Where the Baker Family Works: Fillmore to the Coast
The route from Fillmore
Each town page covers the houses, the weather and what we check on chimneys there.
our home town, from the blocks around Central Avenue out to the orchards and Bardsdale
Fillmore
Fillmore is where the Baker family starts its day, so these are the chimneys we know best. Plenty of them are as old as the houses, built of unreinforced brick, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake shook the whole Santa Clara River Valley. On an old Fillmore chimney we begin at the crown and the firebox throat, since loose brick and open joints tend to show up there first.
the next town down Highway 126, with its old downtown and the hillside streets above it
Santa Paula
Santa Paula is a short drive west of us, and its older neighborhoods hold some of the oldest houses in the county. Many still have their first masonry chimney. We take those slowly: we check the mortar by hand, look for a clay liner that has cracked or shifted, and tell you which parts are sound before any repair comes up.
the town over the hill from Fillmore, reached by Highway 23 through Grimes Canyon
Moorpark
Moorpark is our closest neighbor to the south. Much of the town went up in one long building stretch, so a lot of homes have a prefab firebox and a metal flue now well into middle age. Those parts wear on a schedule. We look at the liner sections, the chase cover on the roof and the termination cap for rust, gaps and loose screws.
the valley past Moorpark on Highway 118, from Wood Ranch to the Santa Susana foothills
Simi Valley
Simi Valley sits close to where the 1994 Northridge earthquake hit hardest, and many older brick chimneys here took a real shake. Some were rebuilt right and some were only patched. On those homes we check where the chimney meets the wall, look up the flue for cracked tiles, and photograph any loose brick near the top so you can see it yourself.
the Ojai Valley, reached from Santa Paula over Highway 150
Ojai
Ojai families burn real wood, often oak, and they burn it often, because cold air settles in the valley on winter nights. That steady use builds creosote much faster than a house that lights a fire twice a year. We sweep, show you what came out of the flue, and give a straight answer on how often yours needs it.
the county seat at the mouth of the river valley, where Highway 126 meets the coast
Ventura
Ventura is where the river valley we live in meets the ocean. Many homes near downtown still have their original brick chimneys, built long before anyone thought about decades of damp sea air working into the joints. We check crowns and mortar closely here, because moisture does slow, quiet damage to older masonry.
Ventura Freeway suburb beneath Ladyface Mountain, along Medea Creek
Agoura Hills
Most of Agoura Hills was built in one long push between the 1960s and the 1980s, and just over half predates 1980. A ranch and a later two-story can hide very different fireplaces, so we identify yours before suggesting any work.
older San Gabriel Valley city between the 10 and the 710
Alhambra
A third of Alhambra was standing before 1950, and prewar homes here tend to have brick chimneys built right on site. Old mortar is the weak point. If you rent the place out or just bought it, we will tell you straight what shape it is in.
foothill city of old Lucky Baldwin ranch land, around the Arboretum
Arcadia
Gas logs in an old brick flue look harmless, and many Arcadia chimneys built after the war ended up that way. The firebox stays clean, yet the crown and joints up top keep aging. That is why our look starts on the roof, not at the hearth.
small southeast county city, home to Pioneer Boulevard's Little India
Artesia
Three of every four homes in Artesia are older than 1980, most with a modest stucco look and a block or brick stack out back. Half are rentals. Owners and landlords alike get a plain list from us: fix this now, and that can wait.
Catalina's lone incorporated city, around Avalon Canyon
Avalon
Just over half of Avalon predates 1950, and the 1887 town plan left narrow lots with little room to work. Fillmore is roughly 81 miles and a boat away, so we are upfront about that. A chimney this old deserves a careful look at its mortar and flue.
Route 66 foothill town, with Rosedale above it on old nursery land
Azusa
Two different chimney jobs live in Azusa. The bungalows around Foothill Boulevard call for a look at old masonry, while a metal flue inside a framed chase needs its cap, seams and chase top checked. Tell us your street and era, and we will plan for the right one.
postwar suburb on old citrus and walnut groves, by Big Dalton Wash
Baldwin Park
Orchards became streets fast after World War II, and seven in ten Baldwin Park homes date from before 1980. Single-story roofs make for an easy climb and a close look. Our visit covers the flue, the crown and whether that old fireplace is fit to light.
dense southeast Los Angeles city of small lots and rear units
Bell
Nearly three in four households rent in Bell, so a landlord often makes the chimney call. Plenty of these small prewar houses sit on narrow lots with an added unit behind. We tell an owner what is safe to use and what ought to stay unlit.
renter-heavy southeast county city around Ford Park
Bell Gardens
Only about one household in five owns its home in Bell Gardens, and duplexes are everywhere along the main roads. A shared chimney still needs one person to take charge of it. Landlords here get a clear note on the flue, the crown and any repairs.
southeast county city built along Bellflower Boulevard
Bellflower
Under half of Bellflower is detached houses, which means many fireplaces belong to a complex or a landlord. A postwar ranch here often has a block or brick stack with gas logs added later. Before that gas line stays in service, we check the flue above it.
the Flats and hillsides around Beverly Gardens Park
Beverly Hills
Much of the Flats dates from the decades right after the 1906 land company layout, and those brick chimneys were laid by hand. Fine houses age like any other. We go up with a camera, then walk you through what the old flue actually looks like inside.
tiny foothill city of owner-occupied houses and no large tracts
Bradbury
Bradbury has under 800 residents and never got large tracts, so it has no typical house. One chimney may be 1960s brick and the next something custom. So we skip the assumptions and look at yours from the crown down, then give you a straight read.
studio city climbing from the Rancho district toward the Verdugos
Burbank
Prewar Burbank was built with brick, and a third of the city is that old. Those stacks took the 1994 shaking, plus whatever patching followed. A camera tells us more than the outside does, so that is how we begin on an older house.
newer canyon city by Old Town and The Commons
Calabasas
Under four in ten Calabasas homes predate 1980, so you likely own a factory-built metal flue rather than a brick stack. It wears differently. We check the seams, the chase top and the cap, and we say so if your unit looks fine.
Los Angeles neighborhood on the west Valley floor, annexed in 1917
Canoga Park
Sitting about 23 miles from our Fillmore home, this part of Los Angeles is mostly modest ranch houses with an older masonry stack, gas logs often added. A low roof lets us look closely. Then you get a plain answer on what the fireplace can safely do.
South Bay homeowner city by Dominguez Hills and the stadium complex
Carson
Owning is the norm in Carson, unusual for the South Bay, and about three in four households hold their own deed. For them, a chimney is worth maintaining rather than patching year after year. We lay out the choices and let you decide.
master-planned city on old dairy land, between the 91 and 605
Cerritos
Dairy farms gave way to planned tracts, and hardly anything in Cerritos predates 1950. Homes built closer to the 1970s often have metal fireplaces rather than brick. Three in four households own, so we spell out what upkeep that metal flue will want over the years.
walkable Village and Metrolink college town below the foothills
Claremont
Streets near the Village carry houses from the 1890s through the 1930s, and an original chimney on one of those is worth saving when it can be saved. We take that view on old brick. We will look at yours and give you an honest read.
rail yard and warehouse city with small pockets of homes
Commerce
Commerce became a city in 1960 with industry in mind, and homes are the exception here. The ones that exist are mostly small postwar houses, often with a block chimney. If yours is one of them, it gets the same flue and crown check as any other.
long-settled South Los Angeles County city around Rosecrans and Long Beach Boulevard
Compton
Close to a third of Compton was already built by 1950, and most homes are owner-occupied. A long-held family house can have a chimney nobody has looked inside in years. We start there, with the camera, and show you the pictures before saying anything about repairs.
San Gabriel Valley city between Arrow Highway and Azusa Avenue
Covina
Incorporated way back in 1901, Covina still has few truly old homes; only about 1 in 20 predates 1950. The typical chimney is postwar, now some 60 years along. That age suits a sweep, a camera run and an honest talk about the crown.
tiny 1.2 square mile city along Atlantic Avenue
Cudahy
Roughly one household in seven owns here, one of the lowest shares around, so this page is mostly for Cudahy landlords. A postwar chimney on a rental deserves a yes or no on safe use. We give that answer in words anyone can follow.
Harry Culver's 1913 city along Ballona Creek
Culver City
Bungalow blocks went up here in the 1920s, and their brick was built by hand on site. A quarter of Culver City is that old. If yours still draws, great, but we want to see the mortar and flue liner before calling it sound.
hillside suburb on the old Diamond Bar Ranch, by Tonner Canyon
Diamond Bar
Half of Diamond Bar went up after 1980, as the old ranch filled in with planned tracts. Few houses here carry truly old brick. A steep hillside lot does change how we reach a chimney, so we look at the roof and access before talking through any work.
suburb of the aerospace years, set between two rivers
Downey
Downey's real growth came in the 1940s and 1950s with aerospace money, and over 8 in 10 homes predate 1980. Trees over those ranch roofs drop leaves right at the flue opening. We clear that, sweep what needs sweeping, and say what we think of the crown.
foothill citrus town turned suburb, on Route 66 and Metro
Duarte
Citrus groves became subdivisions here, and most Duarte homes date from the 1950s through the 1970s. A fireplace from that stretch may have sat cold for years. Before you relight it, we run a camera up the flue so you know what you are lighting under.
1850s San Gabriel Valley settlement, tied to the Santa Fe Trail
El Monte
One El Monte home in five is older than 1950, and six in ten households rent. An old bungalow chimney on a rental can go a long time unchecked. We get up there, report back to the owner, and keep the repair talk simple.
refinery-born beach town just south of LAX, west of Sepulveda
El Segundo
Standard Oil's 1911 refinery brought small houses for its workers, and many of those modest homes still stand. A little chimney is still a real chimney. We sweep it the same way as a big one and tell you plainly if the brick needs attention.
berry-farm and Japanese American roots, now a South Bay card club city
Gardena
Berry fields turned into tract streets after the war, and most of Gardena's chimneys date from that fill-in. Sixty years is a long time for a crown. We start with the top of the stack, since that is where the weather gets in.
Verdugo Mountains city, from Rossmoyne and Montrose down to apartment-heavy south Glendale
Glendale
Rossmoyne, Cumberland Heights and Royal Boulevard all hold houses old enough for hand-laid brick stacks. In a historic district, a rebuild is rarely the first move. We would sooner find out what a careful repair can do, and tell you honestly when it cannot.
foothill city climbing above Citrus College, incorporated in 1911
Glendora
Eight in ten homes in Glendora were up by 1980, and most people own theirs, which makes long-term upkeep the sensible way to think. A hillside roof can also be a tricky climb. We work out access first, then look at the flue and the crown.
small southeast county city along Carson Street and Norwalk Boulevard
Hawaiian Gardens
Most of what stands here is modest postwar stucco, often with a short masonry chimney added on one side. Under half of Hawaiian Gardens households own. Whether you hold the deed or the lease, ask about the flue before lighting anything in that old firebox.
South Bay apartment city around Jack Northrop Field
Hawthorne
Apartments lead here, and only about a quarter of Hawthorne homes stand alone. Those that do are often postwar houses with a brick or block chimney and gas logs. If you own one, we will check that the old flue is still clear and sound enough for gas.
1.4 square mile beach city centered on the pier and Pier Plaza
Hermosa Beach
Old cottages stand beside tall rebuilds in the Sand Section, and a tight walk street can make any chimney job harder to reach. We plan around the lot. An old beach chimney is usually worth saving when the mortar is still decent, and we will say if not.
horse country of white rail fences and big lots
Hidden Hills
A.E. Hanson planned this place around 1950 for ranch-style living on big lots, and some of those original houses still have masonry stacks. Many others have given way to custom rebuilds. We ask which you have, then match the inspection to it, whether old brick or something newer.
old southeast county city beside Salt Lake Park
Huntington Park
More than 4 in 10 homes were already standing by 1950, so a fireplace in an old cottage is likely brick and likely old mortar. Most households rent, so we speak to the landlord too. Everyone should hear what is safe and what is not.
mainly industrial city with almost no residents, home to the Homestead Museum
Industry
Barely 200 people live in Industry, so a house chimney here is a rare thing. Fireplaces around these parts mostly belong to the neighboring communities. If you are one of the few homes inside the city line, we are glad to come look at yours.
1880s townsite near the Pacific, home of the Kia Forum
Inglewood
Building here came in two waves, one in the 1920s and one after World War II. A house from either one likely has a brick chimney, if it has a fireplace at all. Our check is the same: mortar, liner and crown, with plain words about each.
gravel quarry city with scattered home pockets, by Santa Fe Dam
Irwindale
Quarries and industry fill most of the map in Irwindale, and about 1,400 people live among them. Most own a detached house. Few as they are, those chimneys get the same honest look from us as a house anywhere else.
foothill suburb along the 210, around Descanso Gardens
La Canada Flintridge
Senator Frank Flint started building estates up these hillsides in the 1920s, and a quarter of the city is older than 1950. Those are serious chimneys, not always easy to reach. We take time on access, then give you a straight account of what the old masonry can still do.
rural Puente Hills town of avocados and canyon roads
La Habra Heights
Avocado and citrus land was sold off early, under developer Edwin Hart, and a quarter of these homes predate 1950. Long driveways and old trees near the roof come with that. We trim our advice to what you actually burn, how often, and where the branches hang.
postwar suburb around Neff Park and the performing arts theatre
La Mirada
Only 3 percent of La Mirada is older than 1950, yet 8 in 10 homes predate 1980, a very postwar mix. Most have a brick fireplace from the original build. After 60-odd years, we would rather catch a soft mortar joint now than chase a leak later.
Puente Valley city named for the old rancho, by San Jose Creek
La Puente
Over 8 in 10 La Puente homes were up by 1980, and few are older than the postwar tract years. Fireplaces were never universal in these houses, and any brick or block that was built has aged. A sweep and a look up top is a fair start.
Old Town college city that began as Lordsburg, along the foothills
La Verne
Lordsburg's old bungalows near Old Town and the tract homes that came later are two separate conversations. Brick wants a mortar check, while a factory unit wants its metal flue looked at. Tell us which you own, and we will tell you what makes sense.
Weingart, Boyar and Taper's mass-built suburb around Lakewood Center
Lakewood
Street after street went up here in about three years, starting in 1950. Those houses are now past 70, and so is anything original on the roof. Matching floor plans do not mean matching chimneys, so we check yours by itself.
high desert Antelope Valley city, with The BLVD downtown
Lancaster
About two thirds of Lancaster dates from 1980 or later, so most fireplaces are in newer stucco tracts. The older 1950s and 1960s houses are different, and may carry real masonry. At about 47 miles from Fillmore, we want to know which you have before we visit.
compact South Bay city, three miles inland, near El Camino College
Lawndale
Much of Lawndale went up between the war years and the late 1970s, and well under half of households own. So the person calling about a chimney may be a landlord or a tenant. Either way, the answer is the same: here is what it needs, and what can wait.
Harbor area city along Pacific Coast Highway and Narbonne Avenue
Lomita
Farm fields filled in here from the 1940s through the 1970s, so Lomita has both brick stacks and later factory-built units. They fail differently. Brick gives you mortar and crown trouble, while a metal unit shows rust at seams and caps. We check for the right problems.
big harbor city, from Bluff Park and California Heights to Naples Island
Long Beach
Long Beach chimneys carry a piece of history, since many older ones were damaged or rebuilt after 1933. A rebuild from then is now over 90 years old itself. In Belmont Heights or Drake Park, we ask what was redone, then look for ourselves with a camera.
the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley, over the county line from Simi Valley
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a big city, and we do not pretend to cover all of it. The Los Angeles homes we visit are the ones closest to our route, in the northwest Valley just past Simi Valley and the Santa Susana Pass. Many were built right after the war, and a lot of those chimneys were patched after the 1994 Northridge earthquake and never looked at closely again. For those, a camera run up the flue is usually our first step.
former dairy land along Long Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway
Lynwood
Nearly half of Lynwood was built before 1950, as dairy farms gave way to houses. An older home with a fireplace most likely has a brick chimney, and that brick has had a long life. We sweep it, look inside it, and give you the straight story.
Santa Monica Mountains coast, from Point Dume to Pepperdine's bluffs
Malibu
Beach houses, canyon homes and rebuilds sit in one city, with masonry on some older places and modern gas units on many new ones. Fillmore is about 27 miles away. Fires have taken some old chimneys, so if one stands alone or survived, we check it hard.
Sand and Hill sections above the Strand and the pier
Manhattan Beach
Small cottages came first after 1900, mainly in what are now the Sand and Hill sections. Few survive; only 15 percent of Manhattan Beach homes predate 1950. If yours has an older fireplace, it is worth knowing what is really going on inside the flue.
tiny, crowded southeast county city at Atlantic and Slauson
Maywood
There is hardly a new house in Maywood, and 44 percent of homes predate 1950. Many lots got extra units over time, so a chimney can end up hemmed in. We sort out how to reach it, then check what is left of the mortar.
1880s boom town below Monrovia Canyon, with Old Town and Foothill Boulevard
Monrovia
Born in the 1880s boom, Monrovia keeps Victorians and Craftsman houses around Old Town, many with chimneys older than anyone living in them. We treat that kind of brick with care. Our job is to say what must be repaired and to leave alone what is holding up.
western San Gabriel Valley city of old oil hills
Montebello
The oil boom after 1917 pushed Montebello from farmland to suburb, and its older bungalows still show that. Over 8 in 10 homes were up by 1980. If a tired chimney sits on one of them, we would look at the flue and crown before anyone lights a fire.
hillside suburb incorporated in 1916, with condos added to its ranch streets
Monterey Park
After World War II, building climbed the hills, so a Monterey Park ranch may perch on a slope with a chimney that is a stretch to reach. Roughly half the households own. We keep it simple for them: how it looks, what it needs, and in what order.
southeast county tract city, home to Cerritos College
Norwalk
One-story ranch tracts fill much of Norwalk, and half the homes went up before 1957. Where a fireplace was built, it is usually brick. That low roof makes for easy access, so there is little reason to leave an old crown unchecked for another decade.
high desert Antelope Valley city near the Highway 14 road cut
Palmdale
Four in five Palmdale homes are newer than 1980, so metal flues far outnumber masonry stacks. The older ranches are the exception. Metal needs its own kind of check, and at about 48 miles from Fillmore, we will ask first so we arrive ready.
peninsula bluffs and coves, from Malaga Cove to Bluff Cove
Palos Verdes Estates
Red tile roofs and steep lots make for careful chimney work here, since a misplaced boot can crack old tile. The Art Jury also has a say over exteriors in this city. So we talk through any visible repair first, and keep the look in mind.
southeast county city where Rosecrans meets Paramount Boulevard
Paramount
Well under half of Paramount lives in a detached house, so a real chimney here usually sits on an older one-story home. If you own one of those, the question is simple. Is it still safe to burn in it? We go up and find out.
Craftsman city below the San Gabriels, around 850 feet up
Pasadena
A river-rock chimney on a Craftsman is part of what makes the house, and many of them have no steel inside. That is a known quake concern. Before talking about tearing anything down, we look closely, explain the options and let you weigh them.
merged farm towns between two rivers, incorporated in 1958
Pico Rivera
Two farm towns became one city in 1958, and tract building through that decade made the place what it is. Many owners have lived with the same brick fireplace for years. A sweep plus a camera run shows whether it is still doing its job or quietly falling behind.
Pomona Valley city of Lincoln Park, Antique Row and the Fairplex
Pomona
Older Pomona means brick, and Lincoln Park and Wilton Heights hold a lot of it. Phillips Ranch and the southwest tracts are newer and may have factory units. We ask for your street and build year so we bring the right tools and expectations.
peninsula coast of view lots, Terranea and the moving Portuguese Bend land
Rancho Palos Verdes
Some Portuguese Bend homes have faced evacuations and cut utilities as the ground moved. Few places share that problem, and it can pull a chimney out of line. If you live anywhere near it, we would look at the stack's lean and joints before any fire.
South Bay port and resort city, from Riviera Village to the Esplanade
Redondo Beach
If you live in a Redondo condo, your fireplace is most likely a factory-built gas unit and its needs are modest. An older house toward the coast may have real masonry. We ask which you have up front, so nobody wastes a visit.
gated horse community on the peninsula, with the Portuguese Bend Riding Club
Rolling Hills
Gates and horse trails date from A.E. Hanson's 1930s plan, and most of the big ranches here came later. Nearly everyone owns, and many keep the original stack. Some remodels added gas. We will tell you where yours stands after a look.
peninsula suburb around the Promenade, along Silver Spur and Crenshaw
Rolling Hills Estates
Most homes on this hill were up by 1980, ranch and custom builds alike, and nearly all are owner-occupied. Some remodels added a gas or factory-built unit to an older house. It is worth finding out what is actually behind the mantel, and we start with that.
San Gabriel Valley city, close to the 1987 Whittier Narrows epicenter
Rosemead
Walnut groves and farm land filled in after the war, so a chimney in Rosemead is usually postwar and showing its age. Many of these detached houses are rented. We make our report easy to pass along, whether you own it or are just asking.
railroad citrus town from 1887, near Bonelli Park and Puddingstone Reservoir
San Dimas
Old Town's early houses and the bigger homes around Via Verde hardly feel like one city. Under 1 in 10 predates 1950, while most date from the tract years. We take each house as it comes and explain what its particular fireplace needs in plain words.
Charles Maclay's 1874 town, along Pacoima Wash
San Fernando
Serious shaking came in both 1971 and 1994, so a rebuilt chimney is likely on some older houses. Rebuilt how, and how well, is the question. About 29 miles from Fillmore, this is close to home for us, and a camera answers more than guessing would.
mission city with the 1927 Playhouse and the Valley Boulevard shops
San Gabriel
Nearly 4 in 10 San Gabriel homes were built before 1950, before modern seismic rules, so unreinforced brick is a real possibility. A postwar tract chimney likely has some steel in it, but it is decades old too. Knowing which you have changes our advice.
estate-lot city of The Huntington and El Molino Viejo
San Marino
Close to 70 percent of homes here predate 1950, and many are period pieces by design. Their chimneys often match the house, and any repair should too. We want to keep what is original where it is sound, and say so when it is not.
Santa Clarita Valley city that takes in Valencia and Placerita Canyon
Santa Clarita
Close to our Fillmore home, Santa Clarita is a newer place; half its homes went up after the mid 1980s. Few have brick, and most run a metal or gas firebox. Those still want upkeep, so we check the flue, the seams and the cap on each.
industrial and warehouse city with homes tucked into pockets
Santa Fe Springs
Warehouses take up most of the map, and the homes sit in pockets between them. Very few are from before 1950, so the typical house is a modest postwar ranch. If yours has a chimney, it has probably gone a while without anyone looking at it.
oceanfront city from Palisades Park to Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica
Fewer than 1 home in 5 stands alone in Santa Monica, and most residents rent. A courtyard building from the 1930s may have several flues and one owner. For the owner or the manager, we check each one and report in plain terms what is usable.
preserved foothill village below Bailey Canyon, incorporated in 1907
Sierra Madre
Cottages and Craftsman bungalows line these village streets, and their chimneys predate modern seismic rules, often with little or no steel. A town this small and old deserves care with its brick. We start with an honest inspection and never assume a tear down.
Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles, where the 405 crosses the 101
Sherman Oaks
South of Ventura Boulevard, custom hillside homes from midcentury on may have anything from brick to metal. Down on the flats, a postwar ranch is likelier to carry masonry. About 32 miles from Fillmore, we ask a few questions first, so the visit fits your house.
oil-famous hill city completely surrounded by Long Beach
Signal Hill
Half of Signal Hill is newer than 1980, thanks to condos, townhomes and hilltop homes added from then on. Lower streets keep the older houses. If your home is one of those, we check the masonry. In a condo, we check the factory-built setup instead.
light industry and warehouse city near two rivers
South El Monte
Houses here sit right alongside factories and warehouses, and most went up before 1980. About half are owned. We look at the flue and crown on any of them, and answer whether it is fit to use.
southeast county city of Hollydale and old plant jobs
South Gate
Nearly half of South Gate predates 1950, and Firestone and General Motors workers filled these streets for generations. The family that still owns one of those houses may have an old chimney nobody has opened up in years. A sweep and camera run make a sensible start.
tree-lined city of historic landmarks and the Mission Street district
South Pasadena
Historic homes are everywhere in South Pasadena, and 44 percent of the housing was up by 1950. Brick that old often has little or no steel in it. We would rather keep your chimney with careful repair if the structure allows, and we will say so if it does not.
Walter Temple's 1920s town, with Las Tunas as its main corridor
Temple City
Four in five Temple City homes stand alone, and some lots now hold larger rebuilds with gas fireplaces. On the older tract houses, one brick chimney usually does the job, and it is decades old. Which of those do you have? It changes everything we check.
Olmsted-planned South Bay city, from Hollywood Riviera to Walteria
Torrance
Jared Torrance's planned 1912 industrial city grew into a place where half the units are attached. Homes on the Walteria and Hollywood Riviera hillsides are likelier to have a real chimney. If yours does, roof pitch and access come first, then the flue itself.
exclusively industrial city along the Los Angeles River, with only 331 residents
Vernon
Vernon is an industrial city with around 331 residents, and fireplaces of any kind are few. Most of its homes are in one apartment complex from the 2010s. So we will be honest: unless you are in one of the older houses, you likely have no chimney to worry about.
hill-edge suburb of Snow Creek and Lemon Creek parks, incorporated in 1959
Walnut
Almost nobody rents in Walnut, and condos are scarce. A two-story roof is a taller climb than a ranch, so we plan access around that. Most homes here are from the 1980s or later, and we identify what fireplace you have before telling you what it needs.
large San Gabriel Valley city with Galster Park in the South Hills
West Covina
Tracts replaced orchards at great speed once the war ended, and only about 1 West Covina home in 20 is older than that. So the common case is a single postwar brick chimney with decades on it. Steel reinforcement helps, but crowns and mortar still age up top.
apartment-heavy city on the Sunset Strip, incorporated in 1984
West Hollywood
Only about 1 home in 11 stands alone in West Hollywood, and most people rent. Courtyard apartments like those on Harper Avenue date from the 1920s, before modern seismic rules. If you own or manage one with a working flue, we would want to see it before anyone lights it.
planned lake community over the county line from Thousand Oaks
Westlake Village
Over the county line from our Ventura County home, this planned community is about 19 miles from Fillmore. Nothing here predates the late 1960s lake plan, so the stacks are younger. Half a century still takes a toll, and we check accordingly.
Uptown and Puente Hills city, home of Whittier College
Whittier
Three in ten Whittier homes predate 1950, built before modern seismic rules, and the older brick here has lived through a lot. We go slow on those. Later custom homes in the hills may have very different setups, so we look first and advise after.
the farm-country town between the Oxnard Plain and the Conejo Grade
Camarillo
Camarillo is a drive south from our side of the county, past the fields of the Oxnard Plain. Its houses span many decades, so on one street we may find an old masonry fireplace and on the next a gas insert. We look at what is actually there before suggesting anything.
the big coastal city on the Oxnard Plain, from the beach neighborhoods to the farm edges
Oxnard
Oxnard is the farthest our route gets from the dry heat of Fillmore. Down here the problem is the ocean. Salt settles on every bit of metal on a chimney, and a cheap cap or chase cover can rust through well before you expect. We check those parts first and suggest stainless where it makes sense.
Oxnard Plain beach town with a fishing pier and Seabee Museum
Port Hueneme
Only about a third of Port Hueneme is detached, and those beachfront condos may have nothing but a gas unit. Still in Ventura County with us, about 23 miles from Fillmore, the modest postwar houses here are the likely masonry chimneys. Let us know what you have.
the Conejo Valley, south of Moorpark down Highway 23
Thousand Oaks
We reach Thousand Oaks by heading south through Moorpark. Many homes here were built in a long growth period and have prefab fireboxes and metal chimneys. Those need different care from the old brick we see in Fillmore, so we check the metal flue, the firebox panels and the chase on the roof.
newer south Orange County city along Aliso Creek, home of Soka University
Aliso Viejo
Very little in Aliso Viejo predates 1980, and attached homes outnumber detached ones. That means metal flues, not old brick. They rust from the top and at the seams, so the cap is what we look at. At 89 miles from Fillmore, we are upfront about the distance.
from West Anaheim's tracts out to Anaheim Hills and Santa Ana Canyon
Anaheim
Fewer than half of Anaheim's units stand alone, and only 4 percent predate 1950. Homes from the 1970s on often have metal fireplaces, and their flues and caps wear in their own ways. At about 76 miles from Fillmore, we would talk it over with you before visiting.
north Orange County city with Olinda's oil past and Carbon Canyon nearby
Brea
Olinda Ranch and La Floresta are newer places with gas or factory-built fireplaces, while smaller older homes cluster around downtown. It is a good idea to know which you have before you call anyone. We ask for your neighborhood, and we explain what we would check.
entertainment corridor city on Beach Boulevard, crossed by Interstate 5
Buena Park
James Whitaker started this town in the 1880s, but almost nothing that old is left; few homes here predate 1950. Most are from the suburban boom after it. For a house of that age, a visit from us focuses on flue, firebox and crown.
former Harper, grown around the old Santa Ana Army Air Base
Costa Mesa
Once called Harper, the town took off after the Army air base years, and most homes date from the decades after. Gas fireplaces are common in rebuilt houses. Rentals are the majority too. If you are unsure what you have, we will tell you before suggesting any work.
former Dairy City in northwest Orange County, by the county line
Cypress
Renamed from Dairy City in 1957, Cypress has few homes from before that. Most are stucco ranch tracts that came after, and three in four predate 1980. On those we check whether you have masonry or an early metal unit, because their upkeep differs quite a bit.
Lantern Village, harbor and bluff-top homes on the south Orange County coast
Dana Point
Street of the Golden Lantern and its neighbors date to Sidney Woodruff's 1920s Spanish-style plans, and the older houses there are worth some care. Monarch Beach estates and bluff-top homes have their own setups. Fillmore is about 95 miles away, and we are honest about that.
former farmland city of artesian wells, around Mile Square Regional Park
Fountain Valley
Farmland became tracts over two decades, leaving over 80 percent of homes older than 1980 and barely any older than 1950. If you have a fireplace from those years, we look at what was installed, how it has held up, and what it needs.
old citrus and railroad city, from Golden Hill to Sunny Hills
Fullerton
Historic streets near downtown, such as Hillcrest Park and Raymond Hills, fall in city preservation zones, so chimney work you can see from the street takes some thought. Sunny Hills ranches are simpler. We explain the options on an older masonry stack and keep the repair talk honest.
central Orange County city, home to part of Little Saigon
Garden Grove
Alonzo Cook founded the place in 1874, but farm country lasted past 1933, which means the Long Beach quake predates nearly every house. One-story ranch houses dominate. With easy roof access and a chimney of that age, it is no great job to get an honest report on yours.
long Pacific frontage city, from Huntington Harbour to Sunset Beach
Huntington Beach
Chimneys here change as the city did. A 1960s tract likely has masonry, and by the 1980s most units had turned to factory-built metal. Downtown's old cottages are something else again. We ask when your place was built, since that tells us where to look first.
planned villages on old Irvine Ranch land, incorporated in 1971
Irvine
Half of Irvine has gone up since about 2002, and very few of its fireplaces are site-built masonry. Metal and gas units need less, yet they still need something: a clean flue, a sound cap, a working vent. We tell you which of those applies to yours.
Orange County's northern edge, incorporated in 1925
La Habra
Most La Habra tract houses date from before 1980, and the typical one has a single brick or block fireplace. Those last a long time, but not forever. Our approach is simple: sweep it, go up and look, and tell you what can wait.
compact northwest Orange County city around its Central Park
La Palma
Under two square miles hold all of La Palma, and almost every house came in one stretch of planned suburb. Brick and block fireplaces sit beside later factory-built units, sometimes on the same street. We sort out which is yours before anything else.
artists' colony turned city, below steep canyons on the ocean
Laguna Beach
A cottage in Laguna Beach may have a brick or stone chimney older than the city's 1927 incorporation, and 27 percent of homes predate 1950. Custom homes range from masonry to gas. Being about 89 miles from Fillmore, we say so up front and discuss it.
Saddleback Valley city beside Nellie Gail Ranch
Laguna Hills
Horse trails and larger custom homes mark Nellie Gail Ranch, where a masonry chimney is more likely than elsewhere in Laguna Hills. Most other places here have metal or gas fireplaces. Those are simple to check, and we would say so rather than sell you more work.
south Orange County hills, from Bear Brand to the regional park lake
Laguna Niguel
Three quarters of the homes here are newer than 1980, so metal or gas fireplaces outnumber masonry, which shows up mostly in custom hillside homes. On a steep lot, access can take some planning. We talk through that and the fireplace type before setting a visit.
age-restricted community for residents 55 and older, incorporated in 1999
Laguna Woods
Detached houses are rare here, and any outside work on a unit goes through the community association. So we would start with their rules. Inside, expect a factory-built unit or gas, and we can help you sort out if it is in good shape.
El Toro neighborhoods up to Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills
Lake Forest
El Toro streets are mostly 1970s, and Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills are 1990s, so the age of a Lake Forest house depends on where it is. That also shapes what kind of fireplace it holds. Give us the neighborhood, and we can tell you what comes next.
small base town beside the San Gabriel River
Los Alamitos
An 1897 sugar beet factory got this town going, but the houses mostly came later with the base nearby. Under half of Los Alamitos homes are detached. On a 1970s or older tract house, a quick look at the flue and the crown tells most of the story.
planned Saddleback Valley city with views of Saddleback Mountain
Mission Viejo
One developer laid out the whole place from the 1960s, and about half the homes in Mission Viejo predate 1980. Owners who plan to stay have reason to check a chimney of this age, and our camera shows you what is inside the flue.
Balboa Island and Lido Isle harbor city, up to Upper Newport Bay
Newport Beach
Balboa Island cottages on small lots, Lido rebuilds and hillside customs each come with a different fireplace story. Older places may have masonry, and most new ones use gas or factory-built units. Fillmore is about 81 miles away, and we say so up front.
Old Towne's Victorian streets and the east side along Santiago Creek
Orange
Old Towne's bungalows may still have their first brick chimney, and an original like that deserves care. A mid-century Eichler is another matter entirely. We treat each as its own job and explain how a repair would affect the look of the house.
inland north county city, incorporated in 1926, beside Yorba Linda
Placentia
Sixty percent of Placentia predates 1980, mostly stucco ranch tracts from the postwar decades. Brick or block is the likely fireplace from those years, and later homes lean factory-built. Either way, we explain our findings so you can make your own choice about any repair.
newer planned city around Lago Santa Margarita, incorporated in 2000
Rancho Santa Margarita
Half of Rancho Santa Margarita went up after 1992, so there is almost no old masonry here. A direct-vent gas unit needs very little from a chimney contractor, and we will say that plainly. Metal flues, on the other hand, deserve a look at the cap.
Ole Hanson's planned 1925 Spanish village on the coast
San Clemente
Ole Hanson set out to build a Spanish village here, and his own Casa Romantica still stands above the pier. Few of the old homes are left, and most of today's San Clemente is newer. Fillmore is about 100 miles away, and we will talk that over first.
mission town of the Los Rios adobes and the 1894 depot
San Juan Capistrano
Few towns have fireplaces this varied. Old Los Rios homes like the Montanez Adobe go back near the Mission years, while newer homes use gas or factory-built units. Old adobe or masonry calls for a light touch, and we would explain what we can and cannot do.
Orange County's old courthouse city, with Floral Park and Fourth Street
Santa Ana
Floral Park is the place for 1920s and 1930s period revival houses, and those chimneys are worth saving if the structure allows it. Elsewhere in Santa Ana, more than half the homes are rentals. In either case, the owner gets a straight read from us.
small coast city of College Park tracts and a wildlife refuge
Seal Beach
Only about a third of Seal Beach is detached, so many residents share walls and any flue that goes with them. The College Park tracts are mid-century, with chimneys that are now quite old. We will tell you what yours needs and what can be put off.
compact Orange County city strung along Beach Boulevard
Stanton
About a quarter of Stanton is detached, and a lot of attached units have nothing to sweep. So the first question is whether you have anything to inspect. If you own one of the older houses, it likely has brick or block, and we will check it plainly.
Old Town around Main Street, and the old air station's blimp hangars
Tustin
Early 1900s houses around Old Town often keep their brick chimneys, and the city protects that district as a cultural resource. Only 34 percent of Tustin is detached, so many others have no such thing. For those older homes, we favor repair that respects the original look.
tiny foothill city of large lots near Santiago Oaks
Villa Park
Nine in ten households own in Villa Park, and many of those custom houses are 50 or more years old. Custom building means no two chimneys match. So we look at yours and do not guess from the neighbor's, and you get the plain results.
1870 Presbyterian colony beside Midway City, in the middle of the basin
Westminster
The old temperance colony gave way to ranch tracts in the postwar years, and that is what most of Westminster is today. Fireplaces from then are likely brick or block. Later homes tend toward factory-built units. Sixty years on, either kind benefits from a real look.
Nixon's birthplace, from Savi Ranch to the wildland hills
Yorba Linda
Most Yorba Linda homes are owner-occupied on roomy lots, gas or factory-built fireplaces are common, and masonry shows up mainly in custom builds. A hillside house takes ember exposure either way. We will tell you which parts of your setup deserve the most attention.
inland city of navel oranges, along the Santa Ana River
Riverside
Incorporated in 1883, Riverside still has Victorians around Heritage Square, along with plenty of later tracts. About 93 miles from Fillmore, it is a long way from our base, and we will be straight about that. An old chimney here still deserves a careful look from someone.
the Circle City along Grand Boulevard, near the Temescal Valley
Corona
Grand Boulevard's old road race circle is the town's claim, yet three of four homes went up after 1980. Most have factory-built metal or gas, while older homes may hold masonry. About 86 miles from Fillmore is a real distance, and we will talk that over before any visit.
the whole county, 88 cities plus places like Marina del Rey
Los Angeles County
From Pasadena Craftsman chimneys to Valley tracts and Long Beach towers, no single answer fits this county of 88 cities. Our home is next door in Ventura County, and the northwest corner sits closest. Tell us where you are, and we will be honest about the distance.
inland county from Riverside's valley to Idyllwild and the Coachella desert
Riverside County
Mountain Idyllwild cabins still burn wood, while older parts of Riverside and Corona carry brick chimneys and most of the rest is newer. We are about 174 miles from this county's middle by map, so we will tell you honestly where a visit makes sense and where it does not.
whole county, from north county old towns to the south coast
Orange County
Old Towne Orange and Floral Park hold real old brick, while coastal towns mix cottages with luxury estates, and places such as Rossmoor and Ladera Ranch span the 1950s to 2000s. Fillmore is about 82 miles off. We will tell you honestly how far a visit makes sense.
our home county, from Santa Clara River citrus towns to the coast
Ventura County
This is home for the Baker family, with Fillmore in the Santa Clara River valley and citrus still around us. More than half the county's homes predate 1980, and a ranch or farmhouse chimney tends to get hard use. We sweep it, look inside and talk it over with you.
Your Town
Find your town, read the notes, then give us a call.
If your street sits between two towns, call anyway. The route bends to reach neighbors on the edges.