Chimney Inspection cost · Ocean & Monmouth County, NJ
How much does a chimney inspection cost in NJ?
$99 plus tax
We don't charge for the visit or the written report. Elsewhere in New Jersey a chimney inspection typically runs $150–$500.
Ours is $99 plus tax, whatever the level — and it comes off the price in full if you approve the work. The written report is yours either way, and there is no call-out charge and no deposit. Elsewhere in New Jersey a chimney inspection runs $150–$500 depending on the level: a Level 1 visual check sits at the low end, and a Level 2 — the one with an internal camera, and the one a real estate sale calls for — at the top.
- $99 plus tax — we don't charge for the visit ($150–$500 is the typical NJ range elsewhere)
- $99 inspection, deducted from an approved quote
- Written quote before any work starts — you approve the price
chimney inspection cost in New Jersey
Honest pricing. No surprises.
Every chimney is different. Final pricing is based on your chimney's condition, height, accessibility and the type of work needed.
| Factor | What it changes |
|---|---|
| The level you needBiggest swing | Level 1 is what we can see from the room and the roof. Level 2 adds a camera down the flue and a look at accessible attic and crawlspace runs. Level 3 means opening up masonry, and is rare. |
| Why you are inspecting | An annual safety check is Level 1. A property transfer, a chimney fire, an insurance claim, or a new appliance all require Level 2 — that is not an upsell, it is the standard. |
| Number of flues and appliances | Each flue is inspected separately. A fireplace plus a furnace plus a water heater venting into the same stack is three checks. |
| Access to the full run | A straight flue scans quickly. Offsets, closed chases and finished attics take longer to reach. |
$99 inspection, deducted from an approved quote
Our simple process
From booking to a chimney inspection you can trust
A Realtor calls about a house under contract in Middletown. The buyer's general home inspector wrote « fireplace not evaluated — recommend chimney professional » and the closing is in eleven days. The seller wants to know what they are walking into.
- 1
Level 2 booked for the next morning
Free
A property transfer requires Level 2 under NFPA 211 — that is the standard, not an upsell. Level 1 would not satisfy the buyer's attorney.
- 2
Camera scan of the full flue
included
Ninety minutes on site. The clay liner is sound for the lower two thirds; the top four tiles have hairline cracking and one open joint at the crown.
- 3
Attic and crawlspace run checked
included
Level 2 covers accessible portions outside the room. Clearances to framing are correct — the finding is confined to the top of the stack.
- 4
Written report with footage
included
The document the buyer's side actually accepts: photographs, video, and a plain statement of what is and is not a safety issue.
$99 plus tax for the visit — deducted from the repair the seller approved, so it cost nothing in the end — and the crown and top tiles were repaired before closing. For reference, paid Level 2 inspections in New Jersey run $150–$500 depending on flue count and access.
A representative job of this type, written by the crew that does the work — not a customer review. Photographs of jobs we have actually completed are on our work.
What the price includes
What you get for the price
- Camera scan of the full flue on a Level 2, with the footage shared with you
- Check of the cap, crown, flashing and mortar joints from the roof
- Draft and clearance check at the appliance connection
- A written report with photographs — the document a buyer, seller or insurer will actually accept
- A $99 plus tax on-site visit, deducted from the quote you approve
Real results
Before & after
Before
AfterHow it compares to the rest
2026 ranges across Ocean and Monmouth County. Chimney Inspection is highlighted.
| Service | What we charge | Typical NJ price (2026) | When you need it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimney Sweep | $179–$399 | $150–$400 | Annual maintenance, or you burn regularly and it has been a year |
| Chimney Inspection | $99 plus tax | $150–$500 | Buying or selling a house, after a chimney fire, or before a new appliance |
| Chimney Relining | from $1,500 | $1,800–$4,000 | Cracked clay liner, an unlined chimney, or fitting a stove or insert |
| Chimney Repair | from $350 | $150–$4,000 | Cracked bricks, open mortar joints, a leaning or spalling stack |
| Chimney Cap Installation | $200–$700 | $150–$500 | Missing or rusted cap, rain or animals getting into the flue |
| Masonry Repair (Crown / Repointing) | from $400 | $400–$2,500 | Cracked or crumbling crown, failing mortar joints across the stack |
| Chimney Waterproofing | $250–$650 | $200–$800 | Preventive — white staining on the brick, or every 3 to 5 years |
| Chimney Flashing Repair | $300–$1,200 | $300–$1,500 | Water stains on the ceiling around the chimney |
| Gas Fireplace Service | $150–$400 | no NJ data published | Annual service, or the unit will not light or stay lit |
| Creosote Removal | from $200 | $200–$800 | Several seasons since the last sweep, or a hard glaze in the flue |
| Dryer Vent Cleaning | $89–$250 | $100–$250 | Clothes need two cycles, or it has been over a year |
| Air Duct Cleaning | from $500 | $300–$1,000 | After a renovation, after water damage, or every 3 to 5 years |
Market rates observed in Ocean & Monmouth County, NJ, surveyed September 3, 2026 — not our quote. Sources: 1 Hour Chimney (NJ) 2026, All Point Roofing & Chimney (NJ) 2026, Amazon Air 2026, Angi 2026, Clean Air Technologies (NJ) 2026, Doctor Chimney (NJ) 2026, Fireplace Experts 2026, Fixr 2026, HomeGuide 2026, Homeyou (Newark, Hoboken) 2026, Lehigh HVAC 2026, Omega Duct Cleaning (NJ) 2026, R&E Roofing (NJ) 2026.
What New Jersey law says before you pay anyone
- A deposit can never exceed one third of the job
- New Jersey home improvement law (N.J.A.C. 13:45A-16.2) caps the deposit at 33 % of the contract price. If a contractor asks for half up front, or for the full amount before the work is finished, that is not standard practice — it is against the rules.
- Any job over $500 must be in writing
- Above $500 the contractor owes you a written contract with the total price, the work to be done and the start and finish dates. A verbal quote over the phone does not meet that bar.
- You get three days to cancel a contract signed at home
- If you sign in your own kitchen rather than at a place of business, New Jersey gives you three business days to cancel in writing, no reason needed.
- The contractor must be registered with the State
- Home improvement contractors register with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and carry commercial general liability insurance. Ask for the registration number before work starts, not after.
Common questions
chimney inspection cost — your questions
What is a Level 2 chimney inspection in NJ?
A Level 2 adds an internal camera scan of the flue to everything a Level 1 covers, plus accessible portions of the chimney in the attic, basement and crawlspace. New Jersey does not have its own separate chimney code for this — the levels come from NFPA 211, which is the national standard everyone in the trade works to. A Level 2 is what you need for a property sale, after a chimney fire, after an earthquake or severe storm, or when changing the appliance the chimney serves.
How long does a Level 2 chimney inspection take?
Budget 60 to 90 minutes for a single flue, longer if the house has several. The camera scan is the slow part, and it is also the part that produces the evidence — so it is not worth rushing.
Are chimney inspections worth it?
For a chimney you actually use, yes — a flue fire is the failure mode you are buying insurance against, and it is the one that spreads to the house. For an unused decorative fireplace, an inspection every few years is enough. The honest answer is that it depends on use, not on a calendar.
Can I inspect a chimney myself?
You can spot the obvious warning signs from the ground and the firebox: a missing or rusted cap, cracked crown, white staining on the brick, rusted damper, or debris in the firebox. What you cannot do without a camera is see the inside of the flue — and liner cracks, the thing most worth finding, are only visible there.
How much does a chimney inspection cost near Toms River?
Ours is free anywhere in Ocean and Monmouth County — no travel surcharge, no call-out charge inside our service area. The on-site inspection is $99 plus tax, deducted in full from the quote if you approve the work. The written quote is free, and you approve the price before anything starts.
All New Jersey chimney pricesMore chimney questions, answered
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