Sal deserves the praise he received in other reviews. He came out and first educated me on whether or not I had a liner. I do. He cleaned the liner tube, inspected the liner and chimney inside and out, and gave us an excellent health check. He also explained that "seasoned almond and oak are the best types of wood to burn, gave us a few recommendations of businesses that sell wood, showed us how to properly start the fire (ventilating house, turning off heater) and helped us identify and test out a blower we didn't even realize we had. While there wasn't a lot of cleaning to do on our wood burning system, the education provided was well worth the money spent! read more

Thorough, honest and fair price. Sal rightly pointed out that anyone that claims they can inspect a chimney for defects without cleaning it first is either dishonest or trying to deceive you. They cleaned, inspected, and provided photos/video of their work. read more

Sal was extremely knlowledgable, prompt and friendly. He explained all the details of maintaining my chimney and recommendations for how to run the fireplace. Will use him again in the future. read more

I was very happy with my chimney clean. Russo was very honest over the phone and he and his partner did a wonderful job. I highly recommend Russo's Chimney Sweep. read more

Sal is the best! He's so knowledgeable and spends extra time explaining things. He did an amazing job and was super thorough. Definitely grateful that we found Sal. Will use him every time. read more

Russo's Chimney Sweep - a man cleaning a fireplace - Chimney Sweeps Near Me - Concord, California

This guy is amazing best price expert in his field and honest he really went the extra mile when it came to service and expertise

We hadn't had our chimney cleaned in about 3 years and we are considering a change to a gas fireplace. Sal was able to come to our house within a few days. He did a very thorough job, showed us before and after video and answered our questions about converting to gas. Even gave us a couple suggestions of places to call. We definitely felt like we got our money's worth and a job well done. read more

I had heard such wonderful things about this place from everyone. When I called to get information, the woman who I spoke with seemed to be annoyed with my questioning. Due to that interaction, we choose to go with another company. I hear Sal is the best. 4 stars for his reputation. 3 stars for the phone customer service. read more

Had Sal do my inspection prior to purchasing my home. He installed a damper and spark arrester once we moved in. Works great. Thanks Sal!

Everything others have said about Mr. Russo is true. I called for an appointment, his wife immediately answered. They were able to squeeze me in within a few days. Mr. Russo arrived on time and thoroughly cleaned the chimney as well as inspected it. Afterwards, he sat us down and went through all of his findings, which were extremely thorough. He showed us videos he had taken from the interior of the chimney which highlighted issues. Thankfully we had no major cracks. Since we aren't planning on ever using the chimney, he suggested that we not bother with repairing the issues that did exist since they would not affect us. He did suggest we get a rain cap to prevent rain from entering the chimney and when asked, recommended just sealing the large flue with a baseboard to prevent small bugs from entering. Mr. Russo also told us about alternatives in case we were ever interested in the future, such as fireplace inserts. We learned quite a lot from him in the short time he was there. I think the whole process from arrival to departure took about 40-45 minutes. If only everything in life was as efficient and thorough as Russo's Chimney Sweep! read more

Sal is amazing! How many people can look in your fireplace & tell you how much wood you've burned since the last cleaning? He really knows his stuff. Sal did a thorough cleaning & inspection of our fireplace. At the end he wrote down all of the issues, comments, etc. in a nice little report. Our house is over 70 years old, which means that our fireplace & chimney are 70 years old. I wasn't expecting a clean bill of health for our fireplace. It received a passing grade, but just barely. Meaning it's not going to fall down anytime soon but we shouldn't use it until we get the gaps between the bricks patched. Russo's does not fix fireplaces, they only inspect & clean, but he did give us a referral for a guy he's worked with for years. I will definitely be calling him for an estimate. Sal was friendly, knowledgeable, prompt & extremely thorough. When he left we couldn't even tell he had been there. No dirt or ashes anywhere. I'll be calling Russo's again after I burn a few more cords of wood in our fireplace. Bring on winter! read more

There are a bunch of businesses on Yelp that have overinflated, faked ratings. Russo's is not one of them. I booked Sal for an appointment over 2 weeks ago, because he's that busy. Sal arrived on time, and I told him about what my previous inspection had turned up. Sal took a quick look, told me that the chimney didn't need to be cleaned, and we talked about the type of repairs that would be needed. We went up on the roof, checked it from the top, talked some more. Sal gave me a referral to a mason for possible repairs, and when I pulled out my checkbook, waved me off, saying "I didn't do anything, no charge." If you need your chimney inspected or cleaned, don't be scared off by the flat $150 fee he charges (money mailer ads often list $69 cleanings). It's always worth paying a little more for someone who is honest and dependable. Yep, the guy's for real, and he's super nice. Highly recommended. read more

Russo chimney service did a great job. He inspected the chimney, cleaned it and provided me with more info than I want to know about my fireplace. And he came on 4th of July! Who works on a holiday??? read more

I chose Russo's based on the yelp reviews and he lived up to his reviews. Not only was Mr. Russo on time, he came in and immediately got started. He cleaned the chimney and went on the roof to check things out and completed the inspection. He then sat me down and showed me a video he took of some holes near the chimney (on the roof) and explained to me what that meant and what we needed to do. He summarized everything very thoroughly for us. He also wrote everything down and gave us some great tips about using our fireplace. Mr. Russo was super efficient and had a great, friendly demeanor. He was a true professional. I would highly recommend him. read more

I recently purchased a house and my realtor had Russo's Chimney Sweep inspect the chimney. I was impressed with the detailed explanation of my chimney and what steps I needed to take next. While talking with Sal (owner) I decided that I would like to use gas logs going forward to provide the ambiance I wanted and not adding more air pollution :) I ordered my logs online to save money (and better selection than locally) and called up Russo's Chimney Sweep to get them installed. I was given an installation date after the holidays (expected) since they are now upon us. I was given a take-it-or-leave it time for the installation, before 4:00pm, and since I do not work locally. That is an impossible time for me. I explained to Sal's wife (who answers the phone and makes the appointments) that I work in San Francisco and can make it by 5:00. I was told "we don't do that". I responded simply with "Thank you, but 3:45 is not going to work for me since I commute!". With that, I terminated the call and told her I would find someone else. I am giving 3 stars, since that is an average of excellent chimney inspection service (5 stars) and poor customer focus and flexibility (0 stars). If you want your chimney inspected, call Russo's Chimney Sweep, but don't expect them to work with you on your schedule and be flexible -- even if you are very local. read more

Sal came out to clean my chimney. He did a thorough inspection of the chimney and provided me with the info I need to move forward with my chimney plans. Sal did a great job and I felt is an honest business man. I highly recommend Russo's Chimney sweep. read more

Thank you Mr. Russo! Efficient, professional and knowledgeable are all terms that perfectly describe you. You showed up on time, worked quickly and effectively, patched up a crack and suggested a radiant screen to protect the wall from further damage. I really appreciated you taking the time to explain how to light a fire and not create a smoke house I highly recommend that anyone needing a chimney sweep call you! read more

I called Sal Russo on a Saturday evening after experiencing a small chimney fire that had hot ambers shooting out of the top of my chimney outside. He rearranged personal commitments to book me in this morning. He arrived right on the dot, set up and showed me what loomed up the chimney. What hadn't burnt off was thick and black and all in all really BAD build up. It took him under an hour to clean it down to the metal beautifully. He then showed me what it currently looks and gave me tips on proper lighting, what logs are okay to use (not many) and basically not wait as I did to have it cleaned. He left my house spotless. I will see him again in the future as I truly found a keeper! read more

I'm also a realtor and have used Sal Russo for at least 12 years if not more!! He is extremely efficient and knows the ins and outs of a chimney. If my clients are there for the inspection they get a lesson on chimneys and the right logs to burn. He is always on time and leaves everything in good order. He is the best in my book!! read more

I highly recommend Sal Russo. It was easy to make an appointment; very friendly and professional. Sal was incredible. He not only did a great job but also gave me great advice. He is incredibly knowledgeable and professional. He told me that with the amount of wood I burn, I should wait 4 years before getting it cleaned again. How many people would do this? I have already recommended him to friends. read more

We just had Sal out to clean and inspect our double sided fireplace/chimney. He called first to say he would be early... that was great in of itself! He was very thorough, clean and fast. He noticed some separation with the grout near the flashing and roof and fixed it, no problem. They were great and very professional, from the beginning with Linda making the appointment & a reminder call, to Sal's excellent work. I would highly recommend "Russo's Chimney Sweep" and he was the most reasonably priced among recommended Chimney Sweepers! Can't go wrong, IMO. read more

Should have written this a year ago... no excuses!! Sal taught us how to build a fire!! no kindling, only 4 logs and 2 small pieces of Fire Starter! Voila!! Done! Thanks Sal, your the best at what you do!! See you in Dec. 2015!! Thanks, Julie & Jim C. read more

Russo's did an outstanding job! A very pleasant experience all-around. Mrs. Russo was pleasant to deal with on the phone. Sal arrived on time, was professional, and gave me plenty of detailed information about the design and condition of my fireplace/chimney system. He even finished quickly. The information that Sal gave me was worth much more than the price of the sweep. He told me what types of wood to burn/not burn, how to light a fire with minimal smoke, how to maximize ventilation, the drawbacks to my dual-sided fireplace, and much more. (Not to mention that Sal is a pleasant guy to talk to!) I can't say enough about how pleased I am with the experience, and I highly recommend that you call Russo's for all your chimney sweeping needs. read more

Sal Russo has to be the nicest guy. Not sappy insincere nice, but honest and trustworthy nice. He takes his time to explain things. I bought my first home in May. I asked him if I should have him out every year to check my chimney. His answer was an emphatic NO! He said don't waste your money (unless you're burning those toxic duraflames). He told me I could go several years between cleanings as long as I was burning good wood or java logs. Sal was promt and took his shoes off before walking in my house (he didn't have to, but it was a nice touch!) I would never hire or recommend anyone else!! read more

After buying a house in Lafayette, we had 2 fireplaces that we wanted inspected to see if they were safe to burn wood. After reading the other YELP reviews of Russo's we decided to go with Sal. The guy is amazing! Very very thorough. He examined and cleaned BOTH of our fireplaces and chimneys and explained everything (good & bad) as he did the work. Also provided proper instructions on how to light a fire without resulting in a smoke-filled house, proper wood to burn, etc. Very instructional and valuable information. Yea, it's not the cheap $49 thing that you see in ads - but given the safety of your house and family, you really get what you pay for. He charges a flat $155 per fireplace. If you need a Fireplace Inspection or Cleaning, this is the guy ! read more

We have a new home and a new fireplace, as well as indoor bbq. We know from our home inspection when the chimney sweep was out that they both need work. I've been checking around and had a mason come check it out and he put in a bid for the work. Having never owned a home or a fireplace with it, I wanted to get some second opinions. I just spoke with the gentleman from Russo's for a bit and, while he did not come out to our home, he took the time to go over things with me. He addressed various repair scenarios and their respective prices. We then discussed the specific work that I need to have done and he assured me that the pricing was fair. He provided ample information and just from the free phone interaction alone I would at least recommend anyone with chimney and fireplace needs to give Russo's a call. read more

As someone more often disappointed by service visits, I was very impressed by Russo's from the beginning to end: - Easy to make an appointment; - Mr. Russo was on time; - He took precautions around pets and with my floor; - Explained everything in detail; - Was honest about repeat and future visits. I just wish more small businesses had the same work ethic and customer service. read more

Sal showed up right on time! He was quick, efficient and very knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything to me. We will definitely use him in the future and recommend him. read more

As others have said, Sal was excellent. He arrived promptly. He cleaned everything up. He explained exactly what he did and gave us a written report. I'm relieved that I found him and that we've done our long overdue chimney cleaning. read more

Great Yelp find! Based on my experience, all the raves are spot on. Linda was helpful and informative when making the appointment to have the chimney inspected and cleaned on a rental property. Sal showed up on time, and as promised a report was emailed to me that same day. Highly recommended! read more

I've used Sal for 9 years with dozens of clients who need thier chimney's and fireplaces inspected, cleaned and discussed. Sal is ALWAYS on time, friendly and professional. His reports and quotes are cost effective and reliable. I trust him to work with my clients everytime! I strongly recommend him! AND he will teach you how to build great fires, take care of your fireplace and enjoy your winters with warm, safe and wonderful fires! read more

Sal Russo is amazing ! I called on a Wednesday and got an appt that Friday to get my chimney cleaned. He is so friendly, gave me some good tips and did a great job cleaning out my old wooden stove. I would recommend Russo's Chimney Sweep to anyone looking to get their chimney cleaned !! read more

Amazing service. Shows up on time and was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Not only did he clean the chimney but he also gave great advice for ongoing chimney use and maintenance. read more

Why did I wait so long to call these guys?! Russo's is excellent, and a true 5 star business. Scheduling was efficient - received a call back the same day I left a voicemail, and an appointment within a week even with my bizzare schedule. Sal arrived on time, and is professional, friendly, and down to business. He took the time to explain what type of fireplace I had, as well as gave some really great tips on increasing the efficiency of my stove and heat output, and taught me the difference between soot and creosote. He also showed me the before and after cleaning (wow!). I was worried that there would be recommendations for expensive repairs given the age of my house and the fact the chimney hadn't been cleaned or inspected in quite awhile - and Sal not only gave it a clean bill of health, but took the time to explain exactly why as well as what to keep an eye out for. I can only reiterate what others have said on here - the 5 star is legit; Russo's provides great service, great price, and most importantly, honesty. read more

Clean and easy to work with, made sure the job was done well. Made recommendations that were helpful and showed expertise. Would use again in a heartbeat. read more

I'm very satisfied with his service and inspection. Very professional and courteous. He arrived at scheduled time. He made very helpful recommendations. Would definitely recommend for any chimney cleaning. read more

Another great experience thanks to Yelp reviews. Sal arrived on time and went right to work on our terribly neglected fire place. We had cleaned the chimney over the years but never moved the insert to see what had happened to all the junk we clean from the chimney. Well it all ended up on top and behind the insert. Now moving a 500# insert is no small task but Sal did it. Then delt with the mess behind the insert and in the lower portion of the chimney without a single complaint. Getting the insert back inplace and properly lined up was even more daunting but in the end Sal managed it and made it fit perfectly. Thank you so much for a job well done. Need your fireplace cleaned.......... I don't believe you can go wrong with Sal Russo's Chimney Service. read more

Punctual, thorough, honest, and charged what they said they would charge. They even made some suggestions for repairs I could do myself and didn't sell me anything I didn't need. I'll definitely call them next year for another cleaning! read more

We just purchased an older home. Although the home is lovely, it has a "campfire" aroma in the living room where the chimney resides. Over the last few weeks, I've learned that the previous homeowners LOVED to burn nearly everything. One day I stopped in with an inspector and saw that they were about to burn some old papers in the fireplace. The bricks were also heavily stained with soot both inside and out. In fact, I doubt the chimney has been cleaned in the 30 years the previous homeowners lived there. So, I took to YELP to help find a chimney sweep. Immediately, I could see that Sal was the best in the business, at least by YELP review. After meeting him today, I think he lives up to the hype. Not only did he do a thorough inspection of the chimney structure and masonry, he also gave excellent tips on minimizing smoke intake and further staining. Then, he got straight to work cleaning the chimney. He had a large vacuum set up with an exhaust that led to the outside to minimize odors as well as promote cleanliness. This is the guy you want. You'll get a crash course in chimney 101 along with your sweep. His prices are very reasonable as well. read more

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I found Sal to be preachy, condescending and an alarmist. I just wanted my chimney to be cleaned. He felt the need to sit my wife and I down and talk to us like children. He took 10 minutes to explain that spark arrest was "off center" when he got up there. You would have thought the world was spinning off of it's axis. Then he showed us a video of him poking around the mortar between my flue liner bricks. Some was missing and he declared my chimney unsafe for use. However, he was really quick to recommend his buddy to come out and fix it. Luckily I work in the construction industry and asked a licensed GC to double check his work. The short story is the licensed contractor could not find anything wrong with my chimney. I would not use or recommend Russos' Chimney Sweep. read more