Chimney sweep in Baltimore, MD
A chimney sweep in Baltimore costs about $150 to $375 for a masonry chimney with a wood-burning fireplace and $80 to $150 for a gas fireplace, going by HomeGuide's national price survey; no survey publishes Baltimore-only prices, so compare two written quotes against those ranges. The NFPA says to have chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional. Use the form below and we send your request to a chimney company that serves your Baltimore ZIP code.
Chimney sweep Baltimore: the local facts
| Baltimore, MD | |
|---|---|
| Population | 573,243 |
| Homes built in 1939 or earlier | 41.5% |
| Median year homes were built | 1947 |
| Single-family detached homes | 14.7% |
| Nights at or below freezing, per year | 93 |
| Average temperature, December to February | 36.5°F |
| Chimney fires, share of residential fires, Maryland | 5.8% |
| Maryland chimney fires in December to February | 61.4% |
Baltimore homes and their chimneys
41.5% of Baltimore's homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and half were built in 1947 or earlier. HomeGuide lists lining old and unlined brick chimneys among the most common uses of a stainless steel liner, and says clay flue tiles were traditionally used in older homes. HomeGuide's chimney repair price table puts liner replacement at $1,500 to $7,000, so in an older Baltimore house, ask for the liner to be checked on camera during the inspection.
Baltimore winters and your chimney
Baltimore averages 93 nights a year at or below freezing and a December to February average of 36.5°F (NOAA normals, BWI Airport). That matters for the outside of the chimney: HomeGuide says cracks in brick and mortar usually start small at the corners but can expand quickly if water seeps in and freezes. Brick repair runs $150 to $500 for minor cracks and $1,000 to $3,500 for replacing brick from the crown to the roofline, according to HomeGuide.
Chimney fires in Maryland
Chimney fires confined to the chimney or flue made up 5.8% of residential structure fires in Maryland fire department records for 2020 to 2024, above the national 3.4%. 61.4% of Maryland's chimney fires happened in December, January and February, a larger winter share than the national 57.4%. State-by-state figures: chimney-fires-by-state.csv.
Local rules and resources in Baltimore
Through the Baltimore City Fire Department's 311 Smoke Alarm Program, residents can call 311 for free 10-year lithium, tamper-resistant smoke alarms, installed by firefighters on each level of the home, typically within two hours. Maryland law has required those alarms, with a silence or hush feature, on every level of every home since January 1, 2018.
Permits in Baltimore's Department of Housing and Community Development go through its online E-Permits system, which handles residential construction, interior and exterior alterations, and mechanical work.
The Baltimore City Fire Department's home safety page repeats general heating fire figures, without giving their source: the leading factor in home heating fires (26%) was a failure to clean, principally creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys, and half of all home heating fires happened in December, January and February.
Chimney cleaning, inspection and repair in Baltimore
A yearly Level 1 inspection costs $100 to $250 with a basic cleaning, according to HomeGuide, and a Level 2 inspection, which adds a video inspection, costs $250 to $600; HomeGuide recommends Level 2 when buying a home with a chimney. Common repairs such as a cap replacement or crown repair cost $200 to $850. Ask whether the sweep is CSIA certified. Details: chimney sweep cost, chimney inspection and chimney repair.
Other cities we cover
- Chimney sweep in Pittsburgh, PA
- Chimney sweep in Boston, MA
- Chimney sweep in Dallas, TX
- Chimney sweep in Houston, TX
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, tables B01003, B25024, B25034, B25035: data.census.gov
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: www.ncei.noaa.gov
- NFPA, Heating safety tip sheet: content.nfpa.org
- Chimney Safety Institute of America, "Preventing Chimney Fires": www.csia.org
- HomeGuide, chimney sweep cost, page dated February 9, 2026: homeguide.com
- HomeGuide, chimney inspection cost, page dated February 9, 2026: homeguide.com
- HomeGuide, chimney repair cost: homeguide.com
- HomeGuide, chimney liner cost: homeguide.com
- FEMA, OpenFEMA, NFIRS Annual Data, fire files 2020 to 2024, downloaded September 25, 2026: www.fema.gov
- Vent & Flue analysis, chimney fires by state (CSV): chimney-fires-by-state.csv
- Baltimore City Fire Department, Request a Smoke Alarm: www.baltimorecity.gov
- Baltimore City Fire Department, New Smoke Alarm Law: www.baltimorecity.gov
- Baltimore City DHCD, Building Permits: www.baltimorecity.gov
- Baltimore City Fire Department, Home Fire Safety: www.baltimorecity.gov