Level 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.
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AfterChimney Company in Cambridge, MA
A chimney sweep in Cambridge, MA typically runs $229 – $349 for a standard cleaning before any repairs are added. What makes Cambridge different from almost anywhere else in the state is the housing stock: most homes here are pre-1940 triple-deckers and brick row houses where a single chimney stack carries three or four separate flues. That means a Cambridge chimney job is rarely simple, and it’s never something you want to trust to a company that hasn’t worked on these buildings before. Call (336) 863-3889 and you’ll reach a live person who can talk through what your chimney actually needs.
Why Cambridge Homes Are Different
Cambridge’s triple-deckers and Italianate row houses, most built between 1880 and 1930, were originally designed to burn coal. The masonry stacks were built to serve multiple units at once, one flue per stove or fireplace per floor. When those buildings converted to gas and oil heat, the chimneys usually weren’t relined. Homeowners today inherit clay tile liners that have been quietly cracking for decades, along with compacted coal-era soot that a standard brush won’t touch. In neighborhoods like Cambridgeport and Inman Square, it’s common to find a chimney that hasn’t been inspected in ten or fifteen years, especially in rental properties where maintenance gets deferred until a problem becomes impossible to ignore.
The New England freeze-thaw cycle does the rest. Cambridge temperatures cross 32°F dozens of times each winter, and every crossing stresses the mortar joints and brick crowns on tall, century-old stacks. Nor’easter moisture seeps in, freezes, expands, and accelerates spalling. By October, a lot of Cambridge chimneys need both a cleaning and repointing work before the burning season begins.
Our Main Cambridge Services
Most Cambridge homeowners call us for one of two reasons: a chimney that hasn’t been cleaned in years, or a fireplace or heating system that isn’t venting the way it should. Each service has its own Cambridge page with full pricing and details.
Chimney Sweep in Cambridge
A Cambridge chimney sweep often means cleaning multiple flues in a single stack. On a triple-decker, that’s three or four separate passages running up the same masonry column, and each one has to be brushed, inspected, and cleared individually. We use professional-grade tools and materials suited to older liners, never improvised substitutes. If any flue shows cracks or blockages, we document it with a camera and show you exactly what we’re seeing before any repair is ever recommended. Chimney Sweep in Cambridge
Chimney Inspection in Cambridge
Cambridge Inspectional Services can flag an entire multi-unit building during a rental certificate inspection if any flue is blocked or shows liner failure. Landlords are often required to schedule a full-stack inspection across all units at once. Our inspections use a camera to document the condition of every flue, from the clay tile liner to the brick crown. You get a written report with photos showing what’s safe, what needs attention now, and what can wait. Nothing is recommended without visual evidence you can see for yourself. Chimney Inspection in Cambridge
Gas Fireplace Repair in Cambridge
Gas fireplaces in older Cambridge homes often have venting runs that were retrofitted long after the building was constructed. That means unusual angles, deteriorated pipe sections, and connections that have been leaking carbon monoxide for years without anyone noticing. We repair gas fireplaces using professional brands like HeatShield and Famco, with every repair backed by a written guarantee. If the repair fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free. Gas Fireplace Repair in Cambridge
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.
Brands We Service in Cambridge
We service and install DuraFlex liner systems, HeatShield resurfacing, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. These are the materials chimney professionals specify, not box-store substitutes. See our brands for the full list and what we stock in the Cambridge area.
Pricing for Chimney Company in Cambridge, MA
| Service | Typical range in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep | $229 – $349 |
| Level 1 inspection | $149 – $249 |
| Level 2 inspection (with camera) | $400 – $600 |
| Level 3 inspection (structural) | $900 – $2,500 |
| Gas fireplace cleaning | $179 – $279 |
| Gas fireplace repair | $120 – $700 |
| Flue relining (DuraFlex) | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Chimney repointing | $1,200 – $4,000 |
What pushes prices up in Cambridge is the age of the stack and the number of flues involved. A single-family sweep in a newer subdivision is one thing; a four-flue triple-decker in Cambridgeport where every passage needs attention is another. Every job gets a written price before any work starts, so there are no surprises at the end.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Cambridge
We work throughout Cambridge, from the brick row houses of Harvard Square to the triple-deckers of Porter Square and the mixed housing stock of East Cambridge. Most Cambridge neighborhoods can be scheduled within a week during the fall rush, and we coordinate dispatch from our Boston office so crews arrive when you expect them.
- Cambridgeport
- Inman Square
- Harvard Square
- Porter Square
- East Cambridge
Service Area – Cities Near Cambridge
If you’re just outside Cambridge, we also serve Somerville, MA, Belmont, MA, Medford, MA, and Boston, MA. The same written pricing, technician vetting, and guarantee apply everywhere we go.
Serving Cambridge, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Cambridge 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 Cambridge
Most Cambridge neighborhoods can be scheduled within a week, and we work around rental inspection deadlines when the city flags a building. Call (336) 863-3889 and a live person will give you a real date, not a callback promise.
Most cleaning and inspection work doesn’t require a permit, but structural repairs like flue relining or rebuilding a crown may need city approval depending on scope and location. We’ll tell you during a Level 2 inspection and walk you through the process.
That’s the norm in Cambridge, not the exception. We start with a full inspection to document condition, then clean what’s safe to clean and tell you plainly what needs repair and what can wait. Estimates are free, and everything gets a written price before work begins.
For a Cambridge chimney cleaning, inspection, or gas fireplace repair with upfront pricing and a written guarantee on every repair, call Alcott Chimney Sweep at (336) 863-3889. A live person answers, day or night.
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 Cambridge Customers Say
"Very respectful of my home. Took off his boots and wiped the hearth when finished."
- Carol D."Annual inspection and sweep. He used a camera to check the liner and found a cracked tile I had no idea about. Gave me a written estimate and did not push."
- Janet W."Water was leaking around the flashing. They resealed it and installed a new crown coating. Dry through two heavy rains since."
- Douglas P.