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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Inspection Across Schertz
A chimney inspection in Schertz typically costs $189 to $429 depending on the level of inspection and the chimney’s condition. Most inspections take 45 to 90 minutes on site, and you receive a written report with camera photos the same day. We serve every Schertz neighborhood, from Ashley Place to Savannah Square, and our techs know the local chimneys well. If you’re noticing smoke backing into the house or you simply haven’t had the flue looked at in years, call (903) 515-5079 and we’ll schedule a time that works. Ruben Castellano leads our team, and you’ll know exactly who’s coming to your door before the truck arrives.
Why Alcott Chimney San Antonio Is Schertz’s Preferred Chimney Inspection Company
We’ve been inspecting chimneys since 2002, and Schertz homeowners keep calling us for one reason: we show our work. Every inspection includes camera footage you can watch alongside the tech, so you’re never asked to take anyone’s word about a liner crack or creosote glaze. Written price before we start. Written guarantee on every repair. No exceptions.
The Threshold Standard is what sets us apart in Schertz. Every technician passes a background check and identity verification before stepping onto your property. You receive the tech’s name and photo before the visit, and they carry a photo ID badge at your door. That matters when you’re home alone with young kids, or when an older relative is waiting for a stranger to knock.
Schertz sits in a tricky climate zone for chimneys. Humid summers follow wet winters, and that cycle rusts dampers and attacks flue liners faster than drier towns just a few miles west. We inspect with that specific knowledge, not a generic checklist. Response time to most Schertz addresses runs one to three business days, and our live answer line picks up around the clock.
Styles & brands we work with
Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Schertz
A Level 2 Chimney Inspection in Schertz is the right call when something about the chimney has changed: you’re buying or selling the home, you’ve had a chimney fire, you switched fuel types, or a storm rolled through and shook the masonry. This inspection includes everything in a Level 1, plus full access to the attic, crawlspace, and roof, and a video scan of the entire flue interior. In Schertz, where freeze-thaw cycles crack clay flue tiles before anyone sees smoke in the walls, the camera footage from a Level 2 is often the first evidence something is wrong. Expect to pay $299 to $429 for a Level 2 inspection here.
Camera Scan of the Full Flue
We run a cable-mounted camera from the firebox to the chimney cap. You see the live feed. If there’s spalling, cracked tile, or a third-degree creosote glaze, you’ll see it on the screen, not just read a line item later.
Inspecting For Sale or Purchase
Schertz real estate moves fast, and a Level 2 inspection is what most buyers and sellers need before closing. We provide the written report your agent can drop straight into the transaction file. Call (903) 515-5079 and we’ll schedule around your closing date.
Chimney Leak in Schertz
A Chimney Leak in Schertz usually shows up as water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace, a musty smell in the firebox, or efflorescence on the exterior brick. Our inspection traces the leak to its source: failed flashing, a cracked crown, spalling brick, or a rusted-out damper letting moisture in. Along Cibolo Creek and in older neighborhoods like Ashley Place, we see more moisture intrusion simply because the air holds more water. Chimney leak diagnosis runs $189 to $249, with repair work quoted separately. We never ask you to approve a repair without camera evidence of the problem.
Flashing and Crown Inspection
The most common leak points in Schertz are the metal flashing where the chimney meets the roofline and the concrete crown at the top. We inspect both up close, and if the crown is cracked or the flashing lifted, you’ll see photos before any work is approved.
Damper Corrosion From Humidity
Schertz’s humid summers settle into the firebox and rust dampers closed, especially along Cibolo Creek. We opened a ranch-style home in Ashley Place recently where the damper was seized solid from moisture. The inspection caught it, and we replaced it before the family lit their first fire of the season.
Trusted Brands We Service in Schertz
We carry and install the same trade brands chimney professionals specify: DuraFlex liner systems, HeatShield resurfacing, Gelco sealants, and Olympia Chimney caps and dampers. That means when your inspection turns up a cracked flue or a failed damper, we can usually source the right part fast and get the repair scheduled without a long wait. Schertz homeowners don’t get box-store substitutes from our truck. You get materials matched to the existing system, installed by techs who use them every day.
Common Chimney Inspection Problems We See in Schertz Homes
- Rusted dampers from summer humidity. Schertz’s humid months settle moisture in the firebox, and along Cibolo Creek the damper often seizes by fall. The first cold snap after Thanksgiving brings a wave of calls from homeowners discovering the damper won’t open.
- Third-degree creosote glaze from cedar and oak. Local wood burns hot and fast but builds a sticky, tar-like creosote that’s hard to remove with a standard sweep. We see glazing in clay flue liners within a single season when unseasoned wood is the primary fuel.
- Cracked clay flue tiles from freeze-thaw cycles. Schertz winters are mild but they drop below freezing often enough to stress masonry. Water in small cracks freezes, expands, and spalls the tile. A Level 1 visual pass often misses this; the camera catches it.
- Spalling brick on exterior chimneys. The same freeze-thaw cycle that cracks flue tiles also affects the exterior masonry. Older brick veneer on 1970s and 1980s Schertz homes is especially prone to moisture absorption and face spalling.
See the difference
Before
After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Inspection in Schertz, TX
A standard Level 1 inspection in Schertz runs $189 to $249. A Level 2 inspection with full camera scan runs $299 to $429, and that’s the level we recommend for most Schertz homeowners because it catches the freeze damage and damper corrosion that visual checks miss. If the inspection leads to repairs, you get a written price before any work starts. No pressure, no surprise charges. Estimates are free, and the call is direct: (903) 515-5079.
What affects cost? Roof pitch and height, the number of flues, whether the chimney is accessible from the interior or requires ladder work, and whether you need a real estate-ready report. We tell you the exact price before we schedule, not after we arrive.
We Also Serve Cities Near Schertz
Beyond Schertz, our Chimney Inspection team covers Cibolo to the northeast, Converse to the south, San Antonio to the west, and Boerne up in the Hill Country. If you live in any of these nearby areas, we’ll schedule the same background-checked, identity-verified service. Schertz remains our busiest corridor, so on any given week we’re already in your area.
Serving Schertz, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Schertz 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 Inspection in Schertz
Twice a year. Cedar and oak create heavy creosote that builds to a dangerous glaze faster than the national average, and rural properties around Schertz often burn unseasoned wood out of necessity. A mid-season inspection in January and a post-season inspection in April keeps you ahead of the tar buildup. Call (903) 515-5079 and we’ll set both visits on a reminder schedule.
Humidity. Schertz’s long, humid summers push moisture down the flue and into the firebox, where it condenses on the metal damper. Homes along Cibolo Creek experience this more than properties on higher, drier ground. A rusted damper usually needs replacement, and an inspection confirms whether the moisture did any deeper damage. We’ll show you the camera footage before you approve anything.
Yes, but only with a camera. A Level 1 visual inspection can’t see into the flue’s interior length, so cracked or spalled tiles go unnoticed until smoke leaks into the wall or a chimney fire starts. Our Level 2 camera scan shows the full liner surface, and that’s the inspection we recommend for any Schertz home with a clay flue liner that’s seen more than a few winters. Call (903) 515-5079 to schedule one.
Burn seasoned hardwood only, and keep the fire hot enough that it reaches full combustion rather than smoldering. Oak cut in winter and split by spring is far better than the unseasoned cedar we often see stacked in Schertz yards. Even the best practices won’t eliminate creosote, so an annual inspection still matters. We’ll talk through your burning habits during the visit and give you honest guidance for your specific setup.
Yes, especially here. Humidity does its work even when the fireplace sits cold. Dampers rust, mortar absorbs moisture, and freeze cycles crack tiles even with no fire. An unused chimney is not a safe chimney by default. Schedule an inspection before you light the first fire, and if you’re not planning to burn, we can cap the flue properly to keep the humidity out. Call (903) 515-5079 for a free estimate.
Get Your Chimney Inspected in Schertz Before the First Fire
The first cold snap after Thanksgiving catches a lot of Schertz homeowners off guard. Rusted dampers. Glazed flue liners. Cracks that have been quietly spreading since last winter. None of it gets better by waiting. Our techs know the local chimneys, the local wood, and the local humidity patterns. You’ll know their name and see their face before they arrive. Written price before any work starts. Written guarantee on every repair, and a free second visit if anything fails within the coverage period. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s on every job we complete in Schertz. Call (903) 515-5079 today for a free estimate and we’ll get you on the schedule before the next cold front moves through.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney San Antonio, serving Schertz since 2002.