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.
Before
After
Before
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Before
AfterChimney Company in Highlands, TX
Alcott Chimney Sweep handles the specific chimney problems Highlands homeowners face after Harvey and decades of bottomland humidity. Highlands sits in the San Jacinto River floodplain, and most of the town flooded in 2017. That event, combined with mid-century brick ranch homes built between the 1940s and 1970s with original masonry fireplaces, means we pull more silt-packed flue bottoms and rust-seized dampers here than nearly anywhere else in Harris County. Call (336) 863-3889 for a straight answer about what your chimney needs.
Why Highlands Homes Are Different
Highlands is not an upland Houston suburb. The San Jacinto River wraps around the town, and the ambient humidity stays persistently higher here year-round. Fireplaces get used only during brief winter cold snaps, a few weeks at most, then sit idle in damp air for months. That pattern accelerates mortar erosion, invites mold inside the firebox, and draws raccoons and chimney swifts into uncapped flues.
The housing stock compounds it. Highlands is dominated by mid-century brick ranch homes, most with original masonry fireplaces and mortar that has never been repointed. Many of these structures survived Harvey but sustained hidden damage: cracked crowns, failed flashing, deteriorated liner joints from prolonged submersion and the moisture cycling that followed. When we sweep a Highlands chimney, we routinely find a compacted layer of dried river silt sitting on the smoke shelf, deposited when floodwater crested into the firebox in 2017 and never cleared. The damper plate above it is often rust-fused, which owners write off as simply stuck.
That combination means a standard visual check from the hearth is not enough here. The damage that matters is behind the damper and up the flue, where you cannot see it without a camera.
Our Main Highlands Services
Most Highlands calls fall into three buckets. Here is what each involves locally.
Chimney Sweep in Highlands
A Highlands sweep removes creosote, the tar-like buildup that causes chimney fires, plus whatever else is in there: flood silt, bird nests, raccoon debris, mold growth. Because fireplaces here sit idle most of the year in high humidity, we pay extra attention to the smoke shelf and firebox floor, where damp debris compacts into a layer conventional sweeping misses. Every Chimney Sweep in Highlands job includes a written price before work starts and a same-visit photo report of the flue before and after.
Chimney Inspection in Highlands
Post-Harvey Highlands homes need more than a quick look. Our inspections use a camera run the full length of the flue, because the problems here – cracked liner joints, failed flashing, flood-damaged firebox floors – are not visible from the hearth. We document everything and show you the photos. If we recommend a repair, you see the evidence first. Chimney Inspection in Highlands is the service Highland homeowners book most after buying a home that sat through 2017.
Gas Fireplace Repair in Highlands
Gas fireplaces in Highlands face the same moisture and idle-time issues as wood units. Pilot assemblies corrode, gas valves seize, burner tubes clog with dust and flood residue. We service and repair the common brands you already own, and when a part is needed we source professional-grade replacements rather than box-store substitutes. Gas Fireplace Repair in Highlands starts with a diagnostic visit and a written quote before any work begins.
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 Highlands
We carry and install professional trade materials including HeatShield resurfacing systems, Gelco chimney caps and dampers, and Olympia Chimney components. These are the brands chimney professionals specify, not improvised substitutes. See our brands for the full line.
Pricing for Chimney Company in Highlands, TX
| Service | Typical range in Highlands |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep (wood-burning) | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney sweep with flood-silt clearing | $240 – $420 |
| Level 1 chimney inspection | $150 – $250 |
| Level 2 camera inspection | $300 – $500 |
| Gas fireplace diagnostic visit | $95 – $180 |
| Gas valve or pilot assembly replacement | $250 – $450 |
| Chimney cap supply and install | $260 – $520 |
| Damper replacement (rusted/seized) | $300 – $550 |
Highlands pricing pushes toward the upper end of these ranges when a flue has flood-silt packing, rust-seized hardware, or an uncapped flue that has hosted nesting animals for multiple seasons. That is why we deliver a written price before any work starts, so the number you agree to is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Highlands
We cover the full Highlands area, from the older grid of streets near the San Jacinto River to the ranch-style subdivisions further east. If you are within Highlands city limits or its immediate surroundings, we come to you. Most Highlands visits can be scheduled within the same week, with technician name and photo sent before arrival.
- Highlands town center, including the streets around San Jacinto Street and Main
- Highland Acres
- Riverview Estates
- River Terrace
- Woodland Hills
Service Area – Cities Near Highlands
Beyond Highlands, Alcott Chimney Sweep serves neighboring communities along the San Jacinto corridor and east Harris County. If you are in Channelview, TX, Crosby, TX, Baytown, TX, or La Porte, TX, the same background-checked technicians and the same written-price guarantee apply.
Serving Highlands, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Highlands 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 Highlands
Most Highlands visits are scheduled within the same week of the call. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from the brand’s Houston office, and crews serve Highlands locally. You will know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive.
Routine sweeping and inspection do not require a permit in Highlands or Harris County. Structural repairs, such as rebuilding a firebox or replacing a liner, may trigger local permitting depending on scope. We flag that during the quote so there are no surprises. Call (336) 863-3889 to discuss your situation.
That is the single most common situation we see in Highlands. Floodwater deposits silt and debris on the smoke shelf and firebox floor, and the damper often rusts shut. We inspect with a camera, show you the photos, and tell you plainly what needs doing and what can safely wait.
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 Highlands Customers Say
"Left no soot anywhere. Even brought a vacuum with a sealed filter. I'd use them again every fall."
- Beth H."Gas fireplace pilot kept going out. Cleaned the burner, replaced the thermocouple, and explained what failed. Works first try now."
- Alicia R."Cap, screen, and a full inspection with photos sent to my phone. Easy to understand and a fair price."
- Tomas Y.