Fireplace and chimney service in Redmond
Most of Redmond was built after 1970, and most of its fireplaces burn gas. We service them, fix leaking chases and price every job at a free inspection.
Redmond is a young city in housing terms. It grew more than thirtyfold in area through annexations between 1951 and 1967, and in 1978 the Census Bureau named it the fastest-growing city in the state. The 2024 survey puts the median year built at 1993, with 19.8 percent of homes from the 1980s and fewer than 1 percent from the 1940s and 1950s. Only 36 percent of Redmond's homes are detached houses; the rest are townhouses, condos and apartments, most built with gas or electric fireplaces.
Electricity heats 59.2 percent of Redmond homes and gas 38.3 percent, so the fireplace is rarely the main heat. It is still a gas appliance that needs care, and in the older single-family areas like Education Hill, which the city describes as a mature neighborhood, there are factory-built wood fireplaces and some brick ones. At the free inspection we check the unit, the vent or chimney and the roof penetration, and write down the price of any work.
Gas fireplaces that won't light or stay lit
The most common Redmond call is a gas fireplace that clicks but won't light, lights and goes out, or burns with a lazy, sooty flame. Usually it is a worn thermocouple or thermopile, a dirty pilot assembly or a failed igniter, typically $100 to $350 to replace. A valve or control board runs $300 to $1,000. Yearly service, $150 to $350, catches most of these before the first cold night.
Townhouse vents and chase covers
Direct-vent gas fireplaces in townhouses vent through the wall or roof, and the termination cap needs clear space around it and an intact seal. On houses with a factory-built chimney, the chase cover keeps the rain out; with about 156 rainy days a year at Sea-Tac in NOAA's normals, a rusted one leaks for months. A chase cover typically runs $300 to $700. If you want a wood fire that stays legal in a Stage 1 burn ban, an EPA-certified insert or stove is the route.
Where we work in Redmond
Downtown · Education Hill · Overlake · Grass Lawn · Idylwood · Bear Creek · North Redmond · Willows · Sammamish Valley · Southeast Redmond
FAQ
Redmond chimney questions
My gas fireplace clicks but won't light. What's wrong?
Usually the igniter, the pilot assembly or the thermocouple. It can also be a closed gas valve or a dead battery in the remote or receiver. We diagnose it and write the price down before any repair; pilot, thermocouple and igniter repairs typically run $100 to $350.
Does a gas fireplace need yearly service?
Yes. The pilot, burner, logs, glass seal and vent should be checked once a year. We also check that you have carbon monoxide alarms; Washington has required them in homes sold since July 26, 2009 before the buyer moves in.
Can I use my gas fireplace during a burn ban?
Yes. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency allows natural gas and propane fireplaces and inserts during both Stage 1 and Stage 2 bans.
How much does a chimney cleaning cost in Redmond?
We price the cleaning at the free inspection, once we have seen the flue and how much buildup there is. You get the price in writing before we start. We book Sunday to Friday in 3-hour windows and call to confirm.
Book online
Book in Redmond. The inspection is free.
Free inspection in a 3-hour window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5. We call to confirm before we arrive.