Chimney repair and sweeping in Rochester
Mortar washing out of a brick stack, a water stain beside the fireplace, or a wood stove nobody has looked at since you moved in? One call connects you with a chimney company that works in your area.
What does your chimney need?
- Chimney inspection and sweepingYearly inspections, sweeping, camera checks for home purchases and post-fire inspections.
- Tuckpointing and masonry repairRepoint washed-out joints, replace spalled brick and rebuild stacks above the roof.
- Chimney crowns and capsRepair cracked crowns and add caps that keep out snow, rain, wind and animals.
- Chimney liners and reliningStainless and other liners for cracked tile, new furnaces, boilers and wood stoves.
- Chimney leak repairStop leaks at flashing, crowns and porous brick before they damage ceilings and framing.
How it works
Call or send a request
Tell us your town and what you're seeing on or around the chimney.
We connect you
Your call goes to an independent chimney sweep or masonry company that works in Rochester and Olmsted County.
They call you back
They inspect the chimney and quote the work directly.
Who is this for?
Homeowners, landlords and buyers in Rochester, Byron, Stewartville, Kasson and the townships around them who have a masonry chimney, a fireplace, a wood or pellet stove, or a furnace, boiler or water heater that vents into a chimney. Rochester had 121,395 residents at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city, and its housing runs from the brick and stucco homes on Pill Hill, built mostly in the first third of the 1900s, to postwar ranches and new subdivisions with factory-built fireplaces. Each type has its own chimney problems.
Why is southeastern Minnesota hard on chimneys?
Cold, wet and windy. Rochester averages about 53 inches of snow a year under the 1991 to 2020 climate normals, and January's average high is only about 22 degrees. The city is also one of the windiest in the country, averaging about 12.6 miles per hour, with the strongest winds from January through April.
That combination is rough on the highest, most exposed masonry on a house. Brick and mortar absorb rain, melting snow and wind-driven moisture. When that water freezes, it expands and loosens the masonry a little at a time. Over the years, joints wash out, brick faces flake off, and the concrete crown on top cracks and lets water straight down into the chimney. Wind pushes rain sideways into open flues and under worn flashing, which is why a cap and sound flashing matter so much here.
Warning signs to watch for
- Mortar joints that are recessed, crumbly or missing
- Brick faces flaking, cracking or landing on the roof
- White, powdery staining on the outside of the chimney
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney
- A rusty damper, firebox or chimney cap
- Smoke or a strong smoky smell coming into the room
- Bits of clay flue tile in the firebox or at the cleanout door
- A chimney that leans or has pulled away from the house
How often should a chimney be inspected?
At least once a year. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, fireplaces and vents, says they should be inspected yearly for soundness, freedom from deposits and correct clearances, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) points homeowners to the same rule. Sweeping is done when the inspection shows it's needed: CSIA recommends sweeping a masonry fireplace at about an eighth of an inch of soot, or sooner if there's glazed creosote. Chimneys that rarely see a fire still need a look, since nests and water damage can make them unsafe. Late summer and early fall are the easiest times to get on a sweep's schedule before the heating season.
What does chimney work usually involve here?
- Inspection and sweeping before heating season, after a chimney fire, and before buying a home
- Tuckpointing and masonry repair for washed-out joints, spalled brick and stacks that need rebuilding above the roof
- Crowns and caps to keep snow, rain, wind and animals out of the top
- Liners for cracked clay tile and for new furnaces, boilers and stoves
- Leak repair at flashing, crowns and porous brick
Getting a new roof?
Since May 1, 2025, the City of Rochester has required a permit and inspections for residential re-roofing. A roof replacement is also the best time to deal with the chimney, because the flashing where the chimney meets the roof is usually replaced along with the shingles. If the chimney needs tuckpointing or a rebuild above the roofline, have it done before or with the new roof, not after.
After a storm
In April 2026, tornadoes damaged about 20 homes in Stewartville and about 30 around Marion, southeast of Rochester, according to MPR News. Wind, hail and falling limbs can crack crowns, bend caps and loosen bricks at the top of a stack where you can't easily see them. If your area took a hit, have the chimney checked before you use it again.
Are you a chimney company?
No. Rochester Chimney Repair is a referral service. We connect you with an independent chimney or masonry company that serves your address, and that company quotes, performs and stands behind the work. Read our tips for hiring a chimney company and the Rochester chimney guide before you hire anyone.
Areas we cover
Planning ahead? Read our Rochester chimney guide.
Common questions
Who will work on my chimney?
An independent chimney sweep or masonry company that serves your area. We connect you with them. We don't sweep or repair chimneys ourselves.
Does it cost anything to use this site?
No. Calling or sending a request is free. The company quotes and bills the work directly.
What areas do you cover?
Rochester, Byron, Stewartville and Kasson, plus Oronoco, Pine Island, Eyota, Chatfield, Dodge Center and the townships around them.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
At least once a year, under NFPA 211, the standard the Chimney Safety Institute of America refers homeowners to.
Crumbling mortar, a stained ceiling or a stove due for a sweep?
Call now and a local chimney company will take a look and quote the work.