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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AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Myrtle Beach
A chimney inspection in Myrtle Beach typically runs $189 – $449 depending on the level, with most Level 1 inspections priced from $189 and Level 2 camera inspections from $349. Salt air changes what inspectors find here, so the framing that works in Columbia or Greenville doesn’t hold up on the Grand Strand. Alcott Chimney Sweep has been doing this work since 2002, and our crews know exactly what Atlantic exposure does to caps, dampers, and flue liners in Myrtle Beach. If you’re scheduling an inspection because you bought a condo, rent it out weekly, or simply haven’t looked up the chimney in years, call (336) 863-3889 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Chimney inspections in Myrtle Beach run $189 – $449. Level 1 starts at $189, Level 2 with camera scan from $349.
- Salt-corrosion of metal caps, dampers, and chase covers is the dominant inspection finding here, not creosote.
- You’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive. Every visit, no exceptions.
- Written price before any work starts. Written guarantee on every repair. If it fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free.
Why Alcott Chimney Sweep Is Myrtle Beach’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
Ruben Castellano runs Alcott Chimney Sweep the way a coastal town demands: with straight answers about what salt air does to a chimney and exactly what it costs to put right. Homeowners up and down the Grand Strand keep our number because we don’t pad inspection reports with unnecessary liner replacements. When we find rusted caps or pitted dampers on an Ocean Boulevard condo, we show you the photos. When we find nothing wrong, we say so plainly.
Every technician who arrives at a Myrtle Beach property has passed a background check and identity verification under what we call the Threshold Standard. That’s not an upgrade you request. It’s the baseline for every single visit since day one. Before we show up, you’ll receive the name and photo of the technician assigned to your job. When the doorbell rings, you’ll see a photo ID badge before the person steps inside. For parents home alone with kids, or older homeowners in Surfside Beach who don’t open the door for strangers, that detail matters. We run it that way on purpose.
Response time across the Myrtle Beach area runs same-week for standard inspections. For rental turnovers in communities like Market Common or Barefoot Landing, we work with property managers to coordinate inspection windows between guest bookings. For anything urgent, a live person answers the phone around the clock.
Chimney Fire in Myrtle Beach
A chimney fire in Myrtle Beach is exactly what it sounds like: creosote inside the flue has ignited, and now you’re dealing with a structure fire risk instead of a cozy fireplace. On the Grand Strand, we see this most often in rental properties where rotators burn unseasoned wood or long, smoldering fires without ever having the flue swept. A standard chimney sweep here runs $189 – $249 before any repairs, and if a fire has already occurred, a Level 2 inspection is the minimum before the chimney goes back into use.
After the Fire, Before the Next Guest
When a chimney fire happens, the flue tiles crack and the structure stops doing its job. No property manager wants to hand keys to a vacation renter with a compromised fireplace, which is why we get calls from Forest Dunes and around 72nd Avenue North the same week a guest reports smoke backing into the unit. We camera-scan the full length of the flue and write up exactly what’s cracked, what’s warped, and what can wait.
What a Post-Fire Inspection Actually Costs
Expect $349 – $449 for a Level 2 camera inspection after any chimney fire in a Myrtle Beach home. If the flue tiles are cracked, a HeatShield resurfacing or a DuraFlex liner typically ranges $4,000 – $8,000 depending on flue height and access. You’ll get a written price before anything is ordered.
Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Myrtle Beach
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Myrtle Beach is the standard for any real estate transaction, any change in fuel type, or any time a chimney has been through a tropical storm or chimney fire. It includes everything in a Level 1 plus a full internal video scan of the flue, which is the only way to catch hairline liner cracks that salt corrosion accelerates in stacked condo flues. Plan on $349 – $449 for the inspection itself.
When a Coastal Sale Demands a Level 2
If you’re selling a townhome in Carolina Forest or a condo near the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, expect the buyer’s home inspector to flag the fireplace if there’s any visible rust on the cap or damper. That’s when a Level 2 gets ordered. We’ve done enough of these to turn the report around fast and give both parties a clear picture of whether the flue is sound.
What the Camera Shows Us
The camera doesn’t hide anything. In Myrtle Beach properties, it routinely shows glazed creosote even in lightly used fireplaces, because mild winters produce low, smoldering fires that deposit tar-like buildup quickly. It also shows rust trails from corroded dampers, cracked flue tiles from storm-driven moisture, and the early stages of spalling brick on coastal chimney crowns. Most of these findings are much less expensive to address early than after a chimney fire.
Trusted Brands We Service in Myrtle Beach
We work with the same trade materials professional chimney companies specify across the Southeast. When a Myrtle Beach inspection turns up a cracked flue liner, we install HeatShield resurfacing systems, which can repair many liners without a full tear-out. For full replacements, we carry DuraFlex stainless liners sized to your flue. We also service and install Olympia Chimney caps, Famco dampers, and Gelco chase covers, which are built for coastal exposure. Because we stock these locally, turnaround from inspection to repair usually runs days, not weeks, even during fall rental turnover season on the Grand Strand.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Myrtle Beach Homes
- Salt-corroded galvanized caps and dampers. Atlantic air pits and eventually seizes galvanized steel in about half the lifespan it would see inland. The fix is a stainless steel replacement, which typically runs $250 – $600 installed depending on flue size and roof access.
- Cracked crowns and displaced caps after storms. Hurricanes and tropical systems crack masonry crowns and knock caps loose, letting debris into the flue. Renters often discover the damage months later when smoke backs into the unit on the first cold night.
- Glazed creosote in infrequently used fireplaces. Mild winters mean short, smoldering fires, which create the exact conditions for hard, shiny creosote that resists standard brushing and increases chimney fire risk.
- Cracked flue liners in stacked condo flues. A cracked liner in one unit of a shared or stacked masonry flue can leak carbon monoxide into the neighboring unit. In Myrtle Beach’s 1980s – 2000s condo towers, this is the inspection finding that needs immediate attention when the camera catches it.
Pricing for Chimney Inspection in Myrtle Beach, SC
A Level 1 inspection in Myrtle Beach runs $189 – $249 for most single-family homes and townhomes. A Level 2 with full camera scan starts at $349 and typically lands $349 – $449 depending on flue height, roof access, and whether we’re coordinating with an HOA or property management company. Condo towers with stacked flues sometimes require a longer camera run, which pushes toward the upper end. Level 3 inspections, which involve removing portions of the chimney structure, are quoted case by case. Every quote is written before work begins, and every inspection includes a photo report you can see for yourself. Call (336) 863-3889 for an exact quote. Estimates are free.
We Also Serve Cities Near Myrtle Beach
Our Chimney Inspection team serves the full Grand Strand and beyond. We regularly schedule inspections down the coast in Charleston, where salt air and historic masonry present their own set of challenges. If you’re in the Charleston area and need the same name-and-photo service we provide in Myrtle Beach, call us and we’ll coordinate a visit.
Serving Myrtle Beach, SC - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Myrtle Beach 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 Inspection in Myrtle Beach
Yes, but for a coastal-specific reason. Rental and seasonal-use condos in Myrtle Beach rarely build up much creosote, but their metal components, especially caps and dampers, are deteriorating from salt air year-round. An annual inspection catches rust-through before it lets storm water into the flue, and before a paying guest discovers the fireplace won’t light. Call (336) 863-3889 and we’ll work around your booking calendar.
Direct Atlantic salt spray creates a corrosive environment that galvanized steel handles poorly. The zinc coating on a standard galvanized cap breaks down in five to seven years of Grand Strand exposure, then the steel underneath rusts through. Stainless steel caps last far longer here, which is why we recommend stainless in every coastal inspection report. A replacement runs $250 – $600 installed in most Myrtle Beach properties.
No, not until the birds leave. Chimney swifts are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and disturbing an active nest means heavy penalties. In Myrtle Beach, swifts typically occupy uncapped chimneys from April through October. The right move is to book a fall inspection after they migrate, then install a stainless cap so they don’t return next spring. Call (336) 863-3889 in early October and we’ll get you on the schedule before the cold arrives.
A Level 1 is a visual inspection of the accessible portions of the chimney, interior and exterior, with no camera scan. It runs $189 – $249 in Myrtle Beach. A Level 2 adds a full internal video scan of the flue, which is the only way to see hairline liner cracks, hidden creosote glaze, or rust debris from a corroded damper. It runs $349 – $449 and is required for real estate transactions, after chimney fires, and any time you suspect storm damage.
Yes. Manufactured homes use factory-built Class A metal chimneys instead of masonry, and those require a different inspection procedure. What we look for changes: proper clearances, intact section connections, a secure cap, and no rust-through on the outer casing. Salt air corrodes these metal systems faster inland too. A Level 2 on a manufactured home in Horry County runs $349 – $449, same as a masonry chimney, but the checklist is specific to the Class A installation. Call (336) 863-3889 and we’ll tell you what we’re looking for before we arrive.
Schedule Your Myrtle Beach Chimney Inspection
Whether you own a condo off Ocean Boulevard, manage rentals in Barefoot Landing, or live in a manufactured home in outlying Horry County, the inspection starts with a phone call. You’ll get a written price before anyone climbs on the roof, the name and photo of your technician before he arrives, and a camera report after. No vague verbal summaries, no surprise charges. Call (336) 863-3889 today for a free estimate, or to ask Ruben or our team anything about your chimney.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney Sweep, serving Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand since 2002.