Chimney sweep in Providence, RI
A chimney sweep in Providence 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 Providence-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 Providence ZIP code.
Chimney sweep Providence: the local facts
| Providence, RI | |
|---|---|
| Population | 191,767 |
| Homes built in 1939 or earlier | 54.5% |
| Median year homes were built | 1938 |
| Single-family detached homes | 26.1% |
| Nights at or below freezing, per year | 109 |
| Average temperature, December to February | 32.5°F |
| Chimney fires, share of residential fires, Rhode Island | 4.7% |
| Rhode Island chimney fires in December to February | 57% |
Providence homes and their chimneys
54.5% of Providence's homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and half were built in 1938 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 Providence house, ask for the liner to be checked on camera during the inspection.
Providence winters and your chimney
Providence averages 109 nights a year at or below freezing and a December to February average of 32.5°F (NOAA normals, Providence T F Green 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 Rhode Island
Chimney fires confined to the chimney or flue made up 4.7% of residential structure fires in Rhode Island fire department records for 2020 to 2024, above the national 3.4%. 57% of Rhode Island's chimney fires happened in December, January and February, a smaller winter share than the national 57.4%. State-by-state figures: chimney-fires-by-state.csv.
Local rules and resources in Providence
The Providence Historic District Commission (PHDC) Standards and Guidelines, amended May 19, 2025, cover the Armory, Broadway, College Hill, Power-Cooke, Providence Landmarks District (residential), Northern Elmwood, Southern Elmwood and Stimson Avenue historic districts. For properties under those standards, proposed alterations to roof forms and the installation or removal of chimneys and other rooftop elements may be reviewed by the PHDC at a public hearing, as determined by staff. The standards say repointing should preserve original mortar colors and joint profiles, and that on 18th and 19th century brick buildings the soft brick can be damaged by mortars with high concentrations of Portland cement, so repointing mixes should include a high lime content.
The Providence Fire Prevention Bureau offers free smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms when available, to low income and handicapped residents of one and two family houses in Providence while supplies last, and city residents can pick them up at the office, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The bureau says smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspections are required for all new houses and any home being sold, and as of September 28, 2026 its page listed a $30 fee for these inspections. For installing wired or wireless smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in 1, 2 or 3 family homes, the Fire Department's permits page says to apply for a combination Residential Fire Plan Review/Electrical permit.
The city's Mechanical Division oversees work on gas piping and gas appliances, and its page says licensed contractors, and homeowners of a single family owner-occupied house doing the work with no other outside assistance, may apply for a mechanical permit at its office.
Chimney cleaning, inspection and repair in Providence
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 Boston, MA
- Chimney sweep in Hartford, CT
- Chimney sweep in Bristol, CT
- Chimney sweep in North Haven, CT
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
- Providence Historic District Commission, Standards and Guidelines (amended May 19, 2025): www.providenceri.gov
- Providence Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau: pfd.providenceri.gov
- Providence Fire Department, Permits: pfd.providenceri.gov
- City of Providence, Mechanical Division: www.providenceri.gov