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 Gaithersburg, MD
We’ve cleaned chimneys in Gaithersburg since 1984. These are the jobs that stick with us, the ones where a homeowner could finally use their fireplace without worry. Russell Haines and our team document every transformation with before-and-after photos you’ll see yourself, because proof beats promises every time.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Creosote Build-Up, Chimney Cleaning & Sweep
A family near Quince Orchard had been using their wood-burning insert for three winters without a sweep. The creosote was glazed and thick enough to catch a spark. We ran a Level-2 camera inspection first so they could see what we saw, then used rotary power sweeping to break down the glaze and remove it completely. The flue passed inspection, and they burned their first safe fire that evening.
Blocked Flue from Animal Nesting, Chimney Cleaning & Cap Installation
Homeowners in Kentlands smelled smoke backing up into their living room every time they lit a fire. The damper had been left open since spring, which in Montgomery County is basically an open invitation for every squirrel in the county. We removed the nest, swept the flue, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with proper mesh screening. No more tenants, no more smoke, and the cap carries a lifetime warranty.
Cracked Clay Liner with Soot Intrusion, Chimney Cleaning & Liner Evaluation
An older colonial near Old Towne had a clay liner that had cracked from decades of thermal cycling, a common issue in Gaithersburg’s freeze-thaw climate. Soot was seeping into the masonry, creating both a fire risk and a path for carbon monoxide. We cleaned the flue, documented every crack with camera photos the homeowner reviewed with us, then installed a DuraFlex stainless steel liner sized precisely for their fireplace. The system now drafts properly and meets current code.
Water-Damaged Firebox, Chimney Cleaning & Masonry Repair
A ranch home near Washington Grove had water staining on the ceiling below the chimney and spalling brick inside the firebox. The crown had cracked, letting rainwater run straight down the flue every time Gaithersburg got one of those driving northeast storms. We swept the system, rebuilt the firebox with proper firebrick, applied HeatShield refractory coating to the smoke chamber, and poured a new concrete crown with proper overhang and drip edge. The leak stopped, and the fireplace is back in use.
Neglected Oil Furnace Flue, Chimney Cleaning & Venting Inspection
A homeowner in North Potomac, right at the Gaithersburg line, had never had their oil furnace flue cleaned in fifteen years of ownership. Sulfur-laden soot had eaten into the connector pipe, and draft was so poor the burner was running inefficiently and smelling up the basement. We cleaned the entire venting system, replaced the corroded connector with proper B-vent, and verified draft with a manometer. Their fuel efficiency improved immediately, and the smell disappeared.
Prefabricated Fireplace System Failure, Chimney Cleaning & Component Replacement
A townhome community near Rio Lakefront had multiple units with the same prefabricated fireplace, and one owner’s chase cover had rusted through so badly you could see sky from the living room. Water had destroyed the refractory panels and rusted the firebox. We swept the flue, sourced replacement panels from the original manufacturer through our Famco and Copperfield supply chain, fabricated a custom stainless chase cover, and resealed the entire assembly. It passed code inspection and matched the original specs.
Want Results Like These?
Every job starts with a camera inspection and ends with photos you can see, plus a plain-English verdict on what your chimney needs now, what can wait, and what you don’t need at all. No surprises on the bill, and everything we do is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Call (301) 719-5236. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, every day. We’ll be there when we say.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Gaithersburg since 1984.