Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Cleaning in Marietta, GA
Straight answers to the questions Marietta homeowners ask us most. If you don't see yours here, call (478) 796-8742 and ask us directly.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A standard chimney cleaning in Marietta typically runs $189 to $329 depending on the flue type, the level of creosote, and whether there's a cap or chase cover that needs attention. We give you a written price before any work starts, so you're never surprised at the door. If the technician finds something extra, they show you on camera before quoting it. Call (478) 796-8742 for a free estimate on your specific setup.
The difference usually comes down to what's included. A low-price sweep may not include a full inspection, may skip the smoke chamber, or may not carry the insurance and equipment a thorough job requires. Our price includes the sweep itself, a camera check of the flue, and a written report. You'll see the flue with your own eyes before anyone recommends additional work. That's the whole point of "the sweep that shows you the flue."
Three things move the price: the flue type (masonry vs. prefab vs. wood stove pipe), how much creosote has built up, and whether the chimney has a cap, damper, or liner that needs attention during the visit. Homes in Powder Springs and Dallas with heavily wooded lots tend to burn more wood and see faster buildup. Homes in Acworth near the lake get more moisture-related issues. We factor all of it into one written price.
Yes. Every cleaning we do in Marietta includes a camera inspection of the flue at no added charge. You'll see footage of the inside of your chimney, and we'll walk you through what we found in plain words. If something needs repair, we show you the crack, the gap, or the damage before we quote it. Nothing gets recommended that you can't see for yourself. That's the Kingswell Way: put the proof in front of the homeowner.
Ask whether the quoted price includes the full flue, the smoke chamber, and the firebox. Some companies charge separately for those. Ask whether there's a trip fee or a surcharge for steep roofs or second-story chimneys. Ask whether they'll show you the flue on camera. We quote a flat price for the standard sweep and inspection, and we tell you about anything additional before we do it, in writing. Call (478) 796-8742 and we'll walk through your chimney's specifics.
Service & Process FAQs
We lay drop cloths around the hearth, run a HEPA vacuum to control dust, and send the correct brush up the flue to remove creosote and soot. Then we clean the smoke chamber and firebox, remove the debris, and run a camera through the flue to check for cracks, gaps, or glaze buildup. You get a written report and a copy of the findings. We leave the hearth cleaner than we found it. The whole visit usually takes 60 to 90 minutes.
The National Fire Protection Association standard is to sweep when creosote buildup reaches 1/8 inch, and for most wood-burning Marietta homes that works out to once per year. If you burn pine or unseasoned wood, burn more than two cords a season, or live in Kennesaw or Woodstock where evening fires run long, you may need it twice a year. Gas fireplaces can go longer, but they still deserve an annual check for blocked vents and carbon monoxide risk.
Yes, but less often. Gas fireplaces produce little creosote, but they can develop blocked vents, nesting debris, or corrosion in the flue that affects draft and indoor air. We recommend an annual inspection and a cleaning every one to two years for gas setups in Marietta. The carbon monoxide risk is real when a gas vent is partially blocked, so don't skip it just because there's no soot on the glass.
Most standard cleanings in Marietta run 60 to 90 minutes from setup to final walkthrough. A heavier creosote load, a second flue, or an attic-level inspection can push it past two hours. We work within the arrival window we give you when you book, and the written price doesn't change just because the job took longer than expected. Call (478) 796-8742 to schedule a time that works.
No. We run a HEPA vacuum during the entire sweep, lay protection around the hearth, and clean up fully before we leave. Leave the place cleaner than we found it is one of the five Kingswell Way standards, and it's part of the written guarantee. If we miss a spot, you can call us back and we'll make it right. Marietta homeowners tell us the cleanup is the first thing they notice.
You can, but you shouldn't. Brushing a flue from the roof puts you on a ladder with a tool in both hands, and a fall from a two-story Marietta roofline is a serious risk. From inside, you can't reach the upper flue or the smoke chamber without professional equipment. And without a camera, you can't see the cracks and gaps that actually cause house fires. A pro with a camera costs less than an ER visit. That math is pretty simple.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We regularly install and service caps from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Famco. The right cap depends on your flue size, your local wildlife pressure, and your aesthetic preference. Raccoons are common in Mableton and Fair Oaks, while the wind patterns in Smyrna and Vinings call for caps with tighter mesh. We'll show you the options and quote a written price for the one that fits your chimney.
We handle both. When we find a cracked or deteriorated liner during a cleaning, we document it on camera and talk through your options. For many Marietta homes, HeatShield's resurfacing system is a good middle ground between a full liner replacement and doing nothing. We don't push liner work unless the camera shows it's needed, and we're glad to tell you when your liner is fine as-is. That honesty is why people call us back.
For the right chimney, yes. HeatShield's Cerfractory material seals small cracks and restores the flue's smooth surface without tearing out the old liner. It's especially useful for older masonry chimneys in Powder Springs and Dallas where full liner replacement would mean major demolition. We'll show you the camera footage and give you a straight answer on whether HeatShield is the right fix or whether a full liner is the better long-term play. No upselling, just the evidence.
Yes. We supply and install a range of caps, depending on your flue dimensions and the usual suspects in your neighborhood. Squirrels and birds are the main intruders in North Druid Hills and Norcross; rain and downdraft are the bigger issues in Vinings and Acworth. A properly fitted cap solves drafts, blocks rain, and keeps animals out. We'll show you the cap, quote the installed price in writing, and guarantee the work.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. We're glad to show proof of coverage before we start the work. The Kingswell Guarantee sits on top of that: a written price before any work starts, a real arrival window, a clean job site, and a written guarantee on the work. If a repair fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. Nathan Corliss runs the Marietta branch and stands behind everything we do.
Our technicians train to an internal standard that covers flue anatomy, creosote classification, camera inspection, and the building codes that apply to chimneys in Georgia. We don't run uncertified rookies without supervision. Ask us about any specific certification when you book and we'll show you what we carry. Nathan Corliss keeps the Marietta team trained on the equipment we use every week, from rotary brushes to flue cameras.
We're an independently owned and operated branch of Ashby Chimney Sweep, the chimney cleaning company of the Kingswell family. That means we work to the national Kingswell Guarantee, but we're local businesspeople in Marietta. We live here, we know Cobb County homes, and we answer our own phone. The brand standards come from Ashby; the hands on the brush are local.
Emergency & Response FAQs
Stop using the fireplace immediately. Open a window to clear the room, but don't start another fire until the flue has been checked. Backdraft means the chimney isn't drafting properly, which can be a blockage, a cold flue, or a damper problem. Carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation are the risks. Call (478) 796-8742 and we'll get it diagnosed. In the meantime, keep the damper closed and don't burn anything.
We take urgent calls during our business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. If you've had a chimney fire or water is actively coming in, call (478) 796-8742 as soon as you can and we'll work you into the schedule. For an active fire or heavy smoke, call 911 first, then call us once everyone is safe.
Most cleanings and inspections are scheduled in advance, and we work within the arrival window we give you when you book. If you have an issue that needs faster attention, call (478) 796-8742 and we'll tell you what the current schedule looks like. We don't overbook, which means we show up when we said we would. That reliability is one of the Kingswell promises and it's a big part of why our Marietta customers stay with us year after year.
A loud roaring sound coming from the chimney, flames shooting from the top, or dense black smoke are the big ones. After the fire is out, you may find creosote flaking off in sheets, a warped damper, or cracked flue tiles. If you've had any of these signs, don't burn again until the flue has been camera inspected. A chimney fire can crack the liner and leave the house vulnerable to the next fire. Call (478) 796-8742 and we'll check it.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
It's the promise every Ashby Chimney location works to: a written price before any work starts, a real arrival window, a clean job site, and a written guarantee on the work. If a repair we make fails inside the guarantee period, we come back and fix it at no charge. The guarantee is in writing, not a verbal promise, so you know exactly what's covered. Nathan Corliss and the Marietta team stand by it on every job.
Yes. The sweep and the inspection are covered by the Kingswell Guarantee, and any repair we make comes with a written warranty on that specific work. If something fails inside the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge. That's the promise, put in writing. We also guarantee the clean job site: if the hearth isn't spotless when we leave, call and we'll come back.
Call us. The number is (478) 796-8742. Tell us what went wrong and we'll make it right. That's the whole structure of the Kingswell Guarantee: come back if it fails. We'd rather hear about a problem the day it happens than find out you silently switched companies. Marietta is our home market, and our reputation walks around this town. Nathan Corliss takes that personally.
We write down the price before any work starts, and that's the price you pay. It's not an estimate that drifts upward; it's a fixed quote for the job we agreed to do. If the camera inspection finds something extra, we stop, show you the footage, and give you a written price for that additional work before doing it. You approve it first. No one touches your chimney without your clear go-ahead. That's the Kingswell Way: say the price before the work.
Nathan Corliss leads the Marietta branch. He's the person behind the guarantee, the scheduling, and the standard of work we deliver in Cobb County. When you call (478) 796-8742, you'll reach a live coordinator who connects you with the local team. Nathan has built this branch around one idea: show the homeowner the flue, explain the work in plain words, and stand behind it.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Marietta, serving Marietta and Cobb County.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Call us - same-day and after-hours emergency service available.
(478) 796-8742