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.
DuraFlex Chimney Sweep in San Antonio: What to Know First
A DuraFlex chimney sweep in San Antonio typically costs between $189 and $310 for a standard cleaning and runs about 90 minutes from setup to final vacuum. We’re an independent DuraFlex service provider, not a factory-authorized shop, which means we can tell you plainly when a liner is fine and when it isn’t without worrying about warranty politics. This page is for San Antonio homeowners with a DuraFlex liner, a DuraFlex connector, or a fireplace that uses DuraFlex venting components. If you need a sweep and want a straight answer about what’s actually wrong, call us at (903) 515-5079.
How DuraFlex Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
DuraFlex makes solid, professional-grade liner systems. We install them. We also see where they wear out after years of San Antonio heat cycles and occasional neglect. Here’s what shows up on real jobs:
- Creosote bonding on single-wall corrugations (DuraFlex 316L and 304L liners). The ribbed profile that gives DuraFlex its flexibility also gives creosote thousands of tiny ledges to grab onto. On wood-burning fireplaces in older San Antonio homes, we regularly see stage-two creosote form in the valleys of the corrugation where a smooth-wall liner would shed it more easily. Our fix is a mechanical sweep with poly brushes sized to the liner’s exact inner diameter, then a camera check to confirm nothing’s left in the ridges.
- Soot accumulation at the tee connection on DuraFlex connectors. The tee where a connector meets the liner body is the most common soot trap in any flexible system. On DuraFlex connectors, the crimped end can collect fine soot that hardens over a season. We remove the connector, inspect the crimp for deformation, clean it by hand, and only reinstall if the crimp still seals correctly. If it doesn’t, you’ll see it on the camera report before we quote a replacement.
- Pinhole corrosion from San Antonio’s humidity and sulfur in combustion gases. DuraFlex 316L alloy resists this better than most, but no stainless liner is forever. In homes near the coast or with gas logs running all winter, we find small pinholes forming where moisture settled in the liner’s low points. A sweep alone won’t fix a pinhole. We camera the liner, mark the location, and tell you honestly if it needs a section replacement or a full reline. If it’s fine, we say so in writing.
- Ovalization from heat stress on uninsulated DuraFlex liners. Uninsulated liners, especially in exterior chimneys that catch afternoon sun in San Antonio, can oval slightly over years of expansion and contraction. This rarely causes immediate failure, but it changes how the liner seats at the appliance collar. We check collar fit on every DuraFlex sweep because a loose connection there is a carbon monoxide risk, not a cosmetic issue.
- Failing mortar at the crown letting water run down the outside of the liner. This isn’t the liner’s fault, but it affects every DuraFlex system we service. Cracked masonry crowns in San Antonio’s freeze-thaw and hard sun cycles let water bypass the flue tile entirely and pool around the liner exterior. We flag crown damage during Level 1 inspections because that water shortens liner life faster than anything else. Our sweeps include a crown condition note in every written report.
Styles & brands we work with
Our DuraFlex Chimney Sweep Process
Every DuraFlex job follows the same sequence, whether it’s a routine annual sweep or a follow-up after a smoky fire:
- 1
You call, a person answers. We take your address, the type of appliance, and anything unusual you’ve noticed. You’ll get a confirmation with the technician’s name and photo before the visit.
- 2
We arrive and verify identity. Our technician shows a photo ID badge at the door, introduces themselves, and we lay down drop cloths before any equipment comes through.
- 3
We inspect before we sweep. Camera goes in first. We check the liner’s condition, the tee, the collar, and the crown. If we find damage, you’ll see it on the screen with us, not hear about it later over the phone.
- 4
We size the brushes to your liner. DuraFlex liners have exact inner diameters printed on the installation tag. We match poly brushes to that spec, never metal brushes on stainless.
- 5
We sweep and vacuum simultaneously. A HEPA-filtered vacuum runs while we brush, so creosote and soot don’t drift into your living room. This matters on horizontal runs where debris naturally falls back.
- 6
Camera verification and written report. We re-camera the flue after sweeping to prove it’s clean, then hand you the report with photos, measurements, and any repair recommendations. The written price for any additional work comes before that work starts.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterWhat DuraFlex Chimney Sweep Costs in San Antonio
Here’s what we charge for DuraFlex work in San Antonio. These are flat rates, not estimates you’ll have to call back about:
- Standard DuraFlex chimney sweep: $189 to $310, depending on liner length and creosote stage.
- Level 1 inspection: included with every sweep at no extra charge.
- Level 2 inspection with full camera documentation: $160 to $240 when booked separately or added to a sweep.
- Connector replacement (DuraFlex connector, average 24-36 inches): $275 to $480 installed, depending on whether we’re reusing the existing tee or replacing it too.
- Section reline (spot repair on a damaged liner section): $800 to $1,600, depending on access and liner diameter.
- Full DuraFlex reline: $2,800 to $5,200 for a typical one-story San Antonio fireplace, including liner, insulation where required, tee, and rain cap.
What moves the price: creosote stage (stage three takes longer and may require chemical treatment first), liner height, roof access, and whether your crown needs sealing while we’re up there. Every quote is written, and nothing gets added without your okay. Call (903) 515-5079 for a free estimate on your specific setup.
Why San Antonio Homeowners Call Alcott Chimney San Antonio for DuraFlex Work
We’ve been working on San Antonio chimneys since 2002, and we’ve installed enough DuraFlex to know its quirks without blaming the product for problems it didn’t cause. Our technicians are background-checked and identity-verified through the Threshold Standard before they ever ring a doorbell, and you’ll know their name and see their photo before the truck shows up. Every repair carries a written guarantee, and if a repair fails within 365 days, the second visit is free. We also work with HeatShield resurfacing and Gelco products when a DuraFlex liner isn’t the right answer, so you’re not locked into one brand’s solution because it’s the only thing on our truck. Ruben Castellano and the crew would rather give you a straight answer today than a vague promise you have to call us back about tomorrow. The written price you get before work starts is the price you pay. That’s the whole point.
FAQs
No. Proper mechanical sweeping with poly brushes sized to the liner’s inner diameter is expected maintenance under DuraFlex’s warranty terms. A camera inspection before and after is the smart way to document that the sweep was done correctly, and we provide both at no extra charge with every sweep. The warranty is voided by improper installation or unlisted appliance connections, not by cleaning.
Once a year if you burn wood more than a couple of times per week during winter. San Antonio homes that use the fireplace occasionally as ambiance can often go 18 months, but the safe rule is annual because creosote accumulation depends on burn temperature and wood quality, not just frequency. Gas fireplaces with a DuraFlex liner still need an annual inspection for soot at the connector and any signs of water entry, even though they need less frequent sweeping.
Yes, in almost every case. A Level 2 camera inspection shows us the liner’s interior, the welds, the connection points, and any pinholes or corrosion. If we find damage, we show you the footage on the spot. You’ll never hear “you need a new liner” without seeing the screen yourself. If the liner is fine, we say so and put it in writing.
Most common DuraFlex components like connectors, tee caps, rain caps, and insulation kits are in stock at our local supply houses and can be on your job within 2 to 5 business days. Unusual diameters or custom lengths may take 7 to 14 days. We use factory DuraFlex components for reline work and replacements, and we’ll tell you upfront if a part is backordered with a firm date before you commit to anything. Call (903) 515-5079 and we can check availability for your specific liner size while you’re on the phone.
Creosote builds up in the liner’s corrugations, and at stage three it becomes a hard, tar-like coating that’s both a chimney fire fuel source and a real effort to remove. In the best case, you pay more for a heavier cleaning down the road. In the worst case, that creosote catches and the liner does its job by containing the fire, but the liner itself can warp or crack from the heat and need replacement. Either way, skipping the sweep costs more than the sweep itself. A standard cleaning is $189 to $310. A replacement liner starts around $2,800.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner, Alcott Chimney San Antonio at Alcott Chimney San Antonio, serving San Antonio and nearby areas.