Chimney sweep in Salem, OR
A chimney sweep in Salem 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 Salem-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 Salem ZIP code.
Chimney sweep Salem: the local facts
| Salem, OR | |
|---|---|
| Population | 178,865 |
| Homes built in 1939 or earlier | 8.8% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.2% |
| Nights at or below freezing, per year | 49 |
| Average temperature, December to February | 42.5°F |
| Chimney fires, share of residential fires, Oregon | 10.6% |
| Oregon chimney fires in December to February | 53.4% |
Salem homes and their chimneys
Half of Salem's homes were built in 1980 or later, and only 8.8% date from 1939 or earlier. HomeGuide's list of common stainless steel liner jobs includes matching modern heating appliances that need a different liner and installing liners in prefabricated fireplaces, not only lining old brick chimneys.
Salem winters and your chimney
Salem averages 49 nights a year at or below freezing and a December to February average of 42.5°F (NOAA normals, Salem McNary Field). A chimney used only on cold nights still needs the yearly check: the NFPA says to have chimneys cleaned and inspected every year, and CSIA says creosote that builds up enough can catch fire when the flue gets hot enough.
Chimney fires in Oregon
Chimney fires confined to the chimney or flue made up 10.6% of residential structure fires in Oregon fire department records for 2020 to 2024, above the national 3.4%. 53.4% of Oregon'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 Salem
The City of Salem's building permit page lists installation of a fireplace among the work for which a permit is always required. The same list includes mechanical system work, which the city describes as heating, cooling and ventilation systems.
For outdoor burning, the Salem Fire Department says open burning is not permitted within Salem city limits except for recreational, ceremonial and agricultural fires. It limits an outdoor recreational fire in the city to 3 feet wide by 2 feet high and allows only clean-burning wood products. In the Salem Suburban Rural Fire Protection District, the department says outdoor recreational and ceremonial fires are permitted year-round.
The Salem Fire Department says its free safety equipment programs, which include a Smoke Alarm Program, are designed to help families that may not be able to afford safety equipment on their own. To qualify, you must live within the city of Salem or the Salem Suburban Rural Fire Protection District, according to the department's page as read in September 2026. The page says to contact the Salem Fire Department to learn more or apply, and it lists 503-588-7272.
Chimney cleaning, inspection and repair in Salem
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 Portland, OR
- Chimney sweep in Tacoma, WA
- Chimney sweep in Seattle, WA
- Chimney sweep in Roseville, CA
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
- City of Salem, Determine If You Need a Building Permit: www.cityofsalem.net
- Salem Fire Department, Burning Regulations and Permit Application: www.cityofsalem.net
- Salem Fire Department, Free Smoke Alarms and Bike Helmets: www.cityofsalem.net