Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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.
Chimney Company in Northridge, CA
Chimney repair in Northridge is less about cozy wood fires and more about seismic safety and dry-season fire defense. The 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Northridge in 1994 is still very much alive in the local housing stock. We see cracked masonry, hairline flue-tile separations, and out-of-plumb stacks on houses that were re-strapped or patched rather than rebuilt. Mantel Chimney Sweep has served Northridge since 2018, and our focus is built around your fireplace’s long-term safety, not a quick sweep. Call (844) 821-5749 for a free estimate.
Why Northridge Homes Are Different
Northridge is dominated by single-story 1950s-to-1970s ranch and tract homes. Most of those homes have brick or stucco-clad masonry fireplaces that are original to the house. That matters because the 1994 Northridge earthquake ran a fault line directly under this part of the San Fernando Valley, and countless chimneys in the 91327, 91328, 91329, and 91330 ZIP codes were patched, re-strapped, or simply left as-is in the months after. A strap keeps the stack from falling through the roof. It does not repair flue tiles, cracked crowns, or damaged mortar joints.
Then there is the climate. Northridge gets hot, dry, Santa Ana wind-prone summers. Fireplaces sit unused for eight or nine months of the year. Creosote hardens into a glaze that ordinary brushing won’t remove. Mortar crowns dry-rot in the repeated heating and cooling cycles. And when a Santa Ana event pushes 40-mile-per-hour gusts through the Valley, any missing spark arrestor, any bird nest, any cracked cap becomes an ember pathway. The far bigger local concern in Northridge is not creosote buildup. It’s whether the chimney can hold together during a wind event and whether embers can escape the stack.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Northridge Services
The two services Northridge homeowners call us about most are chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning. Here’s what each one involves.
Chimney Sweep in Northridge
A chimney sweep in Northridge has to account for what the 1994 earthquake did to the average flue. We don’t just brush creosote. We inspect the flue tiles, the crown, the cap, and the smoke chamber while we work, because this is a city where a routine sweep can reveal a structural referral. Homes with original masonry fireplaces from the 1950s and 1960s often have hairline cracks that would go unnoticed in, say, a coastal city with no seismic history. Our sweep includes camera inspection and a photo report so you can see what we see. See our Chimney Sweep in Northridge page for the full breakdown.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Northridge
Dryer vent cleaning is the other half of our fire-prevention work in Northridge. Clogged dryer vents are one of the top causes of residential fires, and in a hot, dry climate like the San Fernando Valley, lint ignites fast. The homes here often have long vent runs from utility rooms in the center of the house to exterior walls, which gives lint more surface area to collect. We clear the entire run with a rotary brush, check the exterior termination, and verify airflow. See our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Northridge page for what to expect.
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.
Chimney Repair in Northridge
Chimney repair in Northridge tends to start in one of two ways: either a homeowner notices a cracked crown or damaged cap during fire season preparation, or a chimney sweep with a camera finds flue damage that was never addressed after the 1994 quake. Many of the homes here were re-strapped but not relined, which means the visible stack is intact while the actual flue liner has gaps or cracks. That’s the exact scenario where Mantel’s repair-grade expertise matters. We can restore a deteriorating flue with HeatShield, or install a full DuraFlex liner system when the damage is structural. We repair what others can only report. Our Chimney Repair service handles everything from crown work to full liner replacement.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
If you can see daylight or a bird’s nest where your cap should be, or your chimney has no cap at all, you need a new one installed before the next Santa Ana wind event.
What it costs in Northridge
Chimney cap installation in Northridge typically runs $225 – $420 depending on cap size and the condition of the crown it mounts to.
How we do it
We select a Gelco or Olympia Chimney cap sized to your flue, verify the surface it sits on is solid, and seal it with professional-grade adhesive and mechanical fasteners where the masonry allows.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
A cap with rust holes, warped mesh, or gaps along the seams is no longer keeping embers, rain, or animals out.
What it costs in Northridge
Chimney cap replacement in Northridge generally falls between $325 and $525, with the price driven by cap grade and the condition of the crown.
How we do it
We remove the old cap, clean the mounting surface, replace any damaged sealant, and install a new cap with a spark-arrestor mesh that meets current wildfire-adjacent safety standards.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Camera inspection showing gaps between flue tiles, missing mortar, or spalling brick inside the flue means the liner is no longer doing its job of keeping heat and gases inside the chimney.
What it costs in Northridge
Chimney liner installation in Northridge ranges from $2,900 to $5,400 for a full DuraFlex flexible stainless steel system sized and installed to code.
How we do it
We measure the flue, run a DuraFlex stainless steel liner through the existing masonry, insulate it where required, and connect it to the appliance or fireplace with a properly fitted top plate and cap.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, peeling wallpaper, or a damp smell after rain points to failed flashing at the roofline.
What it costs in Northridge
Chimney flashing repair in Northridge typically costs $425 – $920 depending on how much of the old flashing has to be cut out and replaced.
How we do it
We remove compromised flashing, inspect the roof deck beneath, install new step and counter flashing, and seal every seam with a high-grade roof sealant so water can’t track down into the attic.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Hairline cracks in the crown, pieces of mortar coming off, or water pooling on top of the chimney are all signs the crown has failed.
What it costs in Northridge
Chimney crown repair in Northridge runs $600 – $1,150, with full crown rebuilds landing in the higher end of that range.
How we do it
We inspect the crown for structural damage, build a custom form if needed, and pour or trowel a properly sloped crown with a drip edge so water runs off the chimney instead of into it.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Northridge
| Item | Typical range in Northridge |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $225 – $420 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $325 – $525 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $425 – $920 |
| Chimney crown repair | $600 – $1,150 |
Liner work is quoted per job because every flue is different. Full DuraFlex liner installations in Northridge typically run $2,900 to $5,400.
How long does chimney repair take in Northridge?
Most cap, flashing, and crown repairs are finished in one visit, typically two to four hours. A full liner installation takes a day, booked as a scheduled appointment, not a rush job.
Do I need a permit for chimney repair in Northridge?
Liner installations and structural rebuilds in Northridge often require a permit issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. We handle the paperwork on the jobs that need it and verify before we start.
Brands We Service in Northridge
Mantel Chimney Sweep works with a curated set of professional chimney-industry brands, including DuraFlex, HeatShield, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield. Parts are stocked locally in the Valley, so standard cap and flashing jobs are not held up waiting on a shipment. See our brands for the full list of what we use and why it matters for the job.
See the difference
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After
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Northridge, CA
| Service | Typical range in Northridge |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard masonry fireplace) | $185 – $340 |
| Chimney cap installation | $225 – $420 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $325 – $525 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $425 – $920 |
| Chimney crown repair | $600 – $1,150 |
| Chimney liner installation (DuraFlex full system) | $2,900 – $5,400 |
| HeatShield flue liner restoration | $1,800 – $3,400 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $140 – $280 |
| Level 2 camera inspection | $250 – $450 |
Prices in Northridge push upward when we’re dealing with post-quake cracks, out-of-plumb stacks, or chimneys that have had no water management for thirty years. You get a flat price agreed before we book, so nothing changes once the work starts.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Northridge
We work across the Northridge grid, from the older ranch blocks near Reseda Boulevard and Nordhoff Street to the stucco-clad streets around CSUN and the tract homes along Tampa Avenue and Wilbur Avenue. These neighborhoods share the same 1950s-to-1970s masonry chimneys and the same post-1994 repair histories, so the work tends to follow the same patterns.
- Sherwood Forest
- Northridge West
- Devonshire Heights
- Edison Square
- The CSUN-adjacent blocks along Zelzah Avenue
We schedule Northridge chimney and dryer vent work within a week of your call, usually faster.
Service Area – Cities Near Northridge
Beyond Northridge, Mantel Chimney Sweep serves neighbors in North Hills, CA, Encino, CA, Van Nuys, CA, and Valley Glen, CA. If you’re on the edge of one of these service areas, call and we’ll confirm coverage.
Serving Northridge, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Northridge 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 Northridge
Yes. We serve all four Northridge ZIP codes: 91327, 91328, 91329, and 91330. That includes the tract homes west of Reseda Boulevard, the blocks north of CSUN, and the neighborhoods south of Lassen Street. No part of Northridge is outside our service area.
Yes. We provide free estimates for chimney repair, sweeping, and dryer vent cleaning in Northridge. Call (844) 821-5749 and we’ll go over your fireplace setup, what you’re seeing, and roughly what the job will cost before anything is scheduled.
We typically schedule Northridge work within five to seven business days of your call. If you’re preparing for fire season or have water coming in through the chimney, tell us when you call and we’ll do our best to move faster.
For a free chimney repair estimate in Northridge, call Mantel Chimney Sweep at (844) 821-5749.
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 Northridge Customers Say
"Creosote buildup was worse than I realized. He measured it, showed me the glazing on the flue with the camera, and was honest that we were closer to a chimney fire than I wanted to hear."
— Eric Mercer"Fireplace had never drawn properly since we moved in. He found the damper was only opening halfway due to a bent linkage and fixed it in ten minutes."
— Rachel Lawson"Crown was cracked and taking water. Repaired it rather than quoting a rebuild, which the previous company had pushed hard for."
— Gilbert Garcia