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.
Chimney Company in Highland, CA
Pilgrim Chimney has served Highland since 2014, and the repair calls we take here tell a clear story: aging masonry fireplaces in mid-century ranches, wind-driven debris packing spark arrestors against the foothills, and seasonal temperature swings cracking crowns and mortar joints. Most Highland homeowners don’t need a basic sweep. They need someone who can open up a flue, show them what’s actually failing, and fix it with materials built for the job. If you’re seeing water stains near the chimney, hearing wind whistle through the firebox, or noticing mortar chips on the roof after a Santa Ana, call us at (866) 253-5031. We diagnose, we show you the evidence, and we repair it in place.
Why Highland Homes Are Different
Highland sits hard against the San Bernardino foothills, and that position shapes nearly every chimney problem we walk into. The housing stock spans two very different eras. The older homes, built between the 1950s and 1970s when Highland was still citrus and ranch land, carry original masonry fireplaces with clay tile flues, hand-laid mortar crowns, and decades of creosote layered inside. The newer foothills subdivisions are a different animal entirely: prefabricated metal chimney systems, gas fireplaces, and chase covers that rust and leak. A technician working Highland has to be fluent in both, because the same street can have a 1962 ranch on one lot and a 2015 stucco build on the next.
Then there’s the wind. Highland’s Santa Ana events don’t just rattle fences. They drive dry chaparral debris, palm fronds, and fine foothill dust straight into chimney caps and spark arrestors. After a strong blow, we commonly find caps packed solid with tumbleweed and leaf litter, blocking the very airflow the chimney needs. In fire season, that’s not a maintenance annoyance. It’s fuel sitting at the top of an open flue. Add in hot inland summers and dry fall winds, and a dirty or damaged chimney in Highland is a legitimate fire-safety problem, not a cosmetic one.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Highland Services
Most Highland homeowners call us for one of two reasons: a chimney that hasn’t been swept in years and is either smoking back or filling the house with a campfire smell, or a dryer vent that’s running hot and taking forever to dry a load. Both are fire risks, and both are jobs we handle from start to finish.
Chimney Sweep in Highland
A proper sweep in Highland means more than running a brush up the flue. It means pulling the cap, clearing wind-blown debris from the spark arrestor, removing creosote and soot from the full length of the flue, and checking the firebox, damper, and crown for damage while we’re in there. Older wood-burning fireplaces in the ranch homes of the 92346 zip code tend to carry heavy creosote, especially if they’ve burned green wood or artificial logs. Newer gas fireplaces need less sweeping but still collect dust and debris around the chimney top. See the full scope of what’s included on our Chimney Sweep in Highland page.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Highland
Dryer vents in Highland clog with the same fine dust that coats everything else during wind season, plus the usual lint accumulation. A restricted vent makes the dryer run longer, the motor work harder, and the exhaust temperature climb. That’s the leading cause of residential dryer fires, and it’s a problem we see regularly in Highland homes where the vent run is long or makes multiple turns. We clean the full run from the dryer to the exterior termination, clear any bird or rodent nests, and confirm proper airflow before we leave. Full details are on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Highland page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in Highland
Chimney repair in Highland is mostly about two forces working against each other: decades of use and seasonal temperature swings that stress mortar, crowns, and flashing. Homes built in the 1950s through 1970s carry masonry chimneys that have now weathered fifty to seventy summers of hot, dry heat followed by cool, dry winters. That cycle expands and contracts the mortar every year until cracks appear. Once water gets into those cracks, the damage accelerates. And when Santa Ana winds push debris onto a roof, damaged caps and loose flashing let more of it into the flue. Our repair work is a core service, not a referral. We inspect, document what we find, and fix it on site using professional-grade materials like DuraFlex, Copperfield, and HeatShield. For a deeper look at how we approach repair across all our service areas, visit our Chimney Repair hub.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You have no cap on the chimney, or birds, leaves, and rain are getting into the flue.
What it costs in Highland
Chimney cap installation in Highland typically runs $180 to $420, depending on the cap size and material.
How we do it
We measure the flue, select the correct cap from Famco or Copperfield, and secure it to the crown so it stays put through wind season.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
The existing cap is rusted through, warped, or missing mesh on the spark arrestor.
What it costs in Highland
Chimney cap replacement in Highland usually costs $190 to $430, including removal of the old cap and installation of the new one.
How we do it
We remove the failed cap, inspect the flue for damage while it’s open, and install a new cap sized correctly for the chimney.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
The flue tiles are cracked, spalling, or the smoke-tight seal between them has failed.
What it costs in Highland
Chimney liner installation in Highland typically runs $2,200 to $5,000, depending on flue length and access.
How we do it
We run a DuraFlex stainless liner down the flue, connect it properly to the appliance, and seal the top with the appropriate crown and cap.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water is staining the ceiling or walls near the chimney after rain, or the flashing is pulling away from the roof line.
What it costs in Highland
Chimney flashing repair in Highland typically costs $350 to $850, depending on how much of the flashing is compromised.
How we do it
We remove the old flashing, clean the contact surfaces, and install new flashing that seals the chimney-to-roof junction.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The crown has visible cracks, chunks missing, or water is pooling on top of the chimney.
What it costs in Highland
Chimney crown repair in Highland usually runs $450 to $1,200, depending on crown size and condition.
How we do it
We assess the crown, patch or re-form the surface as needed, and seal it so water can’t get into the brickwork below.
What Chimney Repair Costs in Highland
| Item | Typical range in Highland |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $180 – $420 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $190 – $430 |
| Chimney flue liner installation (stainless, DuraFlex) | $2,200 – $5,000 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $850 |
| Chimney crown repair | $450 – $1,200 |
In Highland, two things push repair costs toward the upper end: chimney height and roof pitch. A tall masonry chimney on a steep foothills roof requires more setup and safety equipment. A cracked crown that looks minor from the ground can also hide deeper damage to the mortar joints below, which we’ll document with photos before any repair is approved.
Does a cracked crown really need to be fixed right away?
Yes. Once water enters a cracked crown, it freezes and thaws through the seasons and widens the damage. In Highland’s hot, dry climate, the cracks also deepen as the mortar bakes and contracts. A small crown repair now prevents a much more expensive rebuild later. Call (866) 253-5031 for an honest assessment.
Can you tell me if I actually need a new liner, or just tell me it’s fine?
We document everything with camera inspection so you see the flue’s condition with your own eyes. If the liner can be repaired or resurfaced with HeatShield, we’ll tell you. If it needs replacement, you’ll know why from the photos. No work is recommended without evidence you can verify. Call (866) 253-5031 to schedule an inspection.
Brands We Service in Highland
Our Highland repair and installation work uses components from Famco, Copperfield, and DuraFlex, with HeatShield available for liner resurfacing when full replacement isn’t necessary. We keep common cap sizes, flashing materials, and liner components stocked so most jobs aren’t delayed waiting on parts. See our brands for the full breakdown of what we use and why.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Highland, CA
| Service | Typical range in Highland |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (wood-burning, moderate creosote) | $180 – $280 |
| Chimney sweep (heavy creosote or long flue) | $280 – $400 |
| Spark arrestor cleaning or replacement | $90 – $220 |
| Chimney cap installation | $180 – $420 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $190 – $430 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $350 – $850 |
| Chimney crown repair | $450 – $1,200 |
| Chimney liner installation (stainless, DuraFlex) | $2,200 – $5,000 |
| Chimney liner resurfacing (HeatShield) | $1,500 – $2,800 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $130 – $220 |
What pushes a Highland chimney job toward the upper end is access and condition. A two-story masonry chimney on a foothills lot with a steep roof takes longer to set up safely. A flue that hasn’t been swept in a decade carries more creosote and may reveal liner damage that changes the scope of the job. We give you a clear price before any work begins, and we never add charges mid-job without walking you through the reason first.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Highland
We work throughout the 92346 zip code, from the older ranch neighborhoods near Baseline and Victoria to the foothills subdivisions east of Weaver Street and the newer builds climbing toward the foothill slopes. The older tracts near the historic citrus corridors tend to bring masonry chimney repairs and heavy creosote sweeps. The newer developments bring more cap and spark arrestor clearances after wind events.
- East Highlands
- North Highland (near the foothills)
- Historic Highland (Baseline and Victoria area)
- Foothills subdivisions east of Weaver Street
- Highland (central 92346 residential tracts)
Most Highland jobs are scheduled within a week of the call, and we can often work around your wind-season urgency when you let us know a Santa Ana has just blown through.
Service Area – Cities Near Highland
Pilgrim Chimney covers Highland and the surrounding San Bernardino Valley communities. If you’re in a neighboring city and need the same level of inspection and repair, you’ll find us in San Bernardino, CA, Muscoy, CA, Redlands, CA, and Loma Linda, CA. Each area has its own housing patterns and wind conditions, but the standard of work stays the same: we show you the problem, then we fix it.
Serving Highland, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Highland 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 Company in Highland
Most Highland appointments are scheduled within five to seven business days. If you’ve just had a wind event and the chimney cap is packed with debris, or you’re seeing water stains after rain, mention it when you call. We’ll prioritize the most urgent safety issues in the schedule. Call (866) 253-5031.
Most chimney repairs, including cap replacement, flashing repair, and crown work, don’t require a separate permit in Highland because they’re considered maintenance on existing structures. Liner installations and structural rebuilds may fall under different rules, and we’ll tell you if that’s the case before any work begins.
Yes. Highland’s housing mix includes plenty of older wood-burning fireplaces and a growing number of gas inserts in newer foothills homes. We inspect, sweep, and repair both styles, and we’re comfortable with the venting differences between a masonry flue and a prefabricated metal chimney system. Call (866) 253-5031 and describe what you have, and we’ll tell you what’s needed.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Highland Customers Say
"Showed up when they said they would. That's most of the battle."
— Gabriela Garcia"Swept it, capped it, and installed a proper damper. The downdraft smell in the summer that we'd lived with for years is gone."
— Michael Anderson"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
— Wade Kowalski