Viking Chimney Solutions LLC

10/29/2026

10/26/2026

HOMEOWNER WARNING: BE CAREFUL WHO YOU HIRE TO CLEAN YOUR CHIMNEY!

As fireplace season approaches, we're seeing the return of something that happens every year: companies advertising chimney cleanings for $49, $69, or $99.

Unfortunately, that advertised price isn't always what homeowners end up paying.

Here's a scenario homeowners need to watch out for:

A company advertises an inexpensive chimney cleaning. The technician arrives, removes some ashes from the firebox, and then announces that the chimney needs a "deep cleaning," "special treatment," or additional service costing hundreds of dollars.

In some cases, the chimney flue hasn't even been properly inspected.

Other companies advertise special chemical treatments, deodorizing, or even "sanitizing" services applied from the top of the chimney.

Let's be clear about something: A fireplace and chimney are complete systems, and proper maintenance involves much more than cleaning visible ashes.

There is no magic spray or sanitizing treatment that replaces a professional chimney inspection and proper mechanical cleaning when needed.

BEFORE HIRING A CHIMNEY COMPANY, ASK THESE QUESTIONS:

Is the actual technician coming into my home certified?

What exactly is included in the advertised cleaning price?

Will the chimney flue be inspected, and will a camera be used when appropriate?

Will I receive an explanation of any problems discovered?

Will additional work and pricing be discussed before anything is performed?

One of the most important things I tell homeowners is this:

Just because a company advertises that it's certified doesn't necessarily mean the person arriving at your home holds that certification.

Ask about the individual doing the work.

At Viking Chimney Solutions, I believe anyone inspecting, cleaning, or servicing your fireplace should have the appropriate professional certifications and training.

I'm Craig Dornak, owner and operator of Viking Chimney Solutions.

My professional credentials include:

NCSG Chimney Certified Professional

NFI Gas Specialist

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician

When you hire Viking Chimney Solutions, I'm the certified professional who shows up and performs the work.

I believe in thorough inspections, honest recommendations, and clear, upfront pricing.

If additional work is needed, I'll explain what I found, why it matters, and what it will cost before proceeding.

No unnecessary scare tactics. No surprise cleaning packages. No gimmicks.

Your family's safety deserves more than the cheapest advertised price.

Before scheduling that $49 chimney cleaning, take a few minutes to verify who you're actually hiring.

Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Sugar Land, Texas | Serving 14 Texas Counties

Message us today to schedule a professional fireplace and chimney inspection.

Your Chimney's Mightiest Defender.

10/23/2026

It’s Friday, the weather is finally cooler, and fireplace season is officially here.

One thing I’ve noticed over and over is that a fireplace can look perfectly fine from the living room while problems are hiding somewhere else in the system.

That may be inside the flue, behind the firebox, at a vent connection, inside the chimney chase, or on the roof where most homeowners never get a close look.

That is why I don’t believe a fireplace inspection should consist of simply shining a flashlight up the chimney and calling it good.

At Viking Chimney Solutions, I use camera inspection equipment, detailed photo documentation, and exterior evaluation when accessible to give homeowners a much better picture of what is actually going on with their fireplace and chimney system.

I’m an NCSG Certified Chimney Professional, NFI Certified Gas Specialist, Texas native, and the owner/operator of Viking Chimney Solutions. When you schedule with Viking, I’m the one who shows up.

Level 2 Fireplace & Chimney Inspections are $175.

If you’re planning to use your fireplace this fall and you don’t know when it was last professionally inspected, now is a good time to find out what you actually have.

Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.

10/19/2026

The cooler weather has finally shown up, and fireplaces across Southeast Texas are about to start getting used again.
If your fireplace or chimney hasn’t been inspected recently, now is a good time to have it checked before the season really gets going. A lot of problems aren’t visible from the living room, including issues inside the flue, water damage, deteriorated components, and past repairs that may not have been done correctly.
Viking Chimney Solutions is owner-operated, Texas-based, and NCSG Chimney Certified. Level 2 fireplace inspections are $175 and include a camera scan, detailed photos, and an interior and exterior evaluation when accessible.
I’ve been a little quieter than usual this week because of a death in my family, but I’ll be getting back to a normal schedule shortly and continuing to serve homeowners throughout Fort Bend County and the surrounding areas.
If you’re planning to use your fireplace this fall, now is the time to make sure it’s ready.

10/12/2026

Your Fireplace Has Been Sitting All Summer. Is It Ready for Fall?

October is here, and before long, homeowners across Southeast Texas will be lighting their fireplaces for the first time this season.

But just because a fireplace looks good from the living room doesn't necessarily mean everything is in good condition inside the chimney.

At Viking Chimney Solutions LLC, we use professional chimney inspection cameras to examine areas homeowners can't see, identifying potential venting problems, deterioration, improper connections, and other concerns.

Level 2 Fireplace Inspections – $175.00

Chimney Sweeping – $75.00 additional when needed.

We also provide gas fireplace service, chimney repairs, waterproofing, chimney caps, and dryer vent cleaning.

As a locally owned and operated company based in Sugar Land, we proudly serve Fort Bend County, Greater Houston, and surrounding Southeast Texas communities.

Professionally Certified. Locally Owned. Committed to Doing the Job Right.

Don't wait until you're ready to light that first fire to find out your fireplace needs attention.

Message Viking Chimney Solutions today to schedule your inspection.

Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Your Chimney's Mightiest Defender.

10/07/2026

Amazing!

A ranch entrance should feel like it grew there. This custom cultured stone welcome sign sits right at the gate on a ranch outside Houston, carved with the ranch brand and the family's names, built to hold up to Texas weather.

We design, cast, and install ranch and farm entrance monuments. Visits by appointment, so please call ahead.

Questions? Call (281) 901-0788
More: https://bedrockboulders.net/ranch-signs.html

09/28/2026

These guys can do anything! Amazing work!

Fresh Houston-area install: a companion cultured stone boulder memorial with rough-hewn edges, matching base, and custom engraving shaped for a couple — permanent stone that feels at home in the ground.

We design, cast, and install custom cultured stone headstones for Houston-area families. Visits by appointment — please call ahead.

Questions? Call (281) 901-0788
More: https://bedrockboulders.net/headstones.html

09/28/2026

Not all fireplace and chimney inspections are the same.

As fireplace season gets closer, homeowners should know what they are actually paying for when they schedule an inspection.

First, certifications belong to the individual technician—not the company name on the truck.

Before hiring someone, ask who will actually be inspecting your fireplace and what industry certifications that person holds.

Second, ask whether they use a camera to inspect the inside of the flue.

Looking up from the firebox with a flashlight is not enough.

Cracked flue tiles, damaged joints, gaps, improper repairs, deterioration, venting problems, and other defects can be hidden well beyond what can be seen from the fireplace opening.

That is why I use camera inspection as part of every fireplace and chimney inspection I perform.

At Viking Chimney Solutions, you are dealing directly with me—the person performing the inspection and explaining exactly what I find.

I am:

NCSG Chimney Certified
NFI Gas Specialist
CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician

The cheapest inspection is not always the least expensive decision.

Ask who is doing the inspection. Ask about their certifications. Ask if they are putting a camera through the system. And ask to see what they found.

A proper inspection should leave you with more than “everything looks fine.”

Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.

09/19/2026

🏠 Buying a home with a fireplace? This is something every buyer should know.

Yesterday I inspected two fireplaces in a recently purchased home. Both systems were more than 40 years old.

And I want to make one thing clear:

The home inspector actually did a very good job.

He documented several fireplace concerns and performed one of the better fireplace evaluations I’ve seen from a general home inspection.

But a home inspection and a Level 2 fireplace/chimney inspection are not the same thing.

Home inspectors have a specific scope of work. They generally do not have specialized chimney cameras or the fireplace- and chimney-specific training needed to evaluate areas deep inside a flue system.

When I ran my camera through these chimneys, one fireplace showed evidence of major flue problems that could not be seen from the fireplace opening.

Outside, both chimney chase tops had been painted over prior to the sale. They looked better from a distance, but rust is already beginning to come back through the paint.

Fresh paint can hide deterioration.

It does not repair it.

Unfortunately, the new homeowner is now in a position where neither fireplace should be used until the necessary repairs or replacement work is completed.

That is a difficult thing to discover after purchasing a home.

This is why a specialized fireplace inspection is so important during a real-estate transaction, particularly with an older system.

A Level 2 inspection can include:

🔥 Camera inspection of the flue
🔥 Firebox and damper evaluation
🔥 Venting and chimney component inspection
🔥 Exterior chimney and chase evaluation
🔥 Photo documentation of deficiencies

And just as important as having the inspection performed is who performs it.

Fireplaces and chimneys are specialized systems. When hiring someone to inspect or work on one, ask about their individual industry certifications, training, and insurance.

I am NCSG Chimney Certified and an NFI Gas Specialist, and I use specialized camera equipment to document areas of the system that cannot be properly evaluated from the fireplace opening alone.

This isn’t about criticizing home inspectors.

They have a different job and a different scope.

A good home inspector can identify visible warning signs and recommend further evaluation. A qualified fireplace/chimney professional can then take that inspection farther.

If you're purchasing a home with a fireplace — especially one that has been there for several decades — have it professionally inspected before the option period ends whenever possible.

Finding a problem before closing is a very different situation than finding it after you already own the house.
vikingchimneysolutions.com
Viking Chimney Solutions
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.