Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in White Plains, NY
We’re not big on talk. Forty-two years in Westchester County has taught us that a homeowner with a flashlight and a ladder can see the difference between a flue packed with glazed creosote and one that’s actually clean. The photos below are what we hand back after every Level-2 inspection: proof you can hold in your hand, explained in plain English.
Recent Transformations
Glazed Creosote Removal, Hartsdale-Area Colonial
The homeowner smelled smoke in the upstairs hallway every time the fireplace ran. Our camera found a third-stage glazed creosote deposit, shiny and tar-black, reducing the flue opening by nearly 40 percent. We applied a chemical creosote modifier, then rotary-cleaned the flue with polypropylene brushes until the terracotta liner showed its original buff color. The smoke smell stopped that evening. Russell Haines flagged a hairline crack in the third flue tile - too small to require immediate action, documented with a photo so the homeowner can watch it next season.
Fireplace Smoke Chamber Parging, North White Plains Ranch
Smoke rolled into the living room on cold, still days - the classic pressure-zone problem in low-lying North White Plains properties near the reservoir. The smoke chamber was corbeled brick with deep mortar gaps, creating turbulence that reversed draft. We parged the chamber smooth with HeatShield Cerfractory Foam, restoring the proper funnel shape. Draft improved immediately. The homeowner’s first fire after our visit drew so cleanly they checked to make sure the damper was actually open.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild, Scarsdale Border Tudor
Water stained the bedroom ceiling below the chimney chase every spring thaw. The concrete crown had eroded to exposed aggregate, and the galvanized cap had rusted through at the seams. We formed and poured a new crown with proper drip edges and slope, then installed a Gelco stainless cap with mesh screening. The ceiling stain has stayed dry through two Westchester winters. Photos of the rusted cap and the new crown go in the file - no mystery about what was replaced.
Factory-Built Chimney Relining, White Plains Condo Complex
The property manager had three units with carbon monoxide alarms tripping intermittently. Inspection showed separated flue joints in the factory-built metal chimney, venting into the chase wall. We installed a DuraFlex stainless liner with proper insulation and termination, then pressure-tested the assembly. Alarms silent since. Russell Haines walked the board through the photos - separated joints are invisible from the firebox, obvious on camera - so the maintenance reserve could be budgeted accurately for the remaining stacks.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement, Greenburgh Split-Level
The back wall of the firebox had cracked through, exposing the combustible framing behind it. The homeowner had been burning with a sheet of plywood propped there - a common temporary fix that creates a permanent hazard. We removed the damaged panels, installed new HeatShield factory-matched refractory panels, and sealed the joints with refractory mortar. Burned that evening. The before photo of the plywood propped against cracked brick stays in the file as a reminder of what we walked into.
Chimney Sweep and Level-2 Inspection, White Plains Historic District
A pre-1920 masonry chimney with no liner, still in active use. The flue was coated with flaky second-stage creosote, and the mortar joints showed significant sand loss. We swept the flue, documented the unlined condition with camera photos, and provided a written verdict: functional for gas logs now, unsuitable for wood without a liner. No pressure - the homeowner has the photos, the facts, and our recommendation. They’ll call when they’re ready. We’ll still be here.
Want Results Like These?
Every job starts with a Level-2 camera inspection, ends with photos you can see and a plain-English verdict, and is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Call (914) 603-1360 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day, every day. We’ll be there when we say.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving White Plains and Westchester County since 1984.