What chimney work costs in the Twin Cities

Why we publish ranges

Almost no chimney company around here prints repair prices, so most people have nothing to compare a quote with. These ranges come from national cost guides, and the number that counts is the one we write down at your free inspection, after we have been on the roof and looked up the flue.

Three budgets we see every winter

• The liner budget. When an old furnace is swapped for a high-efficiency one that vents out the side wall, the water heater is often left alone in a big masonry flue. Minnesota's fuel gas code calls for a metal liner in a masonry chimney that vents gas appliances and for a chimney to be resized when an appliance is disconnected, so the flue doesn't fill with condensation. An aluminum liner sized to the water heater is usually the answer.
• The freeze-thaw budget. MSP airport averages about 147 nights a year at or below freezing and about 51 inches of snow (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Cracked crowns, sandy mortar joints and loose flashing are what that weather leaves behind, and the longer a crack stays open, the more brick has to come out.
• The gas fireplace budget. Most no-heat calls on a gas fireplace come down to one part: the thermocouple or thermopile, the igniter, the pilot assembly or the valve. Parts and labor for each sit in the ranges below.

Gas fireplaces, inserts and stoves

Service	Usual reason	Typical range
Gas Fireplace Repair	Pilot, thermocouple or igniter	$90 – $350
Gas Fireplace Service	Dust, worn gaskets, blocked vents	After free inspection
Gas Inserts & Log Sets	Tired of hauling wood	$2,000 – $5,000
Wood Stove & Insert Installation	Fireplace that heats the chimney, not the room	$3,000 – $8,000

Liners, chases, caps and fireboxes

Service	Usual reason	Typical range
Furnace & Water Heater Liners	Unlined or oversized flue	$625 – $3,800
Chimney Liners & Relining	Cracked or missing clay tile	$900 – $7,000
Chase Covers & Prefab Chimneys	Flat chase cover holding water	$300 – $1,200
Chimney Caps	No cap on the flue	$200 – $850
Top-Sealing Dampers	Warped or rusted throat damper	$140 – $420
Firebox & Smoke Chamber	Cracked firebrick, rough smoke chamber	$150 – $2,000+

On newer suburban houses the chimney is often a wood-framed chase with a metal flue inside, so the chase cover on top matters more than any brick.

Masonry, leaks and rebuilds

Service	Usual reason	Typical range
Chimney Repair	Freeze-thaw cycles and water in the masonry	$150 – $4,000
Chimney Leaks & Ice Dams	Failed crown, flashing or an ice dam	$150 – $1,800
Stucco Chimney Repair	Water trapped behind cracked stucco	$900 – $4,000
Historic Home Chimney Repair	Age, soft brick and freeze-thaw	$500 – $5,000+
Chimney Tuckpointing	Mortar worn out by water and frost	$500 – $2,500
Chimney Crown Repair	Cracking from freeze-thaw and a flat, thin top	$200 – $3,000
Chimney Flashing Repair	Old sealant, loose counter-flashing or no cricket	$300 – $1,800
Chimney Waterproofing	Brick soaking up snowmelt	$150 – $820+
Chimney Rebuild	Decades of freeze-thaw	$1,000 – $15,000
Chimney Removal	Unused chimney that keeps leaking	After free inspection

Cleaning, inspections and smoke problems

Service	Usual reason	Typical range
Free Chimney Inspection	Annual check, a new house or a concern	Free
Chimney Sweep & Cleaning	Soot and creosote on the flue walls	After free inspection
Creosote Removal	Cool, smoky fires and short burns	After free inspection
Wood & Pellet Stove Cleaning	A season of overnight burns	After free inspection
Animal & Nest Removal	An open flue with no cap	After free inspection
Smoky Fireplace & Draft	Cold flue, short stack or a tight house	$140 – $850
Home-Sale Chimney Inspection	A purchase agreement on the way	Free

What moves a price up or down

• Roof pitch and height. A two-and-a-half-story house in St. Paul needs more staging than a rambler in Richfield.
• How long water has been getting in. A crown crack caught early is a patch; one left for several winters means brick and mortar too.
• Stucco over brick. Water trapped behind stucco has to be found and opened up before the surface is redone.
• Which appliances share the chimney. A furnace, water heater and fireplace in one stack each need their own correct flue.
• Permits and historic review. Rules differ from city to city. Brooklyn Park lists chimney liners among the jobs that need a mechanical permit, and St. Paul requires a permit for tuckpointing in a Historic Preservation Area whatever the job costs. We check what your city requires.

Want the reasoning behind a quote you already have? The blog walks through what drives the price of the most common jobs. Read the blog