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.
HeatShield Chimney Cleaning in Selma, TX | Hadley Chimney San Antonio
We provide independent Chimney Sweep - Selma and ceramic flue repair across Selma, TX, from the newer subdivisions off Lookout Road to the established streets near Retama Park. The one thing that sets our HeatShield work apart here is that we check one factor most crews skip entirely: the drainage-basin moisture that runs under a large section of Selma and quietly undermines ceramic flue coatings before any visible cracking shows up. Call (254) 276-4116 for a free estimate, and we’ll tell you what’s actually happening inside your flue, not what a generic checklist says should be happening.
Hadley Chimney San Antonio runs a full HeatShield sales & service operation, and Cory Mitchell, our owner, has spent the better part of two decades cleaning and repairing chimneys across the Southwest. He grew up in Los Angeles and picked up his trade foundations at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before bringing that experience to San Antonio area homes. His standing rule is simple: you get a photo of exactly what we found before anyone quotes a dollar.
Why Selma Residents Choose Us for HeatShield Service
Selma’s housing stock runs heavily toward single-family suburban homes built from the 1990s forward, and most of those fireplaces are factory-built units, not traditional masonry chimneys. That matters because HeatShield ceramic flue coatings behave differently on prefab systems than they do on old brick chimneys, and a tech who treats them the same is guessing. We don’t guess. Our techs work with HeatShield Cerfractory Flue Sealant, Eco-Cerfractory, and CeCure sleeve kits on a regular basis, so we know where the material bonds well, where it needs extra curing time, and where Selma’s specific climate conditions cause problems that don’t show up in dryer metro areas.
We’re an independent HeatShield service provider. We are not manufacturer-affiliated or authorized, which means we can tell you plainly when a HeatShield application is the right fix and when you’d be better served by a different repair path. Every job includes a written price before any work starts, a written guarantee on every repair, and a free second visit if a repair fails within 365 days. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s a standing commitment on every job we do in Selma.
Styles & brands we work with
Common HeatShield Chimney Cleaning Problems We Solve in Selma
- Flue tile spalling accelerated by Selma’s humidity. Selma averages over 70% relative humidity much of the year, and when a fireplace sits unused for months at a time, that moisture works into the clay flue tiles. Spalling, the flaking and crumbling of the tile surface, loosens HeatShield’s bond to the original liner. We see this pattern regularly in Selma, especially in homes where the fireplace only gets used a handful of times each winter.
- Hairline cracks that reopen after a previous HeatShield application. Selma sits on expansive clay soils. Those soils shift with seasonal moisture changes, and that movement transfers to the chimney structure. If the underlying masonry keeps moving, hairline cracks at the flue tile mortar joints can reopen even after a ceramic coating was applied. We inspect for active movement before we quote a re-coat, because applying HeatShield over shifting masonry is throwing money at a problem the coating was never designed to solve alone.
- Cerfractory surface pitting from acid condensation. When Selma homeowners run vented gas logs in a fireplace originally built for wood, the combustion gases condense differently. That condensation is acidic, and it pits the Cerfractory surface over time. We see this most often in homes where a previous owner converted a wood-burning prefab unit to gas without adjusting the venting setup.
- Rust blooming through HeatShield at metal flue connection points. Direct-vent gas fireplaces are common in Selma’s newer subdivisions, and the metal flue connection points on those units corrode in high humidity nearly as fast as they do in coastal Texas. When rust blooms through a HeatShield coating, the coating itself isn’t the failure, the underlying metal corrosion is. We treat the rust first, then address the coating.
- Creosote buildup from infrequent use. A fireplace that gets lit only a dozen times a year still produces creosote, the tar-like flammable buildup that makes chimneys a fire risk. Selma’s humidity makes that creosote stickier and harder to remove when it sits for long stretches. Our creosote removal process tackles both the glazed surface layer and the softer deposits underneath.
HeatShield Service in Selma: What Local Conditions Mean for Your Equipment
Here’s something most chimney companies won’t tell you about Selma: the city is bisected by the Retama Park racetrack’s drainage basin, and that basin raises the local water table for homes within roughly a half-mile radius. Elevated groundwater means higher masonry dampness in chimneys and fireplace surrounds, and that dampness reduces HeatShield Cerfractory adhesion even when the flue surface looks dry to the eye. A coating applied to a flue with hidden moisture behind it will fail early, and the homeowner is left wondering why their “fix” didn’t hold. Before we apply HeatShield in Selma, we check for masonry dampness that would compromise the bond. If the flue needs drying time or a different preparation approach, we say so before we mix a single batch of Cerfractory.
Cory Mitchell has a simple way of putting it: see the problem, understand the fix, then decide. That’s how it should work. When you call us for HeatShield service in Selma, we show you the camera footage from inside your flue, explain what the moisture and clay soil conditions mean for your specific situation, and give you a written price before anything gets applied.
HeatShield Models & Products We Service in Selma
We work with all three major HeatShield product lines: the standard Cerfractory Flue Sealant with its 5-year warranty series, the Eco-Cerfractory formula for homeowners who want a low-odor option they can be in the house during, and the Cerfractory with CeCure sleeve system for flues that are spalled or oversized. We stock genuine HeatShield materials and never mix in substitute sealants, because cutting corners on a flue coating in Selma’s humidity means redoing the job twelve months later.
When a fireplace needs more than a flue coating, Selma Chimney Repair may be needed for a rusted firebox or a damper that’s seized; we source OEM-compatible parts from local HVAC supply houses serving Selma. We recommend replacement only when patching would compromise the HeatShield seal. Sometimes the honest answer is that a repair can wait, and we’ll tell you that too.
See the difference
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AfterHeatShield Service Pricing in Selma
Chimney sweeps typically run $189 to $289 in most markets, and a Level 2 inspection with camera documentation usually falls between $250 and $450 depending on access and flue complexity. HeatShield ceramic flue coating applications in Selma generally start around $1,800 to $3,200 for a standard single-flue prefab fireplace, with CeCure sleeve installations adding to the total when spalling is extensive. The variables that move your price are flue length, the condition of the existing liner, and whether moisture remediation is needed before coating. We do not quote over the phone, because we won’t know what your flue actually needs until we see it. Call (254) 276-4116 for a free estimate. The technician gives you a written price before any work begins, and the photos from your camera inspection are yours to keep whether you book the repair or not.
Serving Selma, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Selma 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 – HeatShield Chimney Cleaning in Selma
Yes, HeatShield can be applied to direct-vent gas fireplace flues, but the preparation matters more on these units than on wood-burning masonry chimneys. The metal flue connection points on direct-vent systems corrode in Selma’s humidity, and any rust must be treated before the Cerfractory goes on. If the rust is extensive enough to compromise the flue’s structural integrity, we’ll tell you replacement is the safer route. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll assess your specific unit.
In a low-use fireplace, the standard Cerfractory Flue Sealant carries a 5-year warranty series, and many applications last longer than that with proper annual inspections. The wild card in Selma is humidity. A flue that sits damp for months between uses can develop adhesion problems that shorten the coating’s life, which is why we check moisture levels before applying. An annual inspection catches early issues before they become full re-coats. Give us a call at (254) 276-4116 to schedule a checkup.
Yes, and that’s actually one of the strongest HeatShield applications. Spalled clay flues in older Selma homes respond well to the Cerfractory with CeCure sleeve system, which gives the coating a mechanical anchor at the worst-damaged joints. The key is a proper Level 2 inspection first, because we need to see how much of the flue has spalled and whether the chimney structure itself is still sound. We’ve done this exact repair on homes around Selma’s older sections, and the results hold when the prep is done right.
You need a Level 2 inspection before any HeatShield application anywhere in Selma, but homes within about a half-mile of the Retama Park drainage basin get extra scrutiny from us. The elevated water table in that zone means masonry dampness can be present even when the flue looks dry on camera. We check for that before we mix any Cerfractory, because a damp flue won’t hold the bond. If moisture is present, we’ll dry the flue or adjust the schedule. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll walk you through what an inspection covers.
The standard Cerfractory Flue Sealant is our workhorse for most Selma jobs. The Eco-Cerfractory formula is a low-odor, homeowner-safe alternative designed for situations where people are sensitive to fumes or need to stay in the house during the curing process. Both offer the same structural seal, but Eco-Cerfractory costs slightly more due to the formulation. For most Selma homes, the standard version works fine, and we’ll recommend Eco only when the situation calls for it. Estimates are free at (254) 276-4116.
Service Areas Near Selma
We serve Selma and the surrounding communities, including HeatShield service in Timberwood Park, HeatShield service in San Antonio, Kirby, and Floresville. If you’re unsure whether we cover your address, call (254) 276-4116 and ask. Our full Selma service area coverage includes all the newer subdivisions and established neighborhoods in the city limits.
Book Your HeatShield Service in Selma Today
Getting your HeatShield flue inspected and cleaned in Selma starts with one call to (254) 276-4116. We’ll get you scheduled, send a background-checked technician in a tracked arrival window, and hand you a written price before anything gets touched. We answer calls with a live person, 24/7. Let’s get your flue sorted before the next burn season sneaks up on you.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, serving Selma since 2003.