Updated September 10, 2026
How much housing does Columbia have?
The Census counts 60,568 housing units in Columbia for a population of about 138,019 — roughly 2.3 people for every housing unit.
That makes Columbia the second largest of the four South Carolina cities with a page here; Charleston counts 75,826.
Who arranges chimney work on a Columbia home?
About 47.3% of occupied Columbia homes are owner-occupied, which leaves about 52.7% rented.
With 52.7% of occupied Columbia homes rented, the person who notices the smell, the stain or the smoke is more often than not a tenant, and the person who authorizes a repair is someone else. Say which you are when you send a request, so the findings reach whoever has to act on them.
Tenure also decides who keeps the paperwork. A Columbia chimney's earlier reports follow the property, not the occupant, so ask for them whichever side of that 47.3% you are on.
Which cities near Columbia have their own page here?
Rock Hill, about 62 miles away, Charleston, about 100 miles away, and Greenville, about 100 miles away — measured from Columbia.
Those are great-circle distances between the Census 2023 Gazetteer interior points of each place, so the drive is longer than the figure.
Rock Hill's median build year is 1995 against Columbia's 1978, a 17-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 ColumbiaA 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.