Dorian Chimney Co provides licensed, CSIA-certified chimney sweeps serving Everett, MA homes and businesses with no-nonsense inspections, cleanings, and repairs. We show up on time, bring the right tools for Cambridge-area brick and metal flues, and leave your chimney safer than we found it—every time.
Everett chimneys: what we see most often
In Everett’s mix of triple-deckers, early-1900s Victorians, and newer builds near the Mystic River, we run into three problems again and again. First, creosote buildup in the offsets behind the firebox—Everett’s older masonry flues cool fast once the fire dies, so the tar sticks like glue. Second, cracked flue tiles from freeze-thaw cycles; Everett winters swing from 30°F to 50°F in a week, so the clay tiles pop when water freezes inside. Third, missing or rotted crowns on the roof line—many Everett roofs slope toward Broadway, so water pools at the chimney footing and eats the mortar. We bring a 50-foot lift when we see second-floor fireplaces on Broadway-facing homes; it saves the homeowner the cost of a separate roofing call. Learn more about Dorian Chimney Co home page.
Why a CSIA sweep beats the guy with a brush on a stick
CSIA certification means our techs have passed written exams on ((the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)|https://www.csia.org/)) standards and keep up with NFPA 211 code changes. In Everett, that translates to real differences: we log flue dimensions with a digital caliper, photograph every offset, and pressure-test the system to spot draft leaks around the damper. The guy with the brush often misses the first flue tile crack behind the smoke chamber—we don’t. We also carry $2 million liability and workers’ comp, which matters when you live on a busy Everett street like Ferryway or Revere Beach Parkway where parked cars are tight. See our full list of services.
Everett’s fireplace season: when to call us
Everett’s heating season runs October through April, but the sweet spot for a cleaning is late September or early October—before the first cold snap hits the Mystic Valley. If you wait until December, you’ll wait two weeks for an appointment because everyone in Everett fires up the hearth after Thanksgiving. We also get calls in March when homeowners notice soot on the carpet after a Cambridge windstorm blew the damper open. Pro tip: set a calendar reminder for October 15; that date lines up with the average first frost in Everett and keeps you ahead of the rush.
Cambridge commuters: we come to you
Dorian Chimney Co is based in Cambridge but we’re licensed across the North Shore corridor. From Everett’s Broadway Station to the homes off Route 16, we schedule crews who know the traffic patterns: we avoid 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM on Route 16 and Broadway, so your appointment isn’t stuck behind a MBTA bus. If you live near the Everett/Malden line on Revere Beach Parkway, we’ll text when we’re five minutes out—our crews use the same shortcuts locals use to beat the Mystic River drawbridge backup at rush hour.
Masonry vs. metal flues: Everett’s split personality
Everett’s housing stock splits roughly 60% older masonry flues (clay tile liners inside brick) and 40% newer metal B-vent or stainless-steel liners. The masonry flues need a Level 2 inspection every three years because the mortar joints degrade faster in Everett’s humid summers and salty winter air from Route 16. Metal flues—common in condos off Route 99—last longer but still collect creosote; we recommend a cleaning every two years if you burn pine or wet cord. If your chimney was relined after 2010, ask us to pull the camera; we’ll show you the liner condition on your phone before we start work.
Water damage: the quiet killer in Everett chimneys
Water is a chimney’s worst enemy, and Everett’s climate is tailor-made for it. We see rusted damper assemblies, spalled brick faces, and crown cracks that let rainwater run straight into the flue. The fix isn’t glamorous: we repoint the mortar with Type N mix, seal the crown with a silicone-modified urethane coat, and install a stainless-steel chimney cap with a 3-inch overhang. Skip the cap and you’ll pay for a full rebuild in five years—Everett’s freeze-thaw cycles don’t wait.
Everett neighborhoods we cover without the extra drive
We’re already in your part of Everett if you live within a 10-minute radius of Broadway or Route 16. That includes Ferryway, Woodlawn, and the blocks off Revere Beach Parkway up to the Malden line. If you’re north of Route 99 near the Everett Country Club, we’ll still come, but we tack on a $25 fuel surcharge to cover the extra miles to the Mystic Valley Parkway. Need a sweep in nearby Somerville, MA or Arlington, MA? We cross-cover those towns daily and can often bundle your appointment to save you the second trip.
What to expect on your Everett chimney sweep day
Your appointment window is two hours—we text when we’re 30 minutes out. Our tech arrives in a marked van, sets up a drop cloth, and photographs the flue before touching a brush. We clean from the roof down, then inspect the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue liner with a 19mm camera. If we spot a cracked tile or missing mortar, we’ll show you the footage on your phone and email a same-day report. Cleaning a typical Everett triple-decker takes 60–90 minutes; we’re usually out the door before the neighbor’s dog figures out we’re not the cable guy.
| Service | Frequency in Everett | Typical Cost Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Inspection & Cleaning | Annually (or every 60 fires) | $165–$225 | Visual inspection, flue cleaning, firebox debris removal, same-day report |
| Level 2 Inspection (camera) | Every 3 years or after a chimney fire | $240–$320 | Level 1 plus 19mm camera inspection of flue tiles, smoke chamber, and joints |
| Chimney Crown Repair | As needed (usually 5–10 years) | $380–$650 | Mortar repointing, crown sealing, stainless-steel cap installation |
| Flue Tile Replacement | When cracked tiles are found | $520–$850 | Remove damaged tiles, install new clay or stainless-steel liner, repoint joints |
| Chimney Cap Installation | Every 7–10 years | $190–$320 | Stainless-steel cap with 3-inch overhang, screen mesh, and bird-proofing |
Frequently Asked Questions
My chimney in Ferryway smells like campfire even when I haven’t used it in weeks—why?
That campfire smell is creosote residue off-gassing. Ferryway homes cool fast once the firebox cools, so the tar never fully combusts. A Level 1 cleaning removes the loose buildup, but if the odor persists, we’ll check the smoke chamber for glazed creosote and recommend a Level 2 inspection with a camera.
Why does my Arlington-style brick chimney in Everett leak after every rainstorm?
Your crown is likely cracked or missing. Everett’s freeze-thaw cycles turn small cracks into channels that funnel water straight into the flue. We patch the crown with a two-part urethane sealant and install a stainless-steel cap with a 3-inch overhang to keep the next storm out.
Can I use my fireplace in Cambridge after a chimney sweep in Everett?
Yes—once we finish and you get the green tag, your fireplace is safe to use. We leave the damper fully open for 15 minutes to clear residual dust, so light a small test fire and watch for smoke spillage before the main burn.
How often should I have my chimney swept if I burn oak in my Everett Victorian?
Burning seasoned oak in an older masonry flue in Everett means you need a cleaning every 60–70 fires or once per year, whichever comes first. If you burn pine or wet cord, drop that to 40–50 fires—Everett’s humid air makes the tar stick faster.
Need chimney sweep in Everett, MA? Dorian Chimney Co is licensed, insured, and ready to help.