CSIA-certified chimney sweeps serving North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank, and the San Fernando Valley. Sweep from $149. Level 1 & Level 2 inspection available. Same-day scheduling most days.
Chimney sweep in North Hollywood starts at $149. Level 1 inspection: From $99. Level 2 video camera inspection: From $249. Bundle sweep + Level 1 from $199. Our CSIA-certified technicians follow NFPA 211 standard — the only nationally recognized chimney safety code. Same-day service available throughout North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank, Glendale, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and Van Nuys. Call (818) 536-7759.
NFPA 211 (National Fire Protection Association Standard 211) is the only nationally recognized safety code for chimneys, fireplaces, vents, and solid fuel-burning appliances. It establishes the minimum requirements for chimney construction, inspection frequency, and cleaning standards used by certified chimney sweeps across the United States.
The standard requires annual inspection and cleaning for any chimney that is in regular use. For North Hollywood and San Fernando Valley homeowners, this means scheduling a chimney sweep before fireplace season — typically October or November, when the Valley's cooler evenings make fireplaces most attractive to use.
NFPA 211 also defines three levels of inspection based on circumstances. Level 1 is the annual standard for chimneys with no known changes. Level 2 is mandatory after any significant seismic event, property transfer, or suspected damage — a critical consideration for Valley homes given the region's earthquake history. Dans Hollywood Chimney & Air Duct Cleaning performs all three inspection levels with CSIA-certified technicians.
Creosote is the most dangerous substance that accumulates in your chimney. It is a highly flammable byproduct of wood combustion — its buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires in the US, responsible for over 25,000 residential fires annually according to NFPA data. Understanding the three stages of creosote accumulation is essential for every North Hollywood homeowner with a fireplace.
Light, flaky, and ash-like. The easiest stage to remove with standard chimney brushes. Typically found in chimneys used with properly seasoned hardwood and adequate draft. Annual sweeping prevents Stage 1 from progressing.
A shiny, tar-like coating that adheres to flue walls. More difficult to remove — requires rotary loop brush systems and chemical treatments. Common in chimneys used with unseasoned wood, or where poor draft slows combustion gases. A chimney with Stage 2 buildup is significantly more vulnerable to chimney fires.
The most dangerous form. A hardened, glaze-like surface that burns at extremely high temperatures — hot enough to crack flue tiles and ignite surrounding framing. Stage 3 cannot be removed by brushing. It requires application of chemical dissolvers over multiple treatments. A chimney with Stage 3 creosote must NOT be used until it has been professionally treated.
Visual inspection of all readily accessible areas of the chimney interior and exterior. Includes the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, crown, cap, and visible flue sections.
Everything in Level 1, plus a high-resolution video camera scan of the entire flue interior, revealing cracks, spalls, offset joints, and structural damage invisible to the naked eye.
Strong smoky odor when the fireplace is not in use — especially during humid coastal air days when marine layer moves inland over the Valley
Smoke entering the room rather than drawing up the flue when the fireplace is in use — a sign of draft problems or blockage
Black oily staining on the firebox walls or around the fireplace opening — visible Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote
Bird chirping or animal sounds from inside the chimney — starlings and sparrows nest in North Hollywood chimneys near the Tujunga Wash greenbelt and Coldwater Canyon Park
Visible cracks or spalling on the exterior chimney masonry — accelerated in older North Hollywood homes built with pre-1980 mortar mixes vulnerable to seismic movement
Damper that won't fully open or close — warped or rusted dampers are common in chimneys that haven't been serviced in years
White staining (efflorescence) on the exterior chimney brickwork — indicates moisture penetration through the crown or mortar joints
No service record since 1994 — every chimney in the greater San Fernando Valley should have had a post-Northridge earthquake inspection. If yours hasn't, a Level 2 inspection is essential before next use
North Hollywood's housing stock is one of the oldest and most fireplace-dense in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhoods immediately surrounding Lankershim Boulevard, Camellia Avenue, and the NoHo Arts District were developed primarily between the late 1940s and early 1970s — and a significant percentage of these homes were built with wood-burning fireplaces that have seen decades of use with no professional service.
The communities of Toluca Lake, Valley Village, and the streets near Warner Bros. Studio and Universal Studios represent a concentration of mid-century residential architecture where original masonry chimneys are common. These structures used mortar formulations that degrade over time and are especially vulnerable to the repeated seismic activity characteristic of the San Andreas and Verdugo fault systems that run beneath the Valley floor.
Wildlife intrusion is a particular issue for North Hollywood chimneys. The Tujunga Wash — the concrete-lined flood control channel running through the neighborhood — creates a wildlife corridor that channels birds, raccoons, and opossums through residential blocks. Properties within a half-mile of the wash, including blocks adjacent to the North Hollywood Recreation Center on Camellia Avenue, Garfield Park, and the Chandler Bikeway corridor, see elevated rates of chimney nesting.
The Valley's distinctive climate also affects chimney performance. Summer temperatures in North Hollywood regularly exceed 100°F, followed by cooler winters that see occasional frost near the base of the Verdugo Mountains in Burbank and Glendale. This thermal cycling accelerates mortar joint deterioration and contributes to crown cracking in older chimneys. The marine layer that moves inland from Santa Monica Bay — following the Cahuenga Pass and the 101 corridor — introduces moisture that accelerates creosote dissolution and staining.
Dans Hollywood Chimney & Air Duct Cleaning is based on Camellia Avenue in North Hollywood, within walking distance of the North Hollywood Metro Red Line station and the NoHo Arts District. When you call us, you're calling a company that works in this specific neighborhood every week — not a dispatch center that routes calls to subcontractors unfamiliar with Valley construction norms.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Chimney Sweep | From $149 |
| Level 1 Chimney Inspection | From $99 |
| Chimney Sweep + Level 1 Bundle | From $199 |
| Level 2 Video Camera Inspection | From $249 |
| Animal/Nest Removal | From $99 |
| Chimney Cap Installation | From $89 |
Written quote provided before any work begins. No travel fees throughout North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, and Valley Village.
We serve all neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities. From the NoHo Arts District and Valley Village to Toluca Lake and the Burbank hills — same-day service available throughout the region.
Chimney sweep starts at $149. Level 1 inspection: From $99. Level 2 video camera inspection: From $249. Bundle sweep + Level 1 from $199. No travel fees throughout North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, and Valley Village.
NFPA 211 recommends annual inspection and cleaning for chimneys in regular use. For North Hollywood homes, the best time is October–November before fireplace season. Unused chimneys still need annual inspection — they attract birds and wildlife year-round.
Creosote is a highly flammable tar-like byproduct of wood combustion. It accumulates on flue walls in three stages — from loose flaky deposits (Stage 1) to a hardened glaze (Stage 3) that is the leading cause of chimney fires. Stage 3 requires immediate professional treatment. A chimney with Stage 3 creosote must not be used until treated.
Level 1 is a visual inspection of all accessible areas — appropriate for annual maintenance. Level 2 adds a video camera scan of the full flue interior, revealing hidden cracks or spalled tiles. Level 2 is required after earthquakes, property sales, or any chimney fire — and is strongly recommended for any Valley home not inspected since the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Yes. Unused chimneys in North Hollywood are prime nesting sites for birds, raccoons, and opossums — especially properties near the Tujunga Wash and Coldwater Canyon wildlife corridor. Annual inspection is recommended regardless of how often you use your fireplace, as nests create fire and carbon monoxide risks.
Yes. After a standard chimney sweep, you can use your fireplace the same day — there is no waiting period. If repairs or mortar resurfacing are performed, we will advise on any required curing time.
Significantly. The 1994 Northridge earthquake was centered just a few miles from North Hollywood and caused widespread structural damage to chimneys throughout the San Fernando Valley — including cracks invisible from outside. NFPA 211 requires Level 2 inspection after any seismic event. If your chimney has not been inspected since 1994, do not use it without a Level 2 video inspection first.
Standard chimney sweep takes 45–90 minutes. Level 2 video inspection adds 30–45 minutes. We protect your flooring and furniture, clean up completely after the job, and leave no soot, ash, or debris behind.
Yes. We install stainless steel chimney caps starting at $89. A properly fitted cap prevents bird and animal nesting — critical for North Hollywood properties near the Tujunga Wash — and keeps moisture out, significantly extending the life of your flue liner and masonry.
A chimney cap is essential for North Hollywood properties for three reasons: (1) Wildlife — the Tujunga Wash and Coldwater Canyon wildlife corridor runs through North Hollywood, bringing sparrows, starlings, raccoons, and opossums that nest in uncapped chimney flues year-round; (2) Moisture — Valley winter rains enter uncapped flues and accelerate masonry and liner deterioration; (3) Fire safety — during the Valley's dry Santa Ana wind season, an uncapped chimney allows embers and sparks to exit the flue and land on combustible roofing materials. Cap installation starts at $89 and can be combined with any chimney sweep service.
CSIA-certified technicians. Same-day scheduling. Written quote before any work begins.
Mon–Sat 7AM–7PM · Sun 8AM–5PM · Serving All of the San Fernando Valley
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