- You hear rustling, scratching or birds in the flue
- The damper is stiff, will not seat, or has rusted in place
- Dark staining spreading on the brick above the opening
Chimney Sweep in Millbrae
Call (209) 447-0752 for same-week availability.
Process
How the visit works
Set up and seal
Drop cloths over the hearth and floor, and the fireplace opening sealed so nothing escapes into the room.
Sweep the full run
Rotary and hand brushes from the firebox through the smoke chamber, throat and flue to the cap, sized to your flue.
Vacuum under negative pressure
A HEPA vacuum runs the whole time so the soot goes into the machine rather than onto your furniture.
Inspect what the brush exposed
Camera and visual check of the liner, damper, smoke shelf and crown now that the surfaces are clean.
Report and photograph
We show you what we found, photograph anything that needs attention, and give you the written estimate before any repair work.
Questions
FAQs
Do you charge a call-out fee in Millbrae?
No. Our shop is on Broadway in Millbrae, so there is no travel cost to build in, and estimates here are free and in writing like everywhere else we work.
My Millbrae house is from the 1950s and has never had the chimney lined. Is that a problem?
It is very common here and it is not automatically unsafe, but it does need looking at. Unlined or single-wythe brick flues from that era often have deteriorated mortar joints inside the flue itself, which a camera inspection will show you in a few minutes.
How often should the chimney be swept?
Once a year for anything you burn regularly, and the industry standard is an annual inspection regardless of use. If you burn most evenings through the winter, or you burn wood that was not fully seasoned, it is worth doing before every heating season.
How long does a sweep take?
A straightforward single fireplace usually runs about an hour to ninety minutes. Heavy glazed creosote, a blocked flue or a second fireplace adds time, and we will tell you before we start rather than after.
Contact Alpine Chimney
Alpine Chimney Company
1080 Broadway
Millbrae, CA 94030
(209) 447-0752
info@alpinechimneycompany.com
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Fast response. No obligation.