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 Bedford, NY
We’ve been cleaning and repairing chimneys in Bedford since 1984. These are the jobs we see most often, the ones that start with a homeowner wondering if the situation is really that bad. It usually is. And it usually gets fixed in a single visit.
Recent Transformations
Stage-3 Creosote Removal, Bedford Village
The homeowner in Bedford Village had been burning seasoned hardwood for three winters without a sweep. What started as soft soot had baked into glazed creosote, that shiny, tar-like layer that standard brushes won’t touch. We ran a rotary system with mechanical whips and applied a creosote modifier first to break the glaze bond. The flue went from roughly 60% blocked to full open diameter. Russell Haines reviewed the camera inspection with the homeowner afterward, frame by frame, so they could see the difference themselves.
Firebox Rebuild with HeatShield, Bedford Hills
A family in Bedford Hills called after noticing crumbling brick and mortar dropping into their fire during use. The refractory panels had deteriorated past the point where spot patching made sense. We stripped the damaged material, prepped the substrate, and applied HeatShield cerfractory foam to create a monolithic, insulated surface. Most firebox jobs we do in Bedford Hills finish in one day. This one did too.
Chimney Cap and Crown Replacement, Bedford Corners
The crown on this Bedford Corners chimney had cracked so extensively that water was running directly down the flue tiles every rainstorm. That moisture mixes with creosote to form acids that eat mortar joints from the inside. We formed and poured a new concrete crown with a proper drip edge, then installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with integrated mesh to keep out animals and debris. No more water. No more worry about what the next freeze-thaw cycle would do.
Level-2 Inspection Reveals Hidden Flue Damage, Katonah Area
A homeowner near Katonah scheduled what they thought was a routine cleaning. Our Level-2 camera inspection found a cracked flue tile with slight offset, a condition that lets combustion gases leak into the chimney cavity. We showed them the photos, explained the options, and installed a DuraFlex stainless steel liner the following week. The crack was caught before it became a carbon monoxide pathway into the house. That’s why we camera every chimney we touch in this area.
Smoke Stain Elimination and Fireback Installation, Bedford
This Bedford fireplace had been smoking into the room on cold starts for years. The previous owners had learned to live with it. The brick facing was blackened halfway up the wall. We diagnosed the issue as a combination of inadequate flue temperature and negative pressure in the house. After a thorough chemical cleaning of the brick, we installed a reflective fireback to push more heat forward into the room and help establish draft faster. The smoking stopped. The brick looks like brick again.
Animal Nesting and Flue Obstruction, Pound Ridge Border
A homeowner near the Pound Ridge border noticed their fireplace was drawing poorly in early October, right when they wanted to start using it. We found a squirrel nest packed above the smoke shelf with enough debris to seriously restrict airflow. We removed the nest, swept the flue, and installed a Famco cap with proper animal-proof mesh. The Famco hardware we use is heavier gauge than what you’ll find at a supply house. We’ve learned that Pound Ridge border properties, with their mature tree canopy, see more animal traffic than open areas.
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. Most finish in a single visit. You’ll get photos you can see, a plain-English verdict, and no-hassle upfront pricing, the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. Call (914) 409-9387. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, every day. Estimates are free.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Bedford since 1984.