Before & After Gallery - Top Hat Chimney

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Westchester County, NY

Photos of clean flues aren’t as dramatic as a kitchen remodel, but they matter more. You can’t see the inside of your chimney from the living room, and the camera footage from our sweeps tells the real story. These before and afters show what we found, what we did, and what changed. We think you’ll see why the camera matters. Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes.

Call (914) 537-6479

Recent Transformations

Third-Degree Creosote Glaze, Yonkers

The problem was a flue coated in shiny, tar-like creosote. Homeowner burned unseasoned wood for two winters. Wendell and his crew ran a rotary whip with chains through the entire length, then hand-scrubbed the remaining spots. The after footage showed clean terra cotta tiles from throat to cap. Took about three hours. Customer said the fireplace drew better that same night.

Full Chimney Sweep with Squirrel Nest Removal, Scarsdale

A family in Scarsdale called because smoke was backing into the den every time they lit a fire. The camera showed why: a squirrel had built a nest about six feet down from the cap. We removed the nest, swept the full length, and inspected the liner for damage. The liner was intact. We installed a new chimney cap with proper screening so the squirrel doesn’t return. Fireplace works like it should now.

Heavy Ash and Soot Buildup, White Plains

This one wasn’t dangerous yet, but it was on its way. About three inches of ash sat in the smoke shelf, and the flue walls were lined with second-degree creosote. A standard brush sweep knocked the soot down, then we vacuumed the firebox and smoke shelf with a HEPA filter running the whole time. The after photo is what a healthy flue looks like in White Plains after two burning seasons. No stains, no buildup, clear draft.

Chimney Liner Rebuild After Years of Neglect, Mount Vernon

The camera found spalling: clay liner tiles cracked and flaking, with gaps you could fit a finger through. That’s a carbon monoxide risk, not a cosmetic issue. Wendell recommended a DuraFlex stainless steel liner, sized to the existing flue. We removed the damaged tile sections in the worst spots, pulled the new liner through, and insulated it. The after footage shows a continuous steel wall from firebox to cap. The homeowner got the camera footage and a plain-English verdict before we did anything, as always.

Chimney Crown and Cap Replacement, New Rochelle

Water had been getting in around a cracked crown for years. The cap was rusted through in two spots. We chipped out the old crown, formed and poured a new one with a proper drip edge, and set a new Olympia stainless cap. The before photos show water stains running down the brick. The after shows a dry chimney with a cap that actually sheds rain. This job also got the $40 off because the repair total cleared $200.

Fireplace Smoke Issue from Short Flue, Eastchester

An Eastchester couple hadn’t used their fireplace in five years because smoke poured into the room every time. The flue was simply too short, sitting below the roof peak where wind swirled down into it. We extended the flue with a proper clay liner, matched the brickwork, and added a rain cap. The after photo shows a taller chimney that draws the way it should. They lit a fire the day we finished. Burns clean now.

Want Results Like These?

We don’t expect you to take our word for anything. Every sweep includes a camera inspection, and you’ll see the before and after footage on the spot. Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too. If you’re in Westchester County and want to know what’s actually happening inside your flue, call Top Hat Chimney at (914) 537-6479. A live person answers. It might be Wendell.

Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Westchester County since 1999.