Viking Chimney Solutions LLC

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.

09/17/2026

Cooler weather will be here before you know it. Is your fireplace ready?
If you just moved into your home, haven’t used the fireplace in years, or you’re simply not sure when it was last properly inspected, now is a good time to get ahead of it.
A general home inspection is not the same as a dedicated fireplace and chimney inspection. Viking Chimney Solutions provides professional fireplace and chimney inspections using camera inspection of the flue system, along with detailed documentation of the conditions found.
I also provide gas fireplace diagnostics and service, manufactured fireplace replacement, wood-burning fireplace replacement, and chimney repair options.
I’m NCSG Chimney Certified and an NFI Gas Specialist, and I always recommend making sure the individual technician working on your fireplace is properly certified and properly insured for the work being performed.
Don’t wait until the first cold weekend to find out something isn’t working properly.
Learn more about our services or schedule online:
vikingchimneysolutions.com
Viking Chimney Solutions
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.

09/15/2026

Absolutely love these fireplaces! They even work when you lose power.

The weather may still be warm, but the fall season and colder days are just around the corner.

Now is the time to start thinking ahead, whether you’re considering a new fireplace or looking to upgrade your existing hearth. Planning and installing a fireplace early means you’ll be ready when temperatures drop and create a warm, inviting centrepiece in your home.

Visit your local Valor Fireplaces dealer and get a head start on a warmer season ahead. Learn more at www.valorfireplaces.com

09/12/2026

Just moved into your home? Before you light that fireplace for the first time, make sure you know what you actually have.
A general home inspection and a dedicated fireplace/chimney inspection are not the same thing.
Fireplaces can hide problems that aren't obvious from the living room — damaged or improperly installed venting, deteriorated components, clearance issues, missing parts, water intrusion, or an older gas appliance that needs service before use.
And if the fireplace hasn't been used in years, that makes an inspection even more important.
Fall appointments are starting to fill, and fireplace season always arrives faster than people expect.
I'm an NCSG Chimney Certified Professional and NFI Certified Gas Specialist, and I inspect both masonry and manufactured fireplace systems.
If you recently moved, haven't used your fireplace in a while, or simply don't know when it was last professionally inspected, now is the time to find out.
Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.

09/10/2026

Thinking About Remodeling Your Fireplace? Start With the Fireplace — Not the Stone.
“My fireplace is only 30–35 years old. Why would I replace it?”
Maybe you shouldn’t.
Age alone isn't a reason to replace a fireplace or gas appliance. But before spending thousands updating stone, tile, mantels or cabinetry, have the fireplace and appliance evaluated first.
I've been called to homes where beautiful new finish work had just been installed around an older gas appliance. Then a component failed, the needed part was obsolete, and the appliance had to be replaced.
That brand-new surround had to come back out. The homeowner essentially paid to finish the fireplace twice.
Before remodeling, ask a few important questions:
• Is the existing fireplace and venting system in good condition?
• Are replacement parts still available?
• If the appliance needs replacement later, will a new one fit the existing opening and framing?
• Will different venting, gas, electrical or clearance requirements affect the remodel?
And just as important:
What do you actually want from your fireplace?
Maybe you love burning wood. Maybe you want push-button convenience. Maybe you're updating the room's appearance. Or maybe you'd like some additional heat during those few weeks when South Texas remembers it's supposed to have winter.
If we wouldn't build a new home by finishing the fireplace wall before choosing the fireplace, why would we remodel one that way?
This is also why using properly trained fireplace professionals matters. Fireplaces involve more than appearance — venting, combustion, clearances, gas systems and manufacturer requirements all matter.
I'm an NCSG Chimney Certified Professional and NFI Certified Gas Specialist. These are certifications held by the individual technician, not simply the company.
Sometimes my recommendation will be:
Keep the fireplace you have.
But let's determine that before you build thousands of dollars of beautiful finish work around it.
Before you remodel around your fireplace, have the fireplace evaluated — not just the room around it.

Craig Dornak – Owner
Viking Chimney Solutions LLC
Your Chimney’s Mightiest Defender.