If you’re a Memphis homeowner Googling “chimney sweep cost” before you pick up the phone, this post is for you. We’re going to lay out real pricing for the Memphis area — no bait-and-switch, no vague ranges — so you know exactly what you should be paying and what you should be getting for the money.
The Short Answer: $199-$220 for Most Memphis Homes
A standard chimney sweep with inspection for a single-flue Memphis home runs $199-$220 in 2026. That’s the honest price you can expect from a licensed, insured chimney sweep in the Memphis, Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, or Millington area.
If someone quotes you significantly higher, they may be padding the bill with add-ons you don’t need. If someone quotes you significantly lower — especially those $99 specials advertised in the fall — we’ll cover why that’s a red flag below.
What Actually Affects the Price
The $199-$220 range covers most single-flue masonry chimneys. Several factors can push the cost higher:
- Multi-flue chimneys. If your chimney vents both a fireplace and a furnace or water heater, each flue is cleaned separately. Add roughly $75-$100 per additional flue. Call for a firm quote once we know your setup.
- Prefabricated / metal chimneys. These require different tools and a more careful inspection because the metal liner can warp or corrode in ways masonry chimneys don’t. Common in Memphis homes built after 1985.
- Wood stove or pellet insert flues. The connector pipe between the stove and the liner is a creosote hot-spot and adds time.
- Second-story or steep roof access. Some sweeps charge extra for steep pitches or two-story roofs. Ask up front.
- Excessive creosote buildup. If your chimney hasn’t been swept in 5+ years, expect extra time and equipment (rotary tools for stage-2 or stage-3 creosote).
- Animal nest removal. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons in an uncapped chimney are common in Memphis. Removing an active or old nest is beyond a standard sweep.
Why You Should Beware $99 Chimney Specials
Every fall, Memphis homeowners see ads for $79, $89, or $99 chimney sweeps. Read the fine print — here’s what usually gets cut to hit that price:
- The inspection is skipped. A proper sweep includes a Level 1 inspection of the firebox, smoke chamber, flue, crown, and cap. On a $99 job, the “inspection” is usually a quick glance up the flue with a flashlight.
- The smoke chamber isn’t cleaned. The smoke chamber is the area just above the firebox where soot accumulates the fastest. Cheap sweeps skip it because it’s the most time-consuming part of the job.
- No drop cloth or HEPA vacuum. You’ll be cleaning soot out of your carpet for a week.
- The upsell. The $99 gets them in the door. Once they’re inside, they “find” $500 in repairs they say are urgent. Sometimes those repairs are real. Sometimes they aren’t. Either way, you didn’t sign up for a sales pitch — you signed up for a sweep.
A legitimate Memphis chimney sweep charges $199-$220 because it takes 1-2 hours of skilled labor, uses professional equipment, and leaves your house cleaner than they found it. If the price seems too good to be true, it is.
Why Memphis Pricing Differs from National Averages
You’ll see national averages online quoting $150-$450 for a chimney sweep. Memphis sits toward the lower end of that range, and here’s why:
- Long chimney season, high demand. Mid-South winters aren’t brutal, but they’re cold enough that most Memphis homes with fireplaces use them heavily from November through February. That drives a strong seasonal booking crunch.
- Freeze-thaw damage is common. Memphis winters flip above and below freezing repeatedly, which cracks crowns and mortar joints. Inspections here catch more repair needs than in milder climates.
- Older housing stock. Many Memphis-area homes in Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown, and East Memphis were built 1970s-1990s with original masonry chimneys that have never been rebuilt. Older chimneys take longer to sweep properly.
When to Book to Get the Best Price
Chimney sweep pricing in Memphis follows a predictable seasonal pattern:
- August through October: best availability and pricing. Off-season rates, immediate scheduling, and time to fix any issues found during the inspection.
- November through December: peak season. Every Memphis sweep is booked 3-6 weeks out. Rush and weekend fees may apply.
- January through March: normal rates but limited availability. Ice storms and cold snaps drive emergency service calls.
- April through July: lowest demand. Many chimney companies shift to gutter or pressure-washing work in these months.
The smart move: book in September. You get pre-season pricing, guaranteed availability, and time to schedule any needed repairs before the first cold snap.
What SHOULD Be Included in a Proper Chimney Sweep
When you pay $199-$220 for a chimney sweep in Memphis, this is what you should get. If your quote doesn’t include these, ask why:
- Level 1 visual inspection of the firebox, smoke chamber, flue interior, exterior crown, and cap.
- Drop cloths and HEPA vacuum to protect your floors and furniture.
- Brush cleaning with the right brush size for your specific flue, run top-to-bottom.
- Firebox and smoke chamber cleanup — the areas that hold the most creosote.
- Written inspection report with photos of any damage or concerns.
- Recommendations for repairs if needed — with prices — but no high-pressure upsell.
- Clean workspace at the end. If we leave soot behind, we haven’t finished the job.
Bundle Pricing: Chimney + Dryer Vent Together
If your dryer vent hasn’t been cleaned in the last 2-3 years, bundling it with your chimney sweep is a real savings. Dryer vent cleaning normally runs $175 on its own — but if we’re already at your house for the chimney, we’ll drop it to $100. That’s a $75 discount just for handling both in the same visit.
Combined total: $299-$320 for chimney sweep + dryer vent cleaning.
This bundle makes sense for most Memphis homes because both services address fire risk. Clogged dryer vents cause an estimated 2,900 residential fires per year nationally, and dirty chimneys cause 22,000+ more. Handle both while a technician is already at your house.
When Chimney Repairs Add to the Cost
During an inspection, we occasionally find issues that need attention beyond the sweep. Common Memphis repair needs include:
- Chimney cap installation. Prevents animal entry, rain damage, and downdraft. Highly recommended if you don’t have one.
- Chimney crown repair. The crown is the concrete cap on top of the masonry — freeze-thaw cracks it, and once water gets in, damage accelerates.
- Tuckpointing. Repairing damaged mortar joints in the chimney’s masonry. Prevents structural failure.
- Waterproofing. Sealant applied to prevent moisture penetration.
- Flue liner replacement. Needed after chimney fires or severe deterioration.
Repair pricing varies based on the extent of damage. None of these are required for a routine sweep — we’ll only recommend them if the inspection turns up an actual problem, and we’ll show you photos so you can see the issue for yourself. Call (901) 687-7046 for a firm repair quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does chimney sweep cost vary so much between companies?
The main difference is what’s actually included. A licensed, insured company that carries workers’ comp, uses professional equipment, and takes 1-2 hours per job has real overhead. A truck-and-a-brush operation with no license and no insurance can advertise $99 because they skip the inspection, cleanup, and paperwork. You get what you pay for — and the $99 sweep usually turns into a $600 “found problems” quote before they leave.
How long does a chimney sweep take?
A standard single-flue sweep in a Memphis home takes 1-2 hours from setup to cleanup. Multi-flue chimneys, prefabs with unusual venting, or homes needing full inspection reports run longer. Plan a two-hour window and expect us to leave the room looking exactly how we found it.
Do you charge for the estimate or inspection separately?
No. Our sweep price includes the inspection and written report. Some Memphis companies quote a low sweep price and charge $50-$150 for the inspection separately — when comparing quotes, ask what’s included so you’re comparing apples to apples.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, check, and all major credit cards. Payment is collected at the completion of the job, not up-front.
Is there a warranty on the work?
Yes. We stand behind every sweep. If we miss anything or the inspection report is incorrect, we come back at no charge. We’ve built our Memphis reputation on 200+ five-star reviews since 2013 by doing the work right the first time.
Ready to Book Your Memphis Chimney Sweep?
Healthy Home Pros has been serving Memphis and the surrounding Mid-South since 2013. We’re locally owned, licensed, insured, and book up fast every fall. Call (901) 687-7046 for a firm price quote — no surprises, no upsells, no $99 bait.
Learn more about our chimney cleaning service or get in touch to lock in your fall appointment.