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 Wakefield, MA
We’ve been sweeping chimneys in Wakefield since 1984, and we’ve learned that homeowners want to see what they’re paying for. These are real jobs we’ve completed in neighborhoods around town, from Montrose to Greenwood. The photos tell the story: creosote buildup, damaged liners, and blocked flues that we resolved with professional-grade materials and plain-English documentation.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Stage-3 Creosote Removal, Montrose Area
The homeowner smelled smoke in the upstairs bedrooms every time they ran their wood stove. Our Level-2 camera inspection showed glazed creosote more than a quarter-inch thick in the flue, a known chimney fire hazard in Wakefield’s cold-weather burning season. We used mechanical brushing and professional-grade creosote modifier to break down the glaze, then completed a full NFPA-211 sweep. Draft tested normal afterward, and the smoke smell disappeared. Russell Haines documented the entire process with photos the homeowner could review on the spot.
Blocked Chimney Cap & Animal Nesting, Greenwood Neighborhood
A family on Pleasant Street noticed water dripping into their firebox after every rainstorm and heard scratching sounds in the chimney breast. We found a squirrel nest wedged into a corroded cap screen, with debris packed down to the smoke shelf. Our technician removed the nesting material, swept the flue, and installed a new Copperfield cap with proper mesh sizing for Wakefield’s squirrel population. No more water, no more tenants. Done right, and we stand behind it with our 90-Day Done Right Promise.
Cracked Flue Tile & HeatShield Reline, Downtown Wakefield Vicinity
The homeowner called after their home inspector flagged “possible flue damage” during a pre-sale inspection on Albion Street. Our camera inspection found a crack running through a flue tile, which can allow combustion gases to reach the chimney structure and surrounding framing. Rather than pushing a full stainless liner replacement, we explained that HeatShield’s cerfractory coating could seal the flue at lower cost while meeting code. We applied the coating, ran a post-job camera pass, and provided dated photos for the real estate file. The sale closed two weeks later. That’s a square deal: no surprises on the bill, and nothing recommended without camera evidence they could see for themselves.
Chimney Fire Recovery & Full Sweep, North Wakefield
The homeowner heard a roaring sound in their chimney during a January cold snap and called the fire department. The crew confirmed a contained chimney fire, but the flue needed professional evaluation before further use. We found puffy, expanded creosote, the telltale “alligator skin” pattern of a flue fire, along with minor tile spalling. We completed a full sweep, ran a detailed camera inspection to rule out structural damage, and provided a written safety clearance that their insurance company accepted. In Wakefield, where temperatures drop below 10 degrees for weeks at a time, this is exactly the kind of call we’re prepared for. Most jobs completed in a single visit, and we’ll be there when we say.
Prefabricated Fireplace Flue Obstruction, Wakefield Near Reading Line
A homeowner near the Reading town line reported that their “fireplace never draws right” despite annual sweeps from another company. We found the factory-built baffle in their prefabricated wood-burning unit had collapsed into the flue passage, a common failure in units from the 1990s and early 2000s. Rather than continuing to sweep around the problem, we sourced the correct Olympia Chimney replacement baffle, rebuilt the assembly to factory clearances, and tested the unit under operating conditions. The difference was immediate: no more smoke spilling into the room, no more frustrated evenings with the damper wide open. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict, and the work backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
Water-Damaged Smoke Shelf & Firebox Repair, Lake Quannapowitt Area
This 1920s home near Lake Quannapowitt had a chimney that “smelled like a wet campfire” every summer. Decades of minor water intrusion through a failed crown had rotted the smoke shelf and degraded the firebox base, creating a persistent odor and a functional hazard. We rebuilt the smoke shelf with proper drainage slope, repointed the firebox with new firebrick, and installed a Gelco chimney crown to stop the water at its source. The homeowner told us it was the first summer in ten years they could keep the damper open without the smell. In writing, no arguing, if it’s not right, we come back. That’s how we’ve operated in Wakefield for over 42 years.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here was completed by background-checked, uniformed technicians using professional-grade materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. No builder-grade substitutes, no hidden charges, no recommendations without camera evidence you can see for yourself. Call (857) 364-8219 anytime, day or night. A live person answers, and we’ll get you scheduled for a Level-2 inspection with photos and a plain-English verdict. Ask about our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up or $50 off any repair over $250.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Wakefield since 1984.