Protect Your Family From Hidden Chimney Hazards $69 Inspection
HD camera inspections. Locked pricing. Written guarantee on every job.
Which Chimney Problem Can We Solve?
Pick a service below, or call us and we'll figure it out together. Every job includes our price-lock guarantee.
Caps & Dampers
Stop animals, downdrafts, and water entry. Stainless steel with lifetime warranty.
Not sure what's wrong? Tell us the symptoms — we'll diagnose it for free.
Call (888) 250-88413 Dangers Hiding in Your Chimney Right Now
Most Philadelphia homeowners don’t know their chimney is damaged until they get a $15,000 repair bill — or worse.
The Silent Killer in Your Flue
A cracked flue liner lets CO fill your home undetected — especially in pre-1950s Philly rowhomes. Our CSIA-certified inspection checks every inch of your flue liner.
House Fires Start Without Warning
Creosote builds up faster in Philadelphia's long winters. It takes just 1/8 inch of buildup to ignite. We’ve cleaned 2,000+ Philly chimneys — one sweep eliminates the risk.
A $15K Bill You Can Prevent
Skip maintenance and you’re looking at $8,000–$15,000 in repairs. A $69 inspection catches problems while they’re still cheap to fix.
A $69 inspection today could save you $15,000 tomorrow.
Check Your Chimney for $69Here’s Exactly What Happens When You Call
No surprises. No pressure. You’ll know the price before any work starts.
You Reach Out
Call, text, or book online. We respond in 15 minutes on average and lock in a time that works for you.
We Show You What We Find
HD camera inspection of your full flue system. You get the same photos we see — no guesswork, no upsell tricks.
You Get a Clear Quote
Written estimate reviewed on-site before any work starts. The price you approve is the price you pay — guaranteed.
We Clean & Prove It
We protect your floors and leave your home spotless. You get before-and-after photos of everything we did.
Your Price, Your Timeline, Your Satisfaction — Guaranteed
Every job — from Fishtown rowhomes to Chestnut Hill estates — comes with three guarantees in writing.
Price-Lock Promise
The quote you approve is the price you pay. No change orders, no surprises, period.
1-Year Workmanship Warranty
If anything we install or repair fails within 12 months, we fix it free. No questions asked.
Satisfaction or It's Free
Not happy with the finished work? We make it right — or you don't pay a cent.
“Our furnace wasn't drafting properly and we were getting CO detector alerts. These guys came out the same afternoon, identified a blockage in the flue, and cleared it on the spot. Genuinely might have saved our family. Beyond grateful.”
“They showed me video footage from inside my chimney — I could see the cracks they were talking about. No pressure, just facts. The repair was done in one day and they cleaned up everything. First contractor I've ever tipped.”
“Called at 8 AM about a downdraft problem. Tony was at my door by noon. He found a cracked liner that two other companies missed. Fair price, great communication, and they actually answered when I had follow-up questions.”
“We bought a 1920s twin in Fishtown and needed a full chimney evaluation before closing. They gave us a detailed report with photos that our inspector could use. Saved us from a $12,000 surprise. Can't recommend enough.”
“Had three companies quote me for a chimney cap replacement. These guys were the only ones who actually got on the roof to measure before quoting. Price was fair, install was clean, and they sent before-and-after photos when it was done.”
“I'm a property manager with 14 units and these guys handle all my chimney maintenance. They're always on time, send invoices promptly, and their annual inspection reports are detailed enough to keep my insurance company happy. A+ operation.”
“Smoke was backing up into our living room every time we lit a fire. Turned out the previous owner had the wrong size liner installed. They replaced it with a stainless steel liner and now it draws perfectly. Wish I'd called them years ago.”
“After the nor'easter knocked some bricks loose, I expected to wait weeks for a mason. They were out in two days, matched the existing mortar color perfectly, and even sealed the crown while they were up there. Top-notch craftsmanship.”
“Bought a 100-year-old stone house and needed the chimney checked before our first winter here. The tech walked me through everything on his tablet — showed me exactly where the mortar was crumbling inside the flue. Got a written report same day. For $69 this was a no-brainer.”
“Our home inspector said the chimney 'looked fine' during closing. We called Franklin for a second opinion and they found a cracked flue tile on the Level 2 camera inspection. That crack would've leaked carbon monoxide directly into our bedroom wall. Terrifying to think about.”
“I'm a realtor and I send every buyer to Franklin Chimney before closing. They've saved three of my clients from nasty surprises this year alone. Reports are professional, turnaround is fast, and they don't upsell people into work they don't need. That last part matters.”
“Been putting off getting the chimney looked at for probably five years. Finally called and they were here two days later. Good news — everything was structurally sound. They cleaned some debris off the smoke shelf and told me I was good to go. Refreshing to deal with an honest company.”
“We hadn't used our fireplace in eight years. Before lighting it up this winter we called Franklin to clean it out. They removed a bird's nest, about an inch of creosote, and a whole lot of leaves. Fireplace works beautifully now. The guy even showed us how to operate the damper properly.”
“Quick, clean, professional. They laid down drop cloths, sealed the fireplace opening, and vacuumed everything from the roof down. My living room was cleaner when they left than when they arrived. In and out in about 90 minutes.”
“Stage 2 creosote buildup — that's what they told me. I burn wood three or four times a week November through March so I wasn't surprised. They did a thorough cleaning and recommended I switch to seasoned hardwood instead of the green stuff I'd been using. Already booked for next October.”
“I noticed white powder on the bricks outside and crumbling mortar between them. Franklin came out and said I needed tuckpointing on about 15 rows. They matched the mortar color to my 1840s brick perfectly — my neighbor didn't even realize work had been done. That's craftsmanship.”
“The chimney crown was cracked in three places and water was getting in every time it rained. I was getting stains on my ceiling for months before I figured out the source. They rebuilt the crown completely and sealed it. Two heavy rainstorms since and completely dry inside.”
“We kept smelling something musty near the fireplace. Turns out the damper was rusted shut and moisture had been sitting in the firebox for who knows how long. They replaced the damper, cleaned out the rust and mold, and treated the interior. No more smell. Should've called sooner.”
“Had some serious spalling on the upper third of my chimney — bricks were literally flaking apart. Franklin replaced about 40 bricks, repointed the rest, and applied a water sealant. Chimney looks brand new from the street. They even hauled away all the old material same day.”
“Our clay liner was original to the house — 1952. The inspection showed multiple cracks and a gap at one of the joints. They installed a stainless steel liner in about six hours. The draft improvement was immediate. We actually had to dial back the damper because the fireplace was pulling so much harder.”
“Switched from a wood fireplace to a gas insert and needed the flue relined to match the new appliance. Franklin sized everything correctly, ran the aluminum liner, and connected it all in one day. Inspector signed off on it first try. Clean work.”
“Failed our home sale inspection because of a deteriorated liner. Called Franklin in a panic because we had a 10-day window to get it fixed before closing. They got us on the schedule in three days, installed a new stainless liner, and we had the reinspection certificate in hand by day eight. Saved our sale.”
“Brown stains were spreading across my living room wall every time it rained hard. Turns out water was wicking through the chimney masonry. They applied a breathable sealant to the entire exterior. Two months and several storms later — not a single new stain.”
“After the freeze-thaw cycle last winter I had mortar crumbling off my chimney in chunks. They explained how water gets in the pores, freezes, and blows the mortar apart over time. Repointed the damaged joints and waterproofed the whole thing. Said it should hold 8-10 years now.”
“White streaks running down my chimney for years. Turns out that's called efflorescence and it means water is pulling minerals through the brick. Franklin cleaned the staining, repaired a few soft spots, and sealed everything. Chimney actually looks better now than when we bought the house.”
“We kept hearing scratching sounds in the chimney at night. Raccoons. Franklin installed a heavy-gauge stainless steel cap with mesh screening after the wildlife guy removed the family. Six months now and no more visitors. The cap keeps rain and debris out too — should've done this years ago.”
“Cold air was literally pouring in through the fireplace even with the damper closed. Turns out the cast iron damper had warped from years of heat and wouldn't seal anymore. They installed a top-mount damper with a rubber gasket. I noticed the difference on my heating bill within a month.”
“We have a historic stone house with an unusual chimney opening. Two other companies told us they couldn't fit a standard cap. Franklin fabricated a custom stainless steel cap that matched the dimensions exactly. Looks great and keeps the rain out. Worth the wait for the custom work.”
“Annual inspection — they do mine every October. This year they caught a failing mortar joint I never would've noticed from the ground. Fixed it on the spot for under $200. That's exactly why I keep coming back.”
“Needed a chimney certification letter for our condo association before we could use the fireplace. Franklin did the full Level 2 inspection with camera and had the letter emailed to our HOA the next morning. Smooth process.”
“First house, first chimney, zero clue what I was looking at. The tech explained everything without making me feel dumb. Turns out the flue was in decent shape but the cap was missing entirely — birds had been getting in for years. Glad I got it checked before lighting anything.”
“I'm 78 and live alone. I wanted to make sure the chimney was safe before winter. The young man who came was patient, respectful, and showed me the photos on his phone. Everything was fine — he said so honestly and didn't try to sell me anything. That meant a lot.”
“We're flipping a twin in Point Breeze and needed the chimney report for the buyer's lender. Franklin got us the full inspection and written report in 48 hours. Professional enough to satisfy an underwriter. We'll use them on every project going forward.”
“There was a weird smell coming from the fireplace we couldn't figure out. Turned out a bunch of wet leaves and some animal debris had piled up on the smoke shelf. They cleaned it all out during the inspection. $69 well spent — the smell was gone by that evening.”
“Third year in a row using Franklin for my annual. They keep records from previous visits so they can compare condition year to year. That level of attention is rare. My chimney is 90 years old and still going strong because of these guys.”
“We burn wood all winter — every single night from Thanksgiving to Easter. Annual cleaning is a must for us. Franklin gets it done fast, shows us the before-and-after photos, and we're good for another season. Been using them three years now.”
“Just moved from an apartment and this is my first home with a fireplace. Had no idea you're supposed to get it cleaned before using it. Franklin walked me through the whole process — what creosote is, why it's dangerous, how often to clean. Patient and educational. 10/10.”
“Even after cleaning the fireplace out ourselves, there was still a smoky smell all summer. Franklin did a full sweep and pulled out way more soot than I expected. The smell is completely gone now. Sometimes you just need the pros.”
“Hadn't had the chimney cleaned in three years. I know, I know. They didn't lecture me about it — just did the job, showed me the buildup they removed, and recommended I go annual from here. Fair enough. Booking now for next fall.”
“We have an oil furnace and the flue needed cleaning. Most chimney companies only want to deal with fireplaces. Franklin handled the oil flue no problem — cleaned the connector pipe, the flue liner, and checked the draft. Oil heat customers, these are your people.”
“Birds had been nesting in the chimney and there was a ton of debris in there. Franklin cleaned everything out, sanitized the flue, and recommended a cap to prevent it from happening again. The whole house smells better now. Wish I hadn't waited so long.”
“Pre-season cleaning before the holidays. They were in and out in under an hour. No mess, no drama, no surprise charges. Exactly what you want from a service call. Already on the calendar for next year.”
“Water was dripping down the inside of my chimney and staining the hardwood. The flashing had pulled away from the masonry — Franklin said it was probably from thermal expansion over the years. They replaced all the step flashing and counter-flashing. Bone dry ever since.”
“Our chimney was visibly leaning about two inches. Every mason we called said tear it down and rebuild. Franklin came out, assessed the foundation, and was able to stabilize it with steel bracing and repoint the affected area. Saved us thousands compared to a full rebuild.”
“Crack in the firebox that I kept ignoring. Finally got it looked at when I noticed some discoloration on the wall behind it. They repaired the firebox mortar, sealed everything, and did a smoke test to verify no leaks. Peace of mind is priceless honestly.”
“A tree branch fell on the chimney during a storm. Cracked the crown and knocked the cap off entirely. Franklin came out the next day, assessed the damage, and had everything repaired and sealed within the week. Insurance adjuster was impressed with their documentation too.”
“Smoke chamber was parging badly — chunks of morite falling into the firebox. They resurfaced the entire chamber with HeatShield. Fireplace draws better now than it ever has. Messy job but they left my living room spotless.”
“Step flashing was failing where the chimney meets our roof addition from the 80s. Water was getting into the attic. Franklin coordinated with our roofer, replaced the flashing correctly, and sealed the chimney side. No more bucket in the attic during rainstorms.”
“Top three feet of my chimney was shot — crumbling bricks, missing mortar, the whole thing looked ready to fall. Franklin took it down to the roofline and rebuilt it brick by brick. Matched the existing brick color and pattern. You can't even tell it's new work.”
“We were trying to sell and the buyer's inspector flagged the liner. I called three companies — Franklin was the only one who could get it done in under two weeks. New stainless liner installed, inspection passed, closing went through on time. Lifesaver.”
“Converted from wood to gas logs and learned the hard way that the old clay liner doesn't work for gas appliances. Franklin installed the proper aluminum liner with a connector kit. Passed code inspection on the first visit. Should've done the conversion right from the start.”
“The old terracotta liner was crumbling — pieces were falling into the firebox when we opened the damper. Franklin removed what was left and installed a full stainless steel liner with insulation wrap. Like having a brand new chimney. The draft is incredible now.”
“Had a wood stove insert put in and needed a properly sized liner to go with it. Franklin ran the stainless liner, insulated it, and connected it to the stove. The efficiency improvement was noticeable on the first cold night. Our heating bill actually went down.”
“Camera inspection found three cracks and a separated joint about halfway up the flue. Rather than keep patching an old liner, we went with a full reline. They installed it in one day, and the technician walked me through the warranty paperwork before he left. Very thorough.”
“Woke up to our CO detector going off at 3 AM. Fire department came, said the chimney was the likely source. Franklin was there first thing Monday morning — the old liner had a gap that was leaking exhaust into the wall cavity. New stainless liner installed by end of day. Scary situation but they handled it fast.”
“The old liner was oversized for our furnace — causing condensation and corrosion. Franklin downsized the flue with a properly matched stainless liner. The condensation problem is gone and our furnace runs more efficiently. They really understood the science behind it.”
“Damp musty smell in the family room every time it rained. We thought it was the basement. Turns out moisture was coming through the chimney masonry above. Franklin waterproofed the exterior and the smell is gone. Should've looked up sooner — literally.”
“Our house is only 12 years old but the builder never sealed the chimney. We were already seeing mortar deterioration. Franklin waterproofed it before any real damage happened. Preventive maintenance is way cheaper than emergency repairs. Learned that lesson the easy way for once.”
“Water was pooling at the base of the chimney where it meets the roof. The mortar at the bottom three courses was turning to sand. They repointed the damaged area, sealed the chimney-to-roof transition, and waterproofed the entire stack. Problem solved.”
“Had spalling bricks repaired on the chimney and Franklin recommended waterproofing as part of the project. Smart call — they said the new mortar needs protection just like the old stuff. One crew did both jobs in the same visit. Efficient and cost-effective.”
“Our chimney faces north and takes a beating every winter. After seeing what freeze-thaw did to my neighbor's chimney — $9,000 in repairs — I decided to be proactive. Franklin waterproofed mine for a fraction of that. Five-year warranty. Money well spent.”
“We were getting dampness on the interior wall behind the chimney, especially after heavy rain. Franklin tested the masonry with a moisture meter, confirmed it was absorbing water like a sponge, and applied their breathable sealant. Three nor'easters since then — completely dry inside.”
“Every spring, birds would nest in our chimney and we'd hear chirping for weeks. Kind of cute until you realize what it does to your flue. Franklin installed a cap with proper mesh and it's been silent ever since. The cap also stopped the downdrafts we were getting on windy days.”
“Wind would blow down the chimney and push smoke back into the house every time we had a fire. Franklin installed a wind-directional cap that solved the problem completely. No more smoke alarms going off when the wind picks up. Game changer.”
“Our building is from 1795 and the chimney opening is an unusual rectangle. Two companies said they'd have to modify the masonry to fit a standard cap. Franklin measured it and had a custom cap fabricated in stainless steel. Fits perfectly, looks period-appropriate, and carries a lifetime warranty.”
“Replaced our old throat damper with a top-sealing one. The difference in our heating bill was immediate — we were basically heating the neighborhood through the open chimney before. The new damper seals with a gasket and opens with a cable. Simple and effective.”
“Squirrels kept getting into the chimney and once one got into the house. That was enough. Franklin installed a heavy-duty cap with a spark arrestor screen. It's been over a year — no more wildlife, no more rain getting in, no more worrying about it.”
“Constant downdraft was ruining our ability to enjoy the fireplace. The flue was fine — it was just the wind patterns around our roofline. Franklin installed a taller cap with a wind guard designed for our specific situation. We've had a fire going every weekend this winter with zero blowback.”
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Answers to Your Top Questions
The NFPA recommends annual inspections. In Philadelphia, our freeze-thaw cycles and aging masonry make this especially important — even if you rarely use your fireplace, animals, debris, and moisture can cause hidden damage. An annual check catches small problems before they become expensive emergencies.
Book your annual inspection — $69 →Our comprehensive chimney inspections are just $69. Level 2 video inspections — recommended when buying or selling a home — start at $249. We always explain exactly what's needed and why before any work begins.
Lock in your $69 rate now →Yes — we're CSIA-certified, PA-licensed, and carry $2 million in liability insurance. We're also BBB A+ rated. We're happy to provide documentation before any work begins.
Book with confidence →Absolutely — historic chimneys are our specialty. Many homes in Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Society Hill, and Fairmount have chimneys with original lime mortar, unlined flues, and corbelled brickwork that require specialized knowledge. We understand the unique construction methods used in Philadelphia's 18th- and 19th-century homes and tailor every repair to preserve your chimney's integrity while bringing it up to modern safety standards.
Schedule your historic home inspection →Yes — we offer same-day service throughout Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Call us directly at (888) 250-8841 for the fastest response.
Book online →A standard chimney cleaning takes 45–90 minutes. We're experienced with Philadelphia's tight rowhome setups and older flue configurations — we lay protective tarps, use professional-grade equipment, and clean up completely when finished.
Book your 45-min cleaning →We serve all of Philadelphia — from South Philly rowhomes to Chestnut Hill colonials and everything in between — plus the surrounding suburbs including Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester counties. Enter your zip code when requesting a quote and we'll confirm coverage.
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