Hot seasonal deals — limited spots
Claim SpotKnow exactly what is inside your chimney — before you light it.
Most chimney problems start where you cannot see them. Chimney Operations inspects the firebox, smoke chamber, flue liner, crown, cap, flashing and masonry, documents every finding with photos, and tells you plainly what is safe and what is not — for homeowners, buyers and sellers across San Antonio and surrounding Texas communities.
Serving San Antonio and surrounding Texas communities.
Video scan of the flue interior when the situation calls for it.
You see what we see, in a report you can keep.
If your chimney is fine, we say so.
Inspected against recognized safety criteria.
From the living room, almost every fireplace looks fine. The damage that actually matters — cracked flue tiles, creosote glaze, a broken crown, a gap in the flashing, a nest three feet up the flue — sits in places you cannot see without looking.
An inspection is not a sales visit. It is the only way to answer a simple question: is it safe to use this fireplace this winter? We answer that with photos, in plain language, and we are glad when the answer is yes.
If any of these describe your situation, an inspection is the right next step.
A fireplace that sat idle can hide nesting, blockages and deterioration you cannot see from the room.
Home inspections rarely cover the flue. A dedicated chimney inspection tells you what you actually inherited.
Discoloration near the chimney usually means water is entering somewhere above — and it needs to be traced.
Draft problems can point to a blockage, an undersized flue, or a damaged smoke chamber.
Pieces of clay tile, mortar or brick falling into the firebox is a sign the liner or masonry is breaking down.
Heavy creosote smell, especially in humid weather, means buildup that should be measured and cleaned.
A documented inspection report removes a common last-minute obstacle during closing.
Annual inspection is the standard recommendation for any chimney and fireplace in regular use.
It is a small visit that stands between a normal winter and a serious problem.
Creosote buildup and cracked flue tiles are invisible from the living room — an inspection is the only way to know.
A blocked or breached flue can push combustion gases back into the house instead of out the top.
A cracked crown found this year is a minor repair. Found in three years, it is often a rebuild.
Insurers and buyers increasingly ask for documentation. Not having it delays closings and claims.
Not every chimney needs the same inspection. Here is how they differ.
For a chimney in regular use with no known problems. We check the readily accessible interior, exterior and accessible parts of the appliance and flue for soundness, buildup and obstructions.
Required when a home is sold or transferred, after a chimney fire or weather event, or when the system changes. Includes a video camera scan of the flue interior plus accessible attic, crawl space and roof areas.
When a Level 1 or 2 inspection suggests a hidden hazard, a deeper examination may require opening concealed areas. We explain exactly why before anything is opened.
Not sure which one you need? Tell us the situation — buying a home, first fire in years, or an annual check — and we will recommend the right level.
The point of an inspection is clarity — not a list of upsells.
Uncertainty
The fireplace looks fine from the room, but nobody has actually looked inside the flue.
Inspection
Firebox, smoke chamber, flue, crown, cap, flashing and masonry — inside and on the roof.
Report
What is safe, what needs attention now, and what can wait — with pictures, not jargon.
Confidence
No pressure. If nothing is wrong, we tell you that and you use your fireplace with peace of mind.
Every visit covers the full system — from the firebox to the top of the stack.
Cracked panels, missing refractory mortar, damper operation and clearance to combustibles.
Parging condition, gaps and rough surfaces that trap creosote and hurt draft.
Cracks, gaps, shifted tiles, deterioration and buildup — verified with a camera when needed.
We identify the stage of buildup so you know whether cleaning is needed now or later.
Birds, animals, leaves and debris that restrict airflow and create a fire hazard.
Cracks, missing crown, damaged chase cover or missing cap letting water and animals in.
Spalling brick, washed-out joints and movement in the stack above the roof line.
The single most common leak point — checked for gaps, rust and failed sealant.
How the system pulls, and whether clearances to combustible materials are correct.
Real chimney caps, chase covers, flashing and masonry work completed by Chimney Operations across San Antonio, Texas and surrounding areas.
CompletedNew galvanized chase cover with black cap installed in San Antonio, Texas.
CompletedChase resurfaced and sealed with new galvanized cover and step flashing.
CompletedRepointing between the bricks, installation of new flashing and crown repointing on a San Antonio, Texas chimney.
CompletedDeteriorated brick and mortar cut out and rebuilt with new flashing on a shingle roof.
CompletedFresh siding, new chase cover and sealed flashing on a Texas roof.
CompletedThree round flue caps and crown repair on a large masonry chimney.
CompletedTwin stainless caps and new counter-flashing on a metal roof home.
CompletedBlack square cap installed on a classic red brick chimney.
CompletedOld rusted cover removed and replaced with a custom-built cover.
CompletedCustom galvanized cover with mesh cap on a wood chase.
CompletedChase repaired and topped with a properly sloped cover.
Call or send a request and we set a time that works for you.
Interior, exterior and roof line — nothing skipped.
We walk you through the photos and answer every question.
If repairs are recommended, you get a clear scope and no pressure.
A locally owned chimney company that inspects to inform you — not to sell you.
A clean report is a good outcome, and we are happy to give you one.
Nothing is claimed without a picture that shows it.
Documentation formatted for buyers, sellers and agents.
Chimneys are our trade, not a sideline to roofing or general repair.
Drop cloths, shoe covers and a fireplace left the way we found it.
Serving San Antonio homeowners for over a decade.
If the report finds something, here is what we do about it.
If the inspection shows creosote buildup, a professional sweep is the next step.
Learn moreCrowns, caps, mortar joints and masonry repairs when the inspection finds damage.
Learn moreStains and moisture found during inspection traced back to their real entry point.
Learn moreChimney Operations inspects chimneys throughout San Antonio and the communities around it — Boerne, Helotes, Shavano Park, Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, Bulverde, New Braunfels, Schertz and nearby areas within roughly a 60-mile radius.
South Texas fireplaces are used in short, intense stretches and then sit idle for months — the exact pattern that hides nesting, moisture damage and creosote until the first cold night. Not sure if your neighborhood is covered? Call 210-401-3967 and we will let you know.
See all service areas
Cost depends on the level of inspection and access to the chimney. A standard annual inspection is straightforward, while a camera or real estate inspection takes more time. Call 210-401-3967 and we will explain the options before scheduling.
Once a year is the standard recommendation for any chimney and fireplace, even if it is used only occasionally. Inspection should also be done after a chimney fire, a major storm, or before buying or selling a home.
A Level 1 inspection covers the readily accessible parts of the chimney and appliance and is right for a system in regular use with no known problems. A Level 2 adds a video camera scan of the flue interior and accessible attic, crawl space and roof areas — required for real estate transfers, after a chimney fire or event, or when the system changes.
Yes, it is strongly recommended. Standard home inspections do not examine the inside of the flue. A Level 2 chimney inspection shows the true condition of the liner, firebox and masonry before you close.
A standard inspection usually takes under an hour. A camera or real estate inspection takes longer because of the flue scan and additional documentation.
Yes. When the situation calls for it we run a video camera through the flue to see cracks, gaps, shifted tiles and buildup that cannot be seen from the firebox or the top.
Yes. We document the findings with photos so you can see the condition of your chimney yourself, and keep the report for insurance or a home sale.
Inspection and cleaning are separate services. The inspection tells us whether cleaning is needed. If it is, we can explain the sweep and schedule it — often on the same visit.
Absolutely, and it is one of the most important times to do it. Unused chimneys often contain nesting, debris or deterioration that makes the first fire risky.
Yes. We inspect chimneys throughout San Antonio and surrounding communities including Boerne, Helotes, Shavano Park, Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, Bulverde, New Braunfels and Schertz — roughly a 60-mile radius.
Call 210-401-3967, email Chimneyoperation@gmail.com, or send the service request form on this page and we will follow up to confirm a time.
Fill in your details and we will get straight back to you to confirm a time for your chimney service in San Antonio, Texas.
Book an inspection and get a clear, photo-documented answer about the condition of your chimney — before the season starts, or before you close on the house.
