Independent measurement · August 2026
The chimney sweeps ChatGPT actually recommends.
Homeowners don't just search anymore — they ask ChatGPT who to see. So we measured the answer. We asked for the best chimney sweep in 12 U.S. metros, 4 different ways each — 48 checks in all — and recorded every company it named.
Only 52%
of the 435 U.S. chimney sweeps we benchmarked ever came up. These are the ones homeowners are told to see.
435
U.S. chimney sweeps checked
48
ChatGPT questions asked
12
metros benchmarked
52%
ever get recommended
Measured August 21, 2026 on ChatGPT (gpt-4o, with web search): 12 metros × 4 question phrasings = 48 checks. No other AI system is included in these numbers. How we measured it
One difference from most boards in this network, stated plainly: every question here was asked twice, not once. Only 48% of the company-and-question pairs named on the first ask were named again on the second. Because asking twice finds more names, a company has to be named in at least 3 of the 4 questions — on both asks — to be listed here, where most of our boards list at 2.
The most recommended chimney sweeps, metro by metro
Every metro below was benchmarked the same way: 4 homeowner-style questions, every answer recorded. Pick your city to see the full measured list.
ChatGPT's answer moves between checks, so we publish how many of the 4 checks named each one instead of a rank that would change if we asked again.
Atlanta
19 of 41Named in all 4 checks: Chimney Solutions and Southern Chimneys LLC
See the Atlanta list →
Charlotte
15 of 29Named in all 4 checks: All Out Chimney Sweeps, Emberstone Chimney Solutions and Owens Chimney Systems and 1 more
See the Charlotte list →
Chicago
22 of 45Named in all 4 checks: Chimney USA Inc. and Superior Chimney Services Corporation
See the Chicago list →
Columbus
16 of 29Named in all 4 checks: Thompson Chimney Services Inc.
See the Columbus list →
Dallas
19 of 44Named in all 4 checks: SafeAir Duct & Chimney and SafeFlue Chimney Sweep & Repair
See the Dallas list →
Denver
25 of 43Named in all 4 checks: CrownUp Pros
See the Denver list →
Minneapolis
18 of 25Named in all 4 checks: Jack Pixley Chimney Sweeps & Masonry
See the Minneapolis list →
Nashville
17 of 29Named in all 4 checks: Ashbusters Chimney Service
See the Nashville list →
New York
23 of 55Named in all 4 checks: Paragon Chimney and Roofing of NYC
See the New York list →
Philadelphia
18 of 34Named in all 4 checks: Alliance Chimney & Energy, Inc. and Pure Chimney Sweep Philadelphia
See the Philadelphia list →
Seattle
20 of 39Named in all 4 checks: Hunts Chimney Sweep & Repair Services, Pristine Sweeps and Seattle Chimney Pros
See the Seattle list →
Tampa
14 of 22Named in 3 of 4 checks: All About Chimney Sweep and Repair, Ducts All Done and Pro Attic LLC and 1 more
See the Tampa list →
Before you call anyone
What the work costs, what homeowners ask us most, and tools that give you a number in about a minute. Nothing here is a sales page and nothing asks for your phone number.
What things cost
Real price ranges for the work homeowners ask about most, with every figure traced back to a named source.
- How much does a chimney sweep cost?HomeGuide publishes $150 to $375 for an average chimney sweep. The price by fireplace type, by number of flues, and by inspection level — and the season when it costs less.
- How much does chimney repair cost?HomeGuide publishes $200 to $850 for common chimney fixes and up to $15,000 for a full rebuild. The repair-by-repair table, what old chimneys can still be saved, and who is allowed to do the work.
- How much does it cost to remove creosote from a chimney?Removing creosote costs $150 to $375 when it is a routine sweep, per HomeGuide, and climbs by inspection level once heavy or glazed buildup is involved. The published table, staged honestly.
Common questions
Straight answers, written for the person paying — not a lead form and not a sales page.
- What dissolves creosote in a chimney?No product safely dissolves creosote away. What the CSIA says actually removes it — mechanical sweeping — where chemical treatments genuinely fit, and what sweeping logs can and cannot do.
- Does creosote build up in a gas fireplace?Creosote is a wood-smoke deposit, and gas burns cleaner — but gas flues still fail from nests, debris and venting mismatches. What the CSIA says a gas chimney needs, and what the check costs.
- How often does a chimney really need to be cleaned?NFPA 211 requires an annual inspection; cleaning happens when the buildup calls for it. The exact standard language, the 1/8-inch rule sweeps actually use, and what the yearly check costs.
- Will insurance pay for chimney repair?Sudden covered events like fire and lightning are one answer; age and wear are the other. The scenario table, sourced to the Insurance Information Institute, and the questions to settle before filing.
- Why is chimney sweeping so expensive?The visit is licensed fire-safety labor on a roof, and the published numbers show exactly what moves it: buildup, access, season and inspection level. Where the money goes, sourced.
- Can you sweep your own chimney?The brushing is doable; the inspection is the part DIY cannot replace. What a complete sweep includes per the CSIA, where chemical logs actually fit, and the jobs that need a professional.
Measured, never sold.
No chimney sweep can pay to appear on these lists. A company is listed only because ChatGPT actually recommended it when we asked — more than once. We publish how many of the checks named each one, not a place, because the count holds up when we ask again and a place doesn't. That's the whole formula.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
How did you measure which U.S. chimney sweeps ChatGPT recommends?
We asked ChatGPT the questions real homeowners ask — like "Who is the best chimney sweep near me?" — 4 different ways, and recorded every company recommended. Each company on this list was named in more than one of those answers, and we publish how many named it rather than a place in a ranking — ask ChatGPT again and the top name often changes, but the count holds. We ran 48 checks for this market and compared the answers against the 435 U.S. companies in our dataset.
Can a chimney sweep pay to be on this list?
No. This list is measured, never sold. A company appears on it only if ChatGPT actually recommended it when we asked. Money cannot buy a place on this list. Sponsored blocks are labeled advertising and sit outside the ranked list.
What does it mean if a company is NOT on this list?
It means that when we asked ChatGPT for a chimney sweep in U.S., that company never came up. That says nothing about the quality of their work — only that homeowners who ask AI for a recommendation are being sent somewhere else. Most companies haven't shown up in AI answers yet, so the list is short.
How often is this updated?
We re-run the same benchmark quarterly with the same methodology, so companies that improve their AI visibility can appear in the next update. This edition was measured in August 2026.
What if something on this page about my company is wrong?
Tell us at /corrections and we will check it against the source. A wrong name, phone number, address, licence or service is a defect and we fix it. A ranking is different: it is a measurement of what ChatGPT answered, so it is never for sale and by the same rule never removable or editable on request. A number you can talk us out of would not be worth publishing.
Are you a U.S. chimney sweep?
If your company isn't on these lists, homeowners who ask ChatGPT for a chimney sweep are being sent to someone else. Find out where you stand — free.
See if ChatGPT recommends you