Level 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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning in Allentown, PA
Chimney cleaning in Allentown typically costs $189 to $340 for a standard sweep, and most jobs are done in under two hours. But what makes Allentown different is the housing: the city’s pre-WWII brick row homes and twins were built for coal, converted to oil, then converted again to gas, and most never got the flue resizing those conversions required. That means creosote buildup, draft failure, and moisture damage show up here in patterns you won’t find in Whitehall or Lower Macungie. If you’re noticing smoke backing into the room or a fire that won’t draw, call (980) 580-8641 and we’ll send a technician with a camera to find out exactly what’s happening inside your flue.
Why Allentown Homes Are Different
Allentown’s South Side and the corridors around 7th Street are dense with brick row homes built before 1940, and their chimneys were sized for coal furnaces that burned hot and dirty. A coal flue is wide; a gas flue is narrow. When a homeowner or contractor swaps the furnace but leaves the original chimney, the oversized flue never gets hot enough to move combustion gases efficiently. Gases linger, cool, and condense as acidic moisture inside the masonry. That one condition, repeated across thousands of homes, explains why Allentown technicians see so much spalling brick, eroded mortar joints, and Class III creosote glazing. The Lehigh Valley’s freeze-thaw cycling makes it worse: Allentown crosses the 32°F mark dozens of times every heating season, and every freeze widens whatever cracks the condensation started. A chimney crown in the 7th Street corridor takes more weather abuse in five years than a cap on a detached home in Lower Macungie takes in fifteen. Add the northwest winds that channel off South Mountain in winter, and you get downdraft problems in the tall, narrow stacks that rise from those old row home blocks. Allentown chimneys are not just old; they’re overbuilt for fuels they no longer burn, and they live in a climate that punishes every weakness.
Our Main Allentown Services
While chimney cleaning and repair are what most Allentown homeowners call us about first, two related services come up constantly in homes with older masonry and exposed crowns.
Fireplace Services in Allentown
A fireplace in an Allentown row home isn’t just decorative; it’s often an original feature in a brick party wall that was never designed for the modern gas logs or inserts now sitting inside it. We inspect the firebox and hearth for cracks, check clearance to combustibles, and verify that the damper actually seals. In many converted row homes, the original fireplace flue was repurposed for a furnace, leaving the fireplace damper rusted open so it pours cold Lehigh Valley air into the living room all winter. Our Fireplace Services in Allentown page covers gas, wood, and electric fireplaces, repair work, and what to expect from an inspection.
Chimney Cap & Crown in Allentown
Allentown’s freeze-thaw cycle is brutal on chimney crowns, and a cracked crown lets water into the brick below it. Once water gets in, it freezes, expands, and spalls the brick face off the chimney. We install caps that keep rain, animals, and debris out of the flue, and we repair or replace crowns with proper expansion joints. Because many Allentown row homes share a single masonry stack with multiple flues, a cap that fails on one side can expose a neighbor’s abandoned oil flue, and that cold air migrates into the active gas flue next to it. Our Chimney Cap & Crown in Allentown page covers both services with local pricing.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
BeforeAfterChimney Cleaning & Sweep in Allentown
A Level 2 inspection is the starting point on most Allentown jobs, because the camera scan gives us a clear look at the oversized flue problem that’s so common here. We need to know how much creosote has accumulated, whether the flue tile is cracked, and whether the appliance is venting correctly inside a chimney that was never sized for it. That’s the difference between a sweep that keeps your fire burning and a sweep that misses a billowing carbon monoxide leak in a party wall. Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep hub shows what we do in detail; here’s the Allentown picture.
Level 1 Inspection
Signs you need it
When your fire burns but the room smells smoky, or when your gas furnace fires and the windows upstairs start sweating, that’s a draft problem a Level 1 check is built to catch.
What it costs in Allentown
A Level 1 inspection in Allentown runs $149 to $249, and it is folded into the price of an annual sweep if we’re already coming out.
How we do it
We check the accessible interior and exterior of the firebox, flue, and cap by eye, along with the appliance connection, for the clearances and blockages that matter most in an older row home.
Creosote Removal
Signs you need it
If you see shiny black glaze on your firebox walls or smell tar when the fire is cold, that’s Stage 3 creosote, and it’s a combustion hazard waiting for a spark.
What it costs in Allentown
Creosote removal in Allentown runs $225 to $400, depending on the glazing’s thickness and whether we use rotary rods to get through it.
How we do it
We run rotary chimney whips or chemical treatments to break down the glaze, then vacuum the debris out with HEPA-filtered equipment so none of it enters your home.
What Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Costs in Allentown
| Item | Typical range in Allentown |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep | $189 - $340 |
| Level 1 inspection | $149 - $249 |
| Creosote removal (Stage 3) | $225 - $400 |
How often should a chimney be swept in Allentown?
Every year if you burn wood, and every two to three years for gas fireplaces you rarely use. Allentown’s oversized coal-era flues collect creosote unevenly, so skipping even one season lets a small deposit harden into Stage 3 glaze that costs more to remove. Call (980) 580-8641 for an exact quote.
What does a chimney sweep include in Allentown?
A sweep includes brush or rod cleaning of the flue, a visual inspection of the firebox and damper, and vacuum cleanup. On every Allentown job we also run a camera down the flue and hand you a written photo record of what we found. Call (980) 580-8641 to book.
Chimney Repair in Allentown
Most Chimney Repair work in Allentown comes down to water and time. The freeze-thaw cycling that hits the Lehigh Valley every winter works its way into old mortar joints, and once water is inside a brick chimney, every freeze widens the damage. Our Chimney Repair service handles exactly that: joints, brick, crowns, flashing, and the structural work that keeps a chimney from shedding bricks onto your roof.
Mortar Repointing
Signs you need it
Run a fingertip along the mortar joints on your chimney’s exterior; if it crumbles into sand or is missing in chunks, the joint is failing and water is getting behind the brick.
What it costs in Allentown
Mortar repointing in Allentown typically runs $400 to $1,200 per chimney face, depending on how many courses need re-jointing and the condition of what’s behind them.
How we do it
We grind out the failed mortar to a consistent depth, then press new Type N mortar into the joints with a profile that matches your home’s original brickwork as closely as the 1910s will allow.
Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Stains on the ceiling near the chimney or a wet smell in the attic after a hard Allentown rain usually mean the flashing has pulled away from the brick.
What it costs in Allentown
Flashing repair in Allentown costs $250 to $700 for a standard step-flashing or counter-flashing fix, with partial replacement running higher on steep pitches.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing without disturbing the roof deck, then install new step and counter flashing, cutting reglets into the mortar and sealing every joint with weather-resistant sealant.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Allentown
| Item | Typical range in Allentown |
|---|---|
| Mortar repointing (per face) | $400 - $1,200 |
| Flashing repair | $250 - $700 |
| Spalling brick repair | $300 - $900 |
Can a Allentown row home chimney be repaired without rebuilding it?
Often, yes. If the brick itself is sound and only the joints are failing, repointing stops the water and buys the chimney decades. We’ll tell you if a rebuild is actually needed, and we’ll show you the camera footage to prove it. Call (980) 580-8641 for a written quote.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover chimney repair in Allentown?
Coverage depends on what caused the damage. Sudden events like a falling tree limb are usually covered; long-term water damage from deferred maintenance is not. We give you a written scope and photo record, which most Allentown adjusters are happy to accept. Call (980) 580-8641 to book an inspection.
Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Allentown
The coal-to-oil-to-gas conversion history in Allentown means a huge number of local chimneys are standing with a single clay tile liner that is cracked, oversized, or never there at all. The fix is a properly sized stainless liner, and in the worst cases, a partial or full rebuild of the stack itself. Our Chimney Liner & Rebuild team handles the whole job from first camera pass to final cap.
Stainless Steel Liner
Signs you need it
White powder on the outside of the chimney, or a gas smell near the furnace, often means the existing flue is leaking moisture or combustion gases through cracked clay tile.
What it costs in Allentown
A stainless steel liner in Allentown runs $2,000 to $4,500 installed, depending on the flue height and the diameter your appliance actually calls for.
How we do it
We measure the existing flue from top to bottom, cut and assemble the correct diameter liner from DuraFlex or HeatShield stock, then insulate and seal it at both ends to restore proper draft.
Partial Rebuild
Signs you need it
If the top three or four courses of brick are spalling or leaning, or if the crown is gone but the lower chimney is sound, a partial rebuild replaces only the bad section.
What it costs in Allentown
A partial chimney rebuild in Allentown typically costs $1,000 to $2,500, plus the liner cost if one is being replaced at the same time.
How we do it
We remove the damaged courses down to sound brick, then relay the section with new matching brick and mortar, install a new poured crown, and finish with a cap and new flashing.
What Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Allentown
| Item | Typical range in Allentown |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel liner | $2,000 - $4,500 |
| Partial rebuild | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $5,000 - $9,000 |
Do I really need a new liner in my Allentown home?
If your chimney was built for coal and converted to gas, probably. An oversized flue cools the exhaust and dumps acidic condensation into the masonry. We’ll show you the camera footage and tell you plainly if the old liner can stay. Call (980) 580-8641 for a written quote.
How long does a stainless steel chimney liner last?
A properly installed stainless liner lasts 20 to 30 years or more. The weak point is usually the insulation or the top plate seal, not the liner itself, which is why we document every installation with photos and a written warranty. Call (980) 580-8641 to schedule.
Brands We Service in Allentown
We install and service liners and parts from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Famco, and Copperfield, and we keep those brands in stock locally for faster Allentown turnaround. Every brand we carry is sourced through the Haven buying network to keep pricing honest. See our brands for full details.
Pricing for Chimney Cleaning in Allentown, PA
| Service | Typical range in Allentown |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep | $189 - $340 |
| Level 1 inspection | $149 - $249 |
| Creosote removal (Stage 3) | $225 - $400 |
| Mortar repointing (per face) | $400 - $1,200 |
| Flashing repair | $250 - $700 |
| Spalling brick repair | $300 - $900 |
| Stainless steel liner | $2,000 - $4,500 |
| Partial rebuild | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $5,000 - $9,000 |
In Allentown, what pushes the price up is access: three-story row homes with chimneys that can only be reached from a shared party wall, or stacks that have been rebuilt over so many times that the brick is inconsistent and the flashing is buried. What never changes is the written price we hand you before any work starts, under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Allentown
We cover the entire city of Allentown, including the old row home blocks and the neighborhoods around them. In most parts of the South Side and Center City, we can schedule a sweep within three to five business days.
- South Side
- 7th Street corridor
- Center City
- West End
- Midway Manor
Service Area - Cities Near Allentown
We also serve the surrounding Lehigh Valley and beyond. Homeowners in Bethlehem, PA call us for the same old row home chimney problems, and we cover Easton, MA for similar pre-war housing stock. Pottstown, PA and Levittown, PA round out our nearby coverage area.
Serving Allentown, PA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Allentown 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 Cleaning in Allentown
Most Allentown chimneys can be scheduled within three to five business days. We dispatch from our Philadelphia office, but our crews work locally in the Lehigh Valley full time. You’ll get a text when the technician is on the way, with the tech’s name and license number.
Most routine cleaning and repair work does not require a city permit, but a full rebuild or structural change can. We’ll tell you during the written quote if a permit is needed, and we’ll include the cost and timeline for pulling it. Call (980) 580-8641 to talk it through.
Yes. Row homes are the core of Allentown’s housing stock, and we audit each flue opening separately. When a stack has three flues serving three units, we check every one for abandonment, blockage, and liner condition, and we document each with its own photo record.
If your Allentown chimney hasn’t been inspected in the last year, or if you smell smoke when the fire isn’t burning, call (980) 580-8641. Corrine Halstead and the team at Emberly Chimney Cleaners will give you a written price before anyone starts, a camera-scan inspection on every visit, and a documented photo record when the job is done.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Allentown Customers Say
"They told me the flue was fine and I did not need a liner. Charged me for the inspection and nothing else. That is why I have called them twice since."
- Hal M."Cap and crown replaced after water was getting in. Price was quoted in writing, and they showed me the mortar failure first."
- Neil O."Gas insert service done properly with the readings written down. The technician had the certification number printed on the paperwork."
- Bettina A.