Skip to content
PHILLY CHIMNEY REPAIR Call (267) 549-2706

Free referral service for Philadelphia homeowners · not a contractor · not affiliated with the City

Service guide

Chimney inspections & sweeping in Philadelphia

The industry standard (NFPA 211) defines three inspection levels. Which one you need depends on what’s changed and what the first look finds.

Call (267) 549-2706Get a free quote

The three levels

  • Level I is for a chimney you plan to keep using as is. CSIA says a certified sweep verifies the structure is sound and the flue is free of obstructions and combustible deposits such as creosote.
  • Level II is required, per CSIA, when you add a new heating appliance or change the type of fuel, on the sale or transfer of a property, and after a malfunction or event likely to have damaged the chimney. It adds accessible attics, crawl spaces and basements, and may include a smoke or pressure test and a video inspection of the flue. HomeGuide adds that a Level II inspection with a camera comes before installing a liner.
  • Level III is for when a Level I or II suggests a hidden hazard that can’t be checked without opening concealed areas, or after an incident that damaged the chimney.

How often

The City’s Rowhouse Manual says to “hire a chimney sweep to clean and inspect chimneys once a year for animal nests and soot build up,” and to have a professional check the roof for cracking at flashing and chimney caps.

Costs

Published national price ranges (not Philadelphia quotes)
JobRangeSource
Chimney sweep (includes a Level 1 inspection)$150–$375 (avg. $275)HomeGuide
Level 2 inspection (up to 2 flues)$250–$600HomeGuide
Level 3 inspection$900–$5,000HomeGuide

Buying a house?

A general home inspection usually isn’t a chimney inspection. See chimney inspections when buying a house.

References

  1. Chimney Safety Institute of America: Levels of chimney inspection (NFPA 211)
  2. City of Philadelphia: Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual (PDF)
  3. HomeGuide: Chimney sweep cost
  4. HomeGuide: Chimney inspection cost
  5. HomeGuide: Chimney liner cost

Checked October 30, 2026. Codes, fees, programs and prices change; confirm with the source. Cost figures are published ranges, not quotes.

Free · no obligation

Request a quote

Philly Chimney Repair is a free referral service, not a chimney contractor. We pass your request to an independent Philadelphia contractor, who inspects, quotes and does the work.

If you smell gas, leave the house and call PGW at 215-235-1212 from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get everyone outside and call 911. Don’t use this form for emergencies.

Have a chimney question you want a pro to look at?

Tell us your ZIP code, what the chimney serves and what you’re seeing. We pass it to one independent Philadelphia chimney contractor, who contacts you to set up an inspection and a written quote.

  1. You send the form
  2. One local contractor gets it
  3. They call or text you

Philly Chimney Repair is a free referral service, not a chimney contractor. We pass your request to an independent Philadelphia contractor, who inspects, quotes and does the work. We are not affiliated with the City of Philadelphia, L&I or PGW. We may be paid by the contractors we refer. Disclosure.