Updated September 10, 2026
How much housing does Charleston have?
The Census counts 75,826 housing units in Charleston for a population of about 152,014 — roughly 2.0 people for every housing unit.
That is the largest of the four South Carolina cities with a page here; the next, Columbia, counts 60,568.
Who arranges chimney work on a Charleston home?
About 55.6% of occupied Charleston homes are owner-occupied, which leaves about 44.4% rented.
Even at 55.6% owner-occupied, the remaining 44.4% of Charleston homes are rented, where the person who notices a problem and the person who authorizes the repair are not the same. Say which you are when you send a request.
Tenure also decides who keeps the paperwork. A Charleston chimney's earlier reports follow the property, not the occupant, so ask for them whichever side of that 55.6% you are on.
Which cities near Charleston have their own page here?
Columbia, about 100 miles away, Rock Hill, about 158 miles away, and Greenville, about 195 miles away — measured from Charleston.
Those are great-circle distances between the Census 2023 Gazetteer interior points of each place, so the drive is longer than the figure.
Columbia's median build year is 1978 against Charleston's 1994, a 16-year difference in the housing the two chimneys belong to.
What you can observe safely
- Note whether stains return after rain.
- Photograph the pattern without scraping or applying chemicals.
What to avoid
- Do not climb onto the roof or enter the chimney.
- Do not alter gas components, venting, or safety controls.
- Do not use a test fire to diagnose the problem.
Possible causes to assess
- Moisture movement
- Soluble deposits
- Other surface staining requiring identification
A symptom cannot establish the cause remotely. An assessment of the complete system helps determine the appropriate repair.
Chimney repair in CharlestonA few common questions
Can this be diagnosed from a photo?
A photo can document a symptom and help prepare a visit. It cannot confirm concealed conditions or establish that a chimney or fuel-burning appliance is safe.