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 Stamford, CT
We can talk about creosote stages and airflow all day, but there’s a reason we carry a camera up every flue. Seeing the inside of your own chimney changes the conversation. The photos below are from real jobs around Stamford, Springdale, Glenbrook, and the Cove. Names are withheld, but the conditions are exactly what we find around here.
Recent Transformations
Third-Degree Glaze Removal in a 1980s Colonial, North Stamford
The homeowner had used the fireplace heavily for three winters without a sweep. The flue tiles were coated in shiny, tar-like third-degree creosote, the kind that does not brush out. We applied a HeatShield chemical treatment, let it work, then removed the softened glaze mechanically. The after footage showed clean tile and a usable fireplace. What surprised them most: the smoke smell in the living room that summer disappeared once the flue could breathe again.
Bird Nest Extraction and Cap Replacement, Cove Neighborhood
A homeowner on the Cove called because smoke kept backing up into the den. The camera found a starling nest built on top of a rusted-out cap from the 1990s. We removed the nesting material, swept the flue, and installed a new stainless cap with proper screening. The fireplace drafts correctly now, and the birds relocated without further argument.
Off-Season Sweep with First-Degree Creosote, Glenbrook
This homeowner booked us in July, which turned out to be smart. The creosote was first-degree, the easiest stage, so the sweep took about an hour and cost the standard rate. The camera showed clean tiles and a fully functional damper. We told them what we tell everyone: once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too.
Chimney Cap Replacement After Storm Damage, Springdale
A spring storm had dented the cap so badly that rain was running straight down the flue. The homeowner had water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace and assumed the roof was leaking. Our camera confirmed the cap was the culprit. We installed a new Olympia Chimney cap with a proper screen and sealed the crown. The ceiling dried out, and the fix was a fraction of what a roofer had quoted for exploratory work.
Creosote Stage Two With Smoking Fireplace, Shippan
This chimney had not been swept in five years. The flue was lined with flaky stage two creosote, and the fireplace had started smoking on startup, a classic sign of restricted draft. We ran the rotary brush, removed the buildup, and checked the smoke shelf while we were at it. The draft improved immediately. Wendell told the homeowner the fireplace had been working against its own exhaust, and now it did not have to.
Full Liner Inspection After Minor Sweep, Riverside
What started as a simple sweep turned into something more important. The camera caught a cracked clay tile midway up the flue that heat and moisture had been working on for years. We sent the homeowner the footage and a plain-English verdict before recommending anything. They chose a DuraFlex stainless liner rather than gambling on a chimney fire. The difference in the before and after is not subtle: the old tile is fractured, the new liner is continuous from firebox to cap.
Want Results Like These?
Every job gets the same treatment: camera footage, a straight answer, and a number you agree to before any work starts. If you’re in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, or anywhere in the county, call Top Hat Chimney at (475) 242-5865. Wendell or a live person answers, and estimates are free. Ask anyone on your street.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Stamford since 1999.