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 Hamden, CT
We’ve cleaned chimneys in Hamden for over 42 years. Photos tell the truth faster than any sales pitch. Below you’ll find real transformations we’ve documented on local homes, from routine maintenance catches to problems that could’ve turned dangerous. Every image was shot by our technicians, not a marketing team.
Recent Transformations
Stage 3 Creosote Removal, Spring Glen Colonial
The homeowner in Spring Glen smelled smoke in their upstairs hallway every time they ran the fireplace. Our Level-2 camera inspection showed glazed creosote hardened to a tar-like consistency across thirty feet of flue. We used mechanical whipping and controlled chemical treatment to break it down without damaging the terra-cotta liner. The flue passed inspection with full diameter restored, and the smoke smell disappeared that same evening.
Blocked Chimney Cap & Animal Nesting, Whitneyville Ranch
A Whitneyville family called us in October after their carbon monoxide detector triggered twice. We found a squirrel nest packed from the smoke shelf to the first flue joint, plus a rusted-through cap that’d been missing its mesh screen for years. We cleared the obstruction, ran a camera to confirm no liner damage, and installed a Gelco cap with proper animal guard. Their detector hasn’t sounded since.
Prefabricated Fireplace Deep Clean, Hamden Hills Townhouse
The Hamden Hills homeowner thought their gas fireplace was failing because it put out almost no heat. The actual problem was three years of ash compaction blocking the heat exchanger and ceramic burner ports. We disassembled the firebox per manufacturer spec, cleaned every passage, and reinstalled with new gaskets. The unit now heats the full open-concept living area as designed, and the homeowner avoided a $2,400 replacement quote they’d received elsewhere.
Smoke Stain Elimination & Flue Sizing Correction, Mount Carmel Brick Chimney
A Mount Carmel homeowner had repainted their smoke-stained soffit twice before calling us. The real issue wasn’t the paint. Their flue was oversized for the fireplace opening, causing chronic spillage every time the fire died down. We swept the system, documented the sizing mismatch with our camera, and installed a HeatShield flue reducer to correct the ratio. The staining stopped immediately. We cleaned the brick with non-acidic masonry detergent, and it’s stayed clean through two burning seasons.
Chimney Fire Recovery & Liner Assessment, West Woods Cape
The West Woods homeowner heard what they described as “a freight train in the chimney” one February night, then found cracked flue tile in their ash dump the next morning. Our camera showed thermal cracking through three flue joints and a partially collapsed smoke shelf from the rapid temperature spike. We swept the remaining debris, installed a DuraFlex stainless liner with proper insulation for zero-clearance compliance, and rebuilt the smoke shelf with refractory material. The system now drafts properly and meets code for their insurance requirements.
Annual Maintenance Reveals Hidden Liner Gap, Centerville Victorian
This Centerville customer scheduled what they expected to be a routine sweep. Our camera found a clay tile that had shifted during the previous heating season, opening a three-inch gap directly above the firebox where framing was visible. We removed the damaged tile, installed an Olympia Chimney replacement with proper refractory mortar, and pressure-tested the joint. What looked like standard maintenance prevented a potential structure fire. The homeowner now books their inspection in August without us calling.
Want Results Like These?
Every project above started with a phone call to (475) 369-1614. You’ll speak to a live person, any hour of any day. We’ll schedule your inspection, show you exactly what we find with photos you can see, and give you a plain-English verdict. Our pricing is upfront, our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers everything in writing. We’ve served Hamden since 1984, and we plan to be here thirty years from now. That changes how we treat every home we enter.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Hamden since 1984.