Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Cleaning in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Straight answers to the questions Fort Lauderdale homeowners ask us most. If you don't see yours here, call (754) 354-1430 and ask us directly.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A standard chimney cleaning in Fort Lauderdale runs between $149 and $249 for a single fireplace, with most homeowners paying around $189. The exact price depends on chimney height, roof access, creosote buildup, and whether animals or debris have gotten in. Hank Delano's team gives every customer a written price before any work starts, so there are no surprises at the door. If your chimney hasn't been cleaned in years or you burn wood regularly, expect to be toward the higher end. Call (754) 354-1430 for a free estimate.
Pricing differences usually come down to what's included. Some companies quote a low base price then add fees for roof access, a second flue, or a cap inspection. We price the sweep as a complete job: the flue gets brushed top to bottom, the smoke chamber and damper get cleaned, the firebox gets vacated, and we do a visual inspection of the masonry and cap. You get one written number before work begins. No add-ons, no last-minute extras.
Our standard sweep includes brushing the full flue length, cleaning the smoke shelf and damper, removing soot and creosote from the firebox, vacuuming all debris, and a Level 1 visual inspection of the chimney structure, cap, and accessible masonry. We also check for water staining, spalling brick, and any animal nesting. If we spot something that needs attention, we'll show you photos and explain whether it's urgent or can wait. You decide what gets done.
No. The roof-access portion of the job is part of the standard sweep price. We need to get to the top of the chimney to do the work properly anyway, and while we're up there we look at the crown, the cap, the flashing, and the top courses of brick. If you're in an older neighborhood like Victoria Park or Sailboat Bend where the chimneys date back decades, this inspection matters more. We'll tell you what we find and what it might mean for the long haul.
We don't run seasonal sales or discount pricing. The price stays consistent year-round because the work is the same. That said, booking a cleaning between March and September often means faster scheduling, since fall is when everyone in Fort Lauderdale suddenly remembers the fireplace exists. If you want flexibility on timing, spring and summer are your friend. The price will be the same, but you'll have more days to choose from.
Service & Process FAQs
Most single-fireplace cleanings take between 45 and 90 minutes from setup to final cleanup. A two-story home with a steep roof pitch or a chimney that hasn't been cleaned in three-plus years can push toward two hours. We bring drop cloths, run a HEPA-filtered vacuum to keep dust contained, and leave the room cleaner than we found it. Hank Delano's crew works the same way every visit: by the book, first time.
Yes, for the initial appointment we ask that an adult be home. We'll need access to the fireplace and, in most cases, the roof or attic. After that first visit, if you're a repeat customer and we have a key or access code on file, we can discuss regular maintenance visits without you being present. But for a first sweep, plan on being there. It also lets us walk you through anything we find while we're in the home.
Clear the area around the fireplace about five feet back, move any furniture or décor you don't want dust near, and don't light a fire for at least 24 hours before we arrive. We handle everything else: drop cloths, floor protection, vacuuming, and cleanup. If you have a gas log set, don't touch it, just let us know when booking and we'll remove and reinstall it as part of the service.
No, and that's one of the things we're most careful about. We use a triple-motor HEPA-filtered vacuum that runs the entire time the brush is in the flue, plus drop cloths around the hearth and doorway. In 20-plus years of sweeping chimneys in South Florida, we've learned that homeowners here keep their homes clean and expect the same from anyone who works inside them. If we make a mess, we clean it before we leave.
The national standard from the Chimney Safety Institute of America is once a year or every cord of wood burned, whichever comes first. But Fort Lauderdale is different from places that burn all winter. If you have a wood-burning fireplace but only use it a few times between December and February, every 12 to 18 months is usually enough. If you burn regularly, or you smell smoke inside, or you see shiny black glaze on the flue walls, call sooner. Hank Delano's team will tell you honestly whether you're due or can safely wait.
Yes, and we do plenty of them. Chimneys that have sat for five, ten, or twenty years collect more than soot: birds, lizards, leaves, rust from a failed damper, and creosote that's hardened into a glaze. We'll assess the buildup first, then run a wire brush or rotary system appropriate for the level of accumulation. If the creosote has reached a stage where normal brushing won't cut it, we'll tell you before we start and explain what options make sense.
Yes. Gas fireplaces don't produce creosote the way wood does, but they do produce acidic condensation that can corrode the flue liner and masonry over time. Gas flues also get spider webs, wasp nests, and debris. We inspect the gas log setup, check the venting, and clean the flue without disrupting your gas line. If we find a blocked vent or damaged liner, you'll see photos of exactly what we're looking at.
A Level 1 inspection is visual and happens during a routine sweep: we look at the accessible portions of the flue, damper, firebox, and exterior. A Level 2 inspection goes further and is required when you're buying or selling a home, after a chimney fire, or after a major storm. It typically involves camera scanning the full flue interior. In Fort Lauderdale, we recommend a Level 2 after any hurricane that sent debris flying at your roof. If you want camera footage during a standard sweep, just ask.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We work with Gelco and Olympia Chimney products most often because they hold up in South Florida's humidity and salt air. Copperfield and Famco components are also in our inventory for specific applications. The brand matters less than the fit and material: stainless steel and copper hold up, while cheap galvanized steel rusts within a few seasons. We'll recommend what's right for your chimney and show you the difference in writing.
Yes, and in South Florida it's not optional. A chimney with no cap collects rainwater, leaves, and within weeks, birds and lizards. Standing water in a flue accelerates brick and mortar damage, and animal nests create a fire hazard and a blockage. Fort Lauderdale's afternoon storms alone justify a cap. We install Gelco and Olympia Chimney caps with stainless steel mesh that keeps animals out without restricting draft. It's one of the cheapest insurance policies for a chimney.
Most chimney caps we install in Fort Lauderdale run between $95 and $250 depending on size and material, with installation included in that figure. Custom sizes for older homes with non-standard flue openings can run higher. We'll measure, quote a written price, and install on the same visit when possible. A quality cap from Gelco or Olympia Chimney will outlast the roof in most cases.
For wood-burning fireplaces, a simple set of steel tools: poker, tongs, shovel, and brush. For gas fireplaces, skip the tools and keep a soft brush nearby for dust. More important than tools is what's in the chimney itself: a working damper, a clean flue, and a cap that keeps the weather out. If you're not sure what you need, we'll tell you straight. We're not here to sell you a set of brass accessories you'll never use.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Yes. Every pro working under the Flint Chimney name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and our Fort Lauderdale team carries liability coverage. We're part of the Garrison Partners family, and every location operates under The Garrison Standard: written pricing before work begins, a clean worksite, and a one-year written guarantee on the work. We're happy to show proof of insurance if your HOA or property manager requires it.
Every technician who works under the Flint Chimney name goes through our screening process before they're sent to a customer's home. We don't send strangers to your door. Hank Delano built the Fort Lauderdale team the same way every Garrison Partners location does: disciplined, trained, and accountable. When you book, you'll know who's coming and when they'll arrive.
Our technicians are trained to industry standards and follow the inspection and cleaning protocols the trade recognizes. That means the work is done by the book, every time. What we bring to every job is the Garrison Code: show up inside the window we gave, price in writing before any work starts, do the job right the first time, leave the site clean and squared away, and stand behind the work for a full year.
Emergency & Response FAQs
If you've had a chimney fire, smell gas, or have water pouring in, call us at (754) 354-1430 and we'll get you scheduled as fast as our calendar allows. Our regular hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We're closed on Saturdays. For a suspected gas leak, leave the house first and call your utility company, then call us when it's safe.
Creosote keeps building up, and creosote is fuel. A chimney fire can burn hot enough to crack the flue liner and spread into the house frame before you even know it started. Even without a fire, a blocked or restricted flue pushes carbon monoxide back into the home. In Fort Lauderdale's climate, water damage from a neglected chimney is the slow threat: cracked crowns, spalling brick, and rusted dampers. A sweep is cheap compared to any of those outcomes.
Yes, and we recommend it for any home purchase in Fort Lauderdale, especially older homes in neighborhoods like Riverside Park or Coral Ridge. A Level 2 inspection with a camera scan shows you exactly what's inside the flue before you sign. We've caught cracked liners, hidden animal nests, and water damage that general home inspectors missed. The cost of the inspection is a fraction of a liner replacement. Call (754) 354-1430 to schedule.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Yes. Every job we do is covered by a one-year written guarantee under The Garrison Standard. If the work fails within that year, we come back and make it right at no charge. That's the promise every Flint Chimney location makes, and it's stamped on our estimates. Hank Delano's team in Fort Lauderdale lives by the same code: price in writing, work done by the book, and a site left clean when we're done.
The one-year guarantee covers the work we performed. If a cap we installed comes loose, a damper we replaced fails, or a sweep we completed doesn't hold up, we return and fix it without charging you again. It doesn't cover new damage from a hurricane, a chimney fire, or changes you make after we leave. But if it's our workmanship, it's on us. That's the Garrison Code, and we don't make exceptions for convenience.
Call us and we'll make it right. That's the whole point of the guarantee. If you feel like the sweep wasn't thorough or something was missed, let us know and Hank Delano will personally review the job. We stand behind the work for a full year in writing, and we'd rather fix a problem than leave a customer in Fort Lauderdale feeling like they got shortchanged. Your call goes to (754) 354-1430 and a real coordinator gets you connected with the team.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Co Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and surrounding Broward County since the branch opened its doors.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Call us - same-day and after-hours emergency service available.
(754) 354-1430