Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Sweep Across Onion Creek
A chimney sweep in Onion Creek typically runs $129 – $289 for a standard Level 1 inspection and sweep, while a Level 2 inspection with video scanning runs $225 – $450. Most jobs are completed in a single visit, and we schedule Onion Creek appointments around a two-to-four-day window, depending on the season. Boardwalk Chimney Sweep has worked in the 78747 subdivisions long enough to know the houses here do not follow the usual Austin chimney playbook. If you live along Onion Creek Forest Drive, in the original Onion Creek neighborhood, or in the newer master-planned sections further east, call (877) 274-1247 and we will tell you exactly what your fireplace needs. Not what the average fireplace needs. Yours.
Why Boardwalk Chimney Sweep Is Onion Creek’s Preferred Chimney Sweep Company
We have pulled silt out of smoke chambers in houses that were gutted and rebuilt after the 2013 and 2015 Onion Creek floods. We have found rusted damper frames behind gas log sets that have not been touched since the rebuild. That is not a sales pitch. It is what the work actually looks like out here. Brent Holloway built Boardwalk Chimney Sweep around one idea: the same brands chimney professionals specify, installed by a crew that actually shows up and explains what they found. We repair what we inspect, using materials from HeatShield, DuraFlex, Gelco service in Onion Creek, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. No subcontractors. No mystery fees. One crew, one standard.
Our customers in Onion Creek tend to reach out for two reasons. Either they know their fireplace has been ignored since the floods and they want a straight answer about its condition, or they use a wood stove as primary heat and the creosote buildup finally crossed a line. Both calls get the same treatment: a technician who knows the difference between a prefab insert from the 1990s and a direct-vent unit from the 2010s, and who will not recommend work the camera evidence does not support.
Styles & brands we work with
Fireplace Cleaning in Onion Creek
Fireplace Cleaning in Onion Creek almost always means one of two things: gas log sets and prefab inserts in the 78747 subdivisions, or wood stoves on the rural properties pushing against the development edges. The first job is usually about removing soot, dust, and the fine silt that crept in over a damp Central Texas summer. The second is about creosote, and lots of it. A standard fireplace cleaning in Onion Creek runs $129 – $229, whether the firebox is prefab metal or masonry. The goal is the same: get the firebox clean, check the damper, and verify the flue is moving air the way it should.
Gas Log Set and Firebox Cleaning
We pull the logs, vacuum the firebox, clean the burner ports, and inspect the gas line connection for rust or tightness. Many Onion Creek gas logs have not been removed in years, which means debris sits directly on the burner plate and can cause uneven flame or sooting on the logs themselves.
Wood Stove Interior and Flue Sweep
For wood stoves, a brush sweep removes first- and second-degree creosote from the flue and stovepipe. Rural properties around Onion Creek that burn every night from November through February often produce third-degree creosote, which is hardened and glazed. Brushes will not get it. That requires rotary cleaning or a chemical treatment, and we will tell you which one the flue actually needs before any work begins.
Chimney Services in Onion Creek
Chimney Services in Onion Creek include two inspection levels, creosote removal, soot removal, and annual sweeps, plus liner restoration and damper replacement when the inspection justifies it. A Level 1 inspection is the right call for an annual checkup on an active fireplace. A Level 2 inspection matters after the floods, after an earthquake, after a chimney fire, or when a home changes hands in the 78747 zip code. Level 2 work in Onion Creek runs $225 – $450. That includes a camera run through the flue, and you see the images. Nothing gets recommended unless the camera shows a reason.
Level 2 Inspection with Video Scan
We run a camera from the firebox to the flue cap and hand you a photo report. For Onion Creek homes rebuilt after 2013 and 2015, this is the single most useful chimney service available. It catches silt in the smoke chamber, rusted flue sections, cracked tile liners, and water entry before any of it becomes a fire or carbon monoxide problem.
HeatShield Resurfacing and Damper Replacement
When the flue has minor cracks or a rusted damper frame but the structure is sound, we resurface with HeatShield rather than pushing a full reline. It extends liner life without the cost of tear-out, and the product is rated for the job. For dampers, we stock Copperfield models and can typically replace a rusted unit during the same visit as a cleaning.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Onion Creek
Our Chimney Sweep team works exclusively with trade-recognized materials: DuraFlex flexible liner systems for offset or complex flue runs, HeatShield for resurfacing, Gelco chimney caps, Olympia Chimney components, Famco, and Copperfield dampers. Onion Creek homeowners do not get off-the-shelf substitutes. When we install a liner, it is a DuraFlex system built for the run. When we replace a damper, it is Copperfield. That is the difference between a repair built to last the next decade and one built to survive the next inspection. We keep commonly needed parts on the truck, which means fewer follow-up visits for Onion Creek customers in the 78747 area.
Common Chimney Sweep Problems We See in Onion Creek Homes
- Flood-silted smoke chambers in rebuilt homes: The exterior looks new, but silt and debris from the 2013 and 2015 floods sit in the smoke chamber and around the damper. It restricts draft and traps moisture, which rots metal dampers from the inside out.
- Rusted damper frames behind gas log sets: Gas log fireplaces get ignored because they look clean. Pull the logs, and the damper frame is often rusted through, especially in homes that took water during the floods. It does not show in a quick glance.
- Heavy creosote loading on rural wood stoves: The rural properties that surround Onion Creek burn wood as primary heat. That means eight months of creosote in one season, often second- or third-degree, and a safe sweeping interval that is shorter than most stove owners realize.
- Idle-season buildup in gas and prefab units: Central Texas heat and humidity leave fireplaces dormant nine months a year. Dust, moisture, and even wasp nests accumulate in the flue, and the first cold snap exposes all of it. An annual check before the burning season prevents that.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Sweep in Onion Creek, TX
A standard sweep with Level 1 inspection in Onion Creek runs $129 – $229 for a single flue. Adding a gas log set cleaning brings it to $179 – $289. A Level 2 inspection with video scan runs $225 – $450 depending on flue height and access. If we find heavy third-degree creosote, rotary removal runs $150 – $300 additional. Liner restoration with HeatShield and damper replacement are quoted after the camera inspection, because you should not pay for a liner opinion you cannot see. Call (877) 274-1247 for an exact quote. Estimates are free, and we tell you if the fireplace can safely wait a year or needs attention now.
We Also Serve Cities Near Onion Creek
Boardwalk Chimney Sweep also works in Chimney Sweep in Onion Creek and the surrounding communities, including Garfield, Shady Hollow, Hornsby Bend, and Rollingwood. The drive times vary, but the service standard does not. If you are outside 78747 but need the same inspection and repair work, call (877) 274-1247.
Serving Onion Creek, TX — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Onion Creek area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Sweep in Onion Creek
No, not in the creosote sense. Gas-log fireplaces do not produce creosote, but they still need annual inspection of the factory-built flue, the damper, and the gas connection. In Onion Creek’s 78747 subdivisions, the bigger issue is moisture and flood-related damage hiding behind the log set. Pull the logs, inspect the damper, and verify the flue is clear. That takes under an hour. Call (877) 274-1247 to schedule a gas log inspection before the season starts.
Every 60 to 90 days of active burning, or roughly twice per season for full-time heating. Rural properties around Onion Creek burn wood as primary heat from November through February, which produces far heavier creosote loading than occasional fireplaces. If the flue has visible black, shiny buildup, it is due. Our Onion Creek customers who heat with wood typically book one sweep in early fall and one in mid-winter. Call (877) 274-1247 to schedule either.
The earliest sign is a musty smell from the firebox or visible rust around the damper handle. You may also see white efflorescence on the brick face or water staining on the ceiling near the flue channel. For homes in the 78747 flood path, the most important step is a Level 2 camera inspection, because silt and water damage inside the smoke chamber will not be visible from the firebox. Call (877) 274-1247 for a video inspection and a photo report you can keep.
Yes. Prefab or factory-built fireplaces in the newer Onion Creek homes need the same annual inspection and cleaning as masonry units. The flue is typically a metal pipe system, and we inspect for creosote, debris, and wildlife entry. Direct-vent gas units need less sweeping but still benefit from an annual burner and vent check. Call (877) 274-1247 if you are not sure which type you have.
Stop burning immediately. Third-degree creosote is hardened, glazed, and highly flammable. A brush will not remove it, and burning through it risks a chimney fire that can crack the flue liner in minutes. It requires a rotary cleaning head or a chemical treatment specific to creosote removal. Call (877) 274-1247 and we will assess the flue before the next cold night, not after.
Contact Boardwalk Chimney Sweep in Onion Creek
We recently serviced a home on Onion Creek Forest Drive where the gas-log set had not been inspected since the 2015 flood. Pulling the log set and damper revealed a rusted damper frame and silt-packed smoke chamber. After a Level 2 inspection, we replaced the damper with a Copperfield model, vacuumed the debris, and verified draft with a smoke test. Safe operation restored without a full flue replacement. That is what the right inspection finds and the right repair fixes. If you live in Onion Creek and want a chimney company that tells you the truth with camera evidence, call (877) 274-1247 for a free estimate. One call covers chimney sweeping, liner work, damper replacement, and dryer vent cleaning, all handled by our own crew.
Written by Brent Holloway, Owner at Boardwalk Chimney Sweep, serving Onion Creek and greater Austin.