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 New City, NY
We’ve spent over 42 years in Rockland County, and we’ve learned that most homeowners don’t know what their chimney actually looks like inside until something goes wrong. These before-and-after stories show what professional chimney cleaning and repair actually accomplishes. No stock photos, no marketing tricks. Just the work we do in New City, Nanuet, and the neighborhoods we serve.
Recent Transformations
Stage 3 Glazed Creosote Removal - New City, NY
The homeowner on South Mountain Road in New City smelled something acrid every time they ran their fireplace, but the fire still drew okay. Our Level-2 camera inspection showed glazed creosote baked onto the flue tiles, a chimney fire waiting to happen. We used rotary cleaning with professional-grade chains and whips to break down the hardened deposits, then ran the camera again so the homeowner could see the bare ceramic. The flue went from roughly 30% obstructed to fully open. Burning season started two weeks later, and they called to say the draft was noticeably stronger.
Chimney Liner Failure and Relining - Nanuet Area, NY
A family near the Nanuet border had been told they needed a full chimney rebuild. Russell Haines ran the camera and found the clay liner was cracked at three joints, but the masonry itself was sound. We installed a DuraFlex stainless steel liner with proper insulation, sized correctly for their fireplace insert. The job took one day. They had heat that evening, and the camera photos showed exactly why we didn’t touch the brick. Done right - and we stand behind it with our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild - Clarkstown, NY
Water was getting into the firebox after every hard rain. The crown was cracked through to the flue, and the old cap was rusted and missing mesh sides. We formed and poured a new concrete crown with a 2-inch overhang and proper slope away from the flue, then topped it with a Gelco stainless steel cap with 3/4-inch mesh. No more water. No more birds. The homeowner in the Clarkstown area told us they’d been putting towels in the firebox for three winters. They won’t need them again.
Fireplace Smoke Chamber Parging - New City, NY
This New City fireplace smoked into the living room every time the wind came from the northwest, which is most of winter. The smoke chamber was corbeled brick, rough as a cob, with gaps you could stick your finger into. We parged it smooth with HeatShield cerfractory coating, restoring the proper funnel shape for draft. The difference was immediate. The homeowner said they’d stopped using the fireplace in 2019. They’re using it now.
Chimney Sweep and Damper Repair - Congers, NY
The damper in this Congers home hadn’t closed in years. The homeowner was losing heat up the flue and paying for it. We swept the chimney, removed the rusted throat damper, and installed a new energy-top damper with a stainless steel cable running down to the firebox. It seals at the top, so it stops drafts and keeps animals out. The sweep alone pulled two buckets of soot and a desiccated squirrel nest. The camera inspection afterward showed a clean flue and a damper that actually closes. A square deal: no surprises on the bill.
Prefabricated Fireplace Panel Replacement - Rockland County, NY
The refractory panels in this prefab unit were cracked through the middle, exposing the metal firebox to direct flame. That’s a house fire risk, and it’s more common than people realize in Rockland County homes built in the 1980s and 90s. We sourced the correct replacement panels, fitted them with proper clearances, and sealed the joints with refractory cement. Most jobs like this we complete in a single visit. The homeowner watched the camera inspection, saw the cracks for themselves, and understood exactly why we recommended the work. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here started with a phone call to a live person, not a voicemail system. We’ll be there when we say, with background-checked, uniformed technicians and no-hassle upfront pricing. Call (845) 599-0930 to book your Level-2 camera inspection in New City, Nanuet, or anywhere in Rockland County. Estimates are free, and every repair is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing, no arguing.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving New City and Rockland County since 1984.