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 Flushing, NY
We’ve spent 42 years in Flushing, and we’ve learned that the best way to earn trust isn’t telling you how thorough we are, it’s showing you what came out of the flue. These are real jobs, real conditions, and the real results our technicians delivered. Russell Haines still reviews every Level-2 inspection personally, and these photos are what we hand homeowners at the end of a visit.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Creosote Buildup, Flushing Single-Family Home
The homeowner in north Flushing near Kissena Park had been burning seasoned hardwood twice weekly for three winters without a sweep. Our Level-2 camera inspection showed glazed creosote nearly a quarter-inch thick in the smoke chamber, a genuine chimney fire risk. We applied mechanical rotary cleaning with professional-grade poly brushes, then ran the camera again. The photos showed bare terracotta flue liner from top to bottom, and the homeowner kept the printout. Done right, and we stand behind it.
Blocked Flue from Bird Nesting, Flushing Colonial
A family near Flushing Cemetery called in late March smelling smoke in their upstairs bedroom every time they lit a fire. We found a chimney swift nest packed tight above the damper, with fresh nesting material from the current season. Our technician removed the obstruction by hand, swept the entire flue, and performed a smoke test to confirm proper draft. We then installed a Gelco stainless steel chimney cap with mesh screening before we left. Most jobs in a single visit, and this was one of them.
Flue Liner Deterioration Discovered During Routine Sweep, Flushing Co-op
This Flushing co-op near Main Street booked our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up thinking they just needed a standard sweep. The camera told a different story: three vertical cracks in the original clay liner, with mortar loss exposing the brick surround. We stopped the cleaning, showed the homeowner the photos, and explained that continuing to burn without repair would channel heat into the chimney structure. They opted for a DuraFlex stainless steel liner with HeatShield crown repair. We completed the installation the following week. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict, and no surprises on the bill.
Smoke Staining and Draft Failure, Flushing Tudor
A homeowner in the Broadway-Flushing Historic District had given up on their wood-burning fireplace after repeated smoke incidents. We suspected a combination of flue restriction and negative pressure from a recently installed kitchen exhaust fan. Our sweep removed a decade of compacted soot, but the camera also revealed a partially collapsed smoke shelf. We rebuilt the smoke shelf with proper refractory materials, sealed the exposed joints with HeatShield, and tested draft with the kitchen fan running. The fireplace draws cleanly now, even on windy days near the bay. Russell Haines reviewed the inspection himself and signed off on the repair plan.
Water-Damaged Firebox, Post-Winter Flushing Inspection
After a wet Flushing winter with multiple freeze-thaw cycles, a homeowner near Willets Point Boulevard noticed pieces of brick in their ash dump. Water had been entering through a cracked crown for at least two seasons, saturating the firebox brick and destroying the original cast-iron damper. We swept the flue, documented the water damage with camera photos, and completed the repair in two visits: crown repair with HeatShield CrownCoat, firebox tuckpointing, and a new stainless steel damper assembly. The 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the entire repair, in writing, no arguing.
Annual Maintenance Sweep, Flushing Ranch
Not every job starts with a crisis. This homeowner near Flushing Meadows has us out every September for a maintenance sweep before burning season, and has for twelve years running. The before photo shows exactly what we’d expect: moderate soot, light creosote, no surprises. The after photo shows a clean flue and a passed inspection. We replaced a worn fiberglass chimney brush with a proper poly model from Olympia Chimney while we were there, and noted minor crown crazing to monitor next year. This is how you avoid the emergency calls. We’ll be there when we say.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here started with a phone call to (516) 206-6672, answered by a live person. We’ll schedule your Level-2 camera inspection, show you exactly what we find, and give you no-hassle upfront pricing before any work begins. Ask about our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up, or call for a free second opinion if you’ve already got a written estimate that doesn’t sit right. Russell Haines and our background-checked, uniformed technicians have been serving Flushing since 1984, and we plan to be here thirty more years. A square deal: no surprises on the bill.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Flushing since 1984.