From chimney inspections and masonry repairs to fireplace installations and dryer vent cleaning, Pasadena’s Old Line Chimney Sweeps brings decades of experience to home maintenance.
A fireplace may be the gathering spot on a chilly evening, but the chimney above it often gets little attention until something goes wrong. Moisture appears inside the firebox. Smoke drifts into the room. An animal finds a new place to nest.
For James Horne, owner of Pasadena-based Old Line Chimney Sweeps, those calls are familiar – and they illustrate how much chimney care involves beyond a routine sweeping.
With approximately 30 years of industry experience, Horne has built a business that handles everything from inspections and cleaning to structural repairs and fireplace installations. Operating from its office and shop at 4517-A Mountain Road in Lake Shore, Old Line serves Pasadena, the surrounding Baltimore area and communities across the Eastern Shore, including Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Caroline counties.
The company operates year-round, although fall brings a predictable surge in demand as homeowners prepare to use their fireplaces.
“This is the time the chimney industry kicks off, so our phones are getting busy and the schedule is filling up,” Horne said.
That seasonal rush makes planning ahead worthwhile. Horne said September through March is typically the busiest stretch, while spring and summer offer opportunities for shorter wait times and seasonal discounts.
One of the questions customers ask most frequently is how often their chimneys need to be cleaned and inspected.
Annual inspections are the starting point. The Chimney Safety Institute of America, citing National Fire Protection Association Standard 211, recommends inspecting chimneys, fireplaces and vents at least once a year, with cleaning, maintenance and repairs performed as needed. Even chimneys that see little use can develop deterioration or animal nests.
An inspection can uncover problems that are difficult for a homeowner to spot. Horne said camera equipment allows technicians to examine interior areas beyond their direct line of sight, capturing detailed images of cracked flue tiles, damaged liners and missing mortar joints.
“It makes the inaccessible areas become accessible and helps with greater detail for your chimney inspections,” he explained.
Those findings help determine whether a chimney needs cleaning, repairs or more extensive restoration. Old Line’s services include chimney relining, exterior brickwork and mortar repairs, giving the company the ability to address both the interior passageway and the masonry exposed to the weather.
Around Pasadena and Anne Arundel County, Horne said water-related damage is particularly common. Chimney crowns, exterior brickwork and mortar joints are frequent trouble spots. Visible moisture inside a fireplace is one sign that deserves attention; smoke coming back into the house during use is another.
A properly fitted chimney cap also plays an important role. Horne explained that a cap helps prevent rain and snow from entering the chimney while discouraging animals from making a home inside.
His team regularly receives calls involving squirrels, raccoons and chimney swifts – a reminder that an unused chimney can still require attention.
For homeowners interested in updating their living spaces, Old Line also sells and installs wood, gas and electric fireplaces and inserts. Those projects extend the company’s work beyond maintenance, helping customers add a fireplace or make changes to an existing hearth.
For those using wood-burning fireplaces, Horne recommends dry, seasoned hardwood and advises against burning cardboard. Choosing appropriate fuel is one part of caring for the system between professional visits.
Another service Old Line provides addresses an appliance that often gets used far more frequently than the fireplace: the clothes dryer.
Horne said dryer vent cleaning is easy for homeowners to overlook, particularly when they regularly empty the lint trap. But the lint screen and the exhaust vent are different parts of the system.
“Cleaning out the lint trap in the dryer is not the same as a dryer vent cleaning,” he said.
Old Line cleans the vent pathway beyond the dryer, addressing lint buildup that the appliance’s screen does not capture. Horne said the service can also help improve drying times and efficiency.
The company’s offerings include solar attic fan sales and installation as well, rounding out a range of services focused on home ventilation, maintenance and comfort.
Since opening Old Line Chimney Sweeps in 2004, Horne has expanded from one van and a helper to several service trucks, full- and part-time technicians, and office support. The family-owned business has grown its service area while maintaining its Pasadena base.
Horne, who was born and raised locally, said building lasting customer relationships has remained a priority throughout that growth. Returning calls, scheduling promptly and staying in touch about available specials are part of that effort.
“Having a long-term repeat customer base has always been our main focus since we first started our business in 2004,” he said. “If you create a solid foundation of happy customers that return, you are winning in small business.”
For homeowners, that relationship can begin with a seasonal cleaning and continue through repairs, improvements and the maintenance needs that arise over years of living in a home. And while cooler weather may bring the chimney to mind, Horne’s message is that caring for it is a year-round job.
Old Line Chimney Sweeps is located at 4517-A Mountain Road in Pasadena. To learn more or schedule service, call (410) 360-3311 or visit oldlinechimney.com.
