National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
1.2
2.1
Cost:
$ 195
$ 75
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 67% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Clean a Chimney noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
If you enjoy a crackling fire in your fireplace, don’t forget that the chimney needs routine inspection and cleaning. Have an annual chimney inspection to prevent a chimney fire and to make sure carbon monoxide isn’t leaking into your home. Routine inspection by a professional will alert you to blockages that can cause smoke problems. Cleaning will remove the buildup of creosote, a smoke residue that condenses and hardens on the inner walls of the chimney flue. Yearly inspection and cleaning are the best way to keep your home and family out of harm’s way.
A chimney sweep will charge about $195 to clean the chimney of a one-story house, which includes the labor and material. Or it may cost more depending on the height of the chimney, the extent of build up in the chimney, and complicating conditions such as a fireplace insert or oddly shaped flue. If you don’t mind working on the roof, you can buy a chimney brush and rods for about $75 and do the job yourself, pocketing a 62 percent saving.
You’ll need a shop vacuum, some drop cloths to protect the hearth and surrounding furnishings, and an extension ladder. As the chimney is being cleaned up at the roof, tiny ash particles can filter down into the hearth and be blown around the room. Even worse, a large chunk of debris or a dead animal can drop down into the hearth.
Wrapping up, given the average cost to clean a chimney you can compare the price of a contractor’s bid with doing it yourself.
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