Protect the home
you sit by every night.
CSIA-trained chimney inspection, sweeping, repair, and dryer-vent service across the North Bay. 25+ years protecting Sonoma, Marin, and Napa County homes from chimney and dryer fires — before they start.
Hearth-to-roof
home protection.
From the firebox up through the rain cap, we own the entire chimney system — plus the dryer vent, the gutters, and the attic ventilation that keep your home from being the next statistic.
The North Bay's
careful chimney company.
The chimney is the most under-inspected system in most North Bay homes — and the one with the highest fire-loss risk when it fails. We treat it that way.
CSIA-trained inspection standard
We work to NFPA 211 and CSIA standards. Every inspection is photographed, every finding is documented, every recommendation has a reason.
25+ years on North Bay rooftops
Two and a half decades of chimney, hearth, and home-protection work across Sonoma, Marin, and Napa County. We have seen every flue, every prefab brand, every problem.
Sebastopol-headquartered
We live here. We work here. Same-day service is genuinely possible in west Sonoma, and clustered routing makes Marin and Napa fast and fair.
Written findings, fixed prices
No "we will see" estimates. Every inspection ends with a written, photographed report and a fixed price for any recommended work. No upsell theater.
“Annual inspection prevents the fire most homeowners never see coming.”
The fires we
never let start.
Chimney and dryer-vent fires are the most preventable home-fire categories in America. We work upstream of every one of them.
The single most preventable cause of residential fire loss. Annual inspection and seasonal sweeping eliminate the conditions that start them.
Lint buildup in dryer vents is the leading cause. Annual cleaning is the only proven defense.
Chimney, dryer-vent, and flue-related fires represent a significant share. Maintenance is the cheapest fire insurance you can buy.
Across the
North Bay.
North Bay homeowners talk.
“Douglas came out, walked the roof, sent me a photographed report inside 24 hours. Two cracks in the crown I had no idea about — fixed within the week. Genuinely the best contractor experience we have had.”
“We thought our fireplace was 'fine.' Heart's Chimney's Level 2 video scan showed two flue tile cracks we never would have caught. Reline scheduled, peace of mind delivered.”
“Clothes had been taking forever to dry — we thought it was the dryer. Hearts pulled three pounds of lint out of a 28-foot vent. Total fire hazard. Now on the annual maintenance calendar.”
Your chimney runs on
a four-season clock.
Different seasons surface different chimney issues. The right time to address each one is before the season that causes it.
Fall — Fire Season Prep
Annual inspection before the first fire of the season. Full sweep, cap check, draft test. The single highest-leverage maintenance window of the year.
Winter — Storm & Moisture Defense
Storm-driven rain finds every chimney weakness — flashing, crown, mortar joints. We fix leaks during the season, not in spring after the damage is done.
Spring — Dryer Fire Prevention
The slow-burning home fire that nobody sees coming. Annual dryer vent cleaning removes the lint that fuels 15,000+ home fires per year.
Summer — Repair & Upgrade Window
The quiet season for chimney work. Crown rebuilds, masonry repair, stove and insert installs — all best done when nobody's planning to light a fire next week.
The questions
homeowners actually ask.
Plain-English answers to the chimney, hearth, and home-protection questions we get every week.
How often should I have my chimney cleaned?
Annually for normal wood use, or every 1/4 inch of creosote buildup — whichever comes first. Heavy use households may need twice-yearly sweeping.
What are the signs my chimney needs immediate attention?
Smoke backing into the room, strong odor in summer, water staining on the ceiling near the chimney chase, or visible cracks in the crown or stack. All four are repair-now signals.
Why does my fireplace smell in summer?
Negative-pressure airflow pulling creosote and ash residue downward into the home. A proper cap, top-sealing damper, or chimney sweep typically resolves it.
Is dryer vent cleaning really necessary?
Yes. Lint accumulation is the leading cause of dryer fires — 15,000+ home fires per year in the U.S. Annual cleaning is the only proven defense.
When should I replace my chimney cap?
When the mesh is rusted through, the cap is sagging, or animals have gotten past it. Most caps last 10-20 years depending on exposure. Stainless lasts longest.
What's the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 inspection?
Level 1 is visual exterior + interior, no specialty tools. Level 2 adds a video camera scan inside the flue + accessory components. Level 2 is required at sale of home, after a chimney fire, or major weather event.
Get a chimney
on the schedule.
Tell us about your fireplace, chimney, or vent. We'll come out, walk the system, photograph the findings, and send a fixed-price plan in writing.
Request a Visit
Most weekday inquiries get a response within 24 hours.