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 Bethesda, MD
We could tell you we do careful work, but talk is cheap. Photos are not. The pictures below are from real chimney cleaning jobs around Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and the surrounding neighborhoods. They show what the camera saw before we started and what it saw when we finished. Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes. Here is what that means in practice.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Creosote Removal in a Bethesda Colonial
The homeowner on Wilson Lane had not swept the chimney in six years. The camera showed second-degree creosote, the flaky tar kind that ignites around 400 degrees. Wendell and his crew brushed it out in about two hours, then ran the camera again. The flue was clean to bare masonry. No liner needed, no drama. First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze. This one was caught in between, which is exactly where you want to catch it.
Glazed Creosote and HeatShield Liner in Chevy Chase
This chimney had gone so long between cleanings that the creosote had hardened into a shiny glaze. Brushing alone will not remove that, and pretending it will is how you leave a chimney fire waiting to happen. We removed what we could mechanically, then resurfaced the flue with HeatShield per the liner manufacturer’s spec. The after photo shows a smooth, consistent surface. That is what a flue should look like before anyone burns another log.
Animal Nest and Blockage in a Silver Spring Fireplace
The homeowner smelled something odd in late spring and could not figure out why. The camera found a bird nest about eight feet down the flue, packed tight enough to block airflow. We pulled it out, swept the flue, and installed a new chimney cap with proper screening. The smoke had nowhere to go before, and that is how carbon monoxide ends up back in the living room. Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too.
Chimney Cap and Crown Repair on a Kensington Rambler
Water was getting in around the flue and staining the ceiling below. The old cap had rusted out years ago, and the crown had cracked in three places. We removed the old cap, repaired the crown with the right masonry mix, and set a new cap from Gelco. The after photo shows clean mortar lines and a cap that will actually shed water instead of collecting it. No liner replacement was needed. The homeowner had expected the worst and got a much simpler fix, which we were happy to tell him.
Neglected Fireplace in Rockville: Full Sweep and Smoke Test
The firebox was piled with ash and the flue had a thick coating of soot that had been building since the house was bought in 2011. The sweep who shows up at your door brought the right brushes, a HEPA vacuum, and took his time. After the sweep we ran a smoke test to confirm the draft was pulling correctly. It was, and the homeowner lit a fire that night without the usual smoke backing into the room.
Want Results Like These?
We have been doing this in Bethesda since 1999, and Wendell still stands behind every job with the 90-Day Done Right Promise. Upfront pricing before any tool comes off the truck, and a live person answers when you call. Call (240) 618-3233 to book your sweep or ask about a free second opinion on any written estimate. The camera footage and a plain-English verdict come with every job, every time, no exceptions.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Bethesda since 1999.