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 Lakeway, TX
Alcott Chimney Sweep handles chimney cleaning, inspections, and gas fireplace repair for Lakeway homeowners, and we do it a little differently than most companies. Led by Ruben Castellano, every technician we send to your door is background-checked, identity-verified, and announced to you by name and photo before arrival. Lakeway’s mix of 1970s-90s custom homes and new luxury builds means we’re often working with large masonry fireplaces that haven’t been opened in years, paired with the humidity and freeze-thaw cycles that punish mortar and clay tile liners. Call (361) 420-8585 for a free estimate.
Why Lakeway Homes Are Different
Lakeway grew from a resort community into one of Austin’s most established high-end suburbs, and the housing stock tells that story. The older custom homes near the Lakeway Marina and along Lakeway Boulevard often feature full masonry fireplaces with clay tile liners, homes built when a wood-burning fireplace was the centerpiece of the living room, not an afterthought. Those liners are now 30 to 50 years old, and the humid subtropical climate has not been kind to them. Moisture works its way into hairline cracks, and when a February freeze hits, that water expands and pushes the crack wider. We see spalling brick and cracked crowns in Lakeway far earlier than in drier parts of Central Texas.
The newer sections of Lakeway, the luxury builds going up around Rough Hollow and Flintrock Falls, tend toward prefab fireplaces and gas log sets, but those bring their own issues. Wildlife intrusion is constant across every part of Lakeway: squirrel and bird nests in rarely used flues are one of the most common findings on a first visit to a Lakeway home. Spring storms drop debris down uncapped chimneys, and the sticky, humid air causes creosote, the tar-like byproduct of wood combustion, to cling to flue walls instead of flaking off. That sticky creosote is exactly what ignites in a chimney fire. All of it means an annual inspection is not a suggestion here, it’s the difference between catching a cracked liner in October and discovering it as smoke rolls into the living room on the first cold night of December.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Lakeway Services
The three services Lakeway homeowners call us about most are chimney sweeps, chimney inspections, and gas fireplace repair, and each one has its own Lakeway page with the full details, pricing, and what to expect.
Chimney Sweep in Lakeway
A proper sweep is not a quick brush-through. In Lakeway homes, where flues sit unused for eight or nine months a year, we’re removing more than creosote: we pull out squirrel nests, bird debris, leaf litter, and occasionally the remains of a failed animal intrusion. The humidity here makes creosote dense and sticky rather than dry and flaky, so it takes longer to remove properly than the same job in, say, El Paso. We use a full drop-cloth and vacuum setup that keeps soot out of your living room, and every sweep in Lakeway includes a visual check of the flue interior. See the full process at Chimney Sweep in Lakeway.
Chimney Inspection in Lakeway
Lakeway’s older masonry chimneys need more than a visual once-over. Freeze-thaw cycles create thermal stress on clay tile liners, and by the time you can see a crack from the firebox, the liner may already be unsafe. We perform a full Level 1 or Level 2 inspection, depending on what the chimney’s history warrants, using a camera system to examine the flue interior from top to bottom. If you’ve just bought a Lakeway home, especially one built before 2000, a Level 2 inspection before your first fire is the only way to know what’s actually hidden inside that chimney. Details on scope and cost are at Chimney Inspection in Lakeway.
Gas Fireplace Repair in Lakeway
Newer Lakeway construction leans heavily on gas log sets and direct-vent gas fireplaces, and when those units sit all summer, the first cold snap in November or December is when problems surface. The issue is usually a thermopile that’s failed, a burner that won’t stay lit, or an igniter that’s given up after years of start-stop use. We carry parts from the trade brands professionals specify, which means fewer return trips waiting on a part that a box store doesn’t stock. When your gas fireplace won’t light, the fix starts with identifying what actually failed, not guessing. Read the full breakdown at Gas Fireplace Repair in Lakeway.
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.
Brands We Service in Lakeway
We install and service equipment from the brands chimney professionals actually specify, including our brands such as Olympia Chimney, Gelco, and Copperfield. Parts are stocked in our local warehouse, so most Lakeway repairs don’t wait on shipping. That’s the difference between a working fireplace and a parts promise.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in Lakeway, TX
These are the typical ranges Lakeway homeowners see, before any repairs are quoted. Every job gets a written price before work begins.
| Service | Typical range in Lakeway |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney sweep (clean flue, no repairs) | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney sweep with heavy creosote or nest removal | $340 – $550 |
| Level 1 chimney inspection | $150 – $250 |
| Level 2 camera inspection (real estate or after storms) | $325 – $525 |
| Chimney cap replacement (standard stainless steel) | $275 – $475 |
| Clay tile liner repair (single tile replacement) | $400 – $800 |
| Full flue resurfacing (HeatShield or equivalent) | $2,800 – $5,500 |
| Gas fireplace diagnostic visit | $95 – $185 |
| Thermopile or thermocouple replacement | $225 – $425 |
| Burner assembly replacement (standard unit) | $350 – $650 |
| Igniter or pilot assembly replacement | $275 – $500 |
What pushes a Lakeway job higher is usually what we find once we’re inside: a liner with multiple cracked tiles, a nest that requires full removal and a new cap, or a gas fireplace that needs a new burner assembly instead of a simple igniter fix. You’ll always know the price before any repair begins, because Ruben’s policy is a written quote delivered up front, never a surprise line item after the fact.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Lakeway
We work throughout Lakeway, and our scheduling means most visits happen within a few business days of your call. Representative neighborhoods we regularly serve:
- Rough Hollow
- Flintrock Falls
- Lakeway Highlands
- The Hills of Lakeway
- Old Lakeway (near the Marina)
Service Area – Cities Near Lakeway
Our Lakeway crews also cover the surrounding communities across the Austin metro. If you’re in Austin, TX, Leander, TX, Pflugerville, TX, or Brushy Creek, TX, we can schedule a sweep or inspection with the same background-checked technicians and the same written pricing guarantee.
Serving Lakeway, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lakeway 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 Lakeway
Most Lakeway appointments are scheduled within three to five business days. If you have an active problem, like a smell of smoke or a gas fireplace that won’t light, tell us when you call and we’ll prioritize that visit. Call (361) 420-8585 and a live person will answer, day or night.
Most chimney sweeps and inspections in Lakeway don’t require HOA approval, since they’re classified as maintenance rather than exterior modification. If a repair changes the chimney’s exterior appearance, such as a new cap or crown rebuild, your HOA, particularly in communities like Rough Hollow or Flintrock Falls, may want a heads-up. We’ll flag that for you before any work starts.
Yes, and we do this regularly during the Lakeway real estate season. A Level 2 camera inspection before closing gives you a full read on the flue interior, liner condition, and any hidden damage a seller may not know about. We recommend this for any Lakeway home built before 2000, and we’ll give you a written inspection report with photos so you have everything in hand for negotiation or peace of mind going in.
If you have questions about your Lakeway chimney or fireplace, call (361) 420-8585 for a free estimate. A live person answers every time, and you’ll know exactly who’s coming to your door before they arrive.
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 Lakeway Customers Say
"Having a vetted person in the house was why we picked them. Background checked, badge, polite. The fireplace has never been cleaner."
- Nadine F."Left no soot anywhere. Even brought a vacuum with a sealed filter. I'd use them again every fall."
- Beth H."Fast and tidy. Fireplace draws properly again."
- Mina K.