Careful cleaning · Eco-conscious products
Chimney Cleaning & Sweeping
Creosote swept out, the draft restored, and photos of what we found up there.
Serving Orange, Rockland & Westchester counties in NY and Bergen, Passaic, Essex & Hudson counties in North Jersey.
At a glance
Creosote builds up in every wood-burning flue, and enough of it is what makes a chimney fire possible. We sweep the full system under HEPA vacuum containment, photograph what we find, and flag anything beyond a sweep for the right specialist.
Content reviewed July 2026.
We use kid- and pet-safe products, and we'll tell you up front what cleaning can and can't fix.
The work
What's included
Chimney sweeping for wood-burning fireplaces and stoves: creosote removal, smoke-shelf and firebox cleaning, dust-free HEPA containment, and a straightforward visual check with photos.
- Full sweep: flue, smoke chamber, smoke shelf, and firebox
- Drop cloths and HEPA-filtered vacuum containment keep soot out of the room
- Creosote buildup assessed and photographed
- Cap, crown, and visible exterior checked while we're up there
- Wood stoves and fireplace inserts too
- Liner and masonry problems flagged for a specialist, with photos
Process
How the job goes.
- 01
Protect the room
Drop cloths down, the fireplace opening sealed, and a HEPA vacuum running before the first brush stroke, so the soot stays inside the containment.
- 02
Sweep the flue
Rods and brushes sized to your flue work the full height, top-down or bottom-up depending on access, scrubbing creosote and soot off the liner walls.
- 03
Smoke shelf & firebox
The smoke shelf, where debris and loosened creosote collect, gets cleaned out. Then the smoke chamber is brushed and the firebox swept and wiped down.
- 04
Look, photograph, and report
What we can see gets photographed: creosote condition, obvious cracks, the damper, and the cap and crown from the roof. Anything that needs more than a sweep, like liner damage or masonry work, gets flagged for the right specialist with the photos to go with it.
Common problems
What we get called about most.
Smoke backing into the room when you light a fire
Often a blocked or heavily restricted flue (creosote, debris, or a nest), though a closed damper or a cold-flue draft problem looks the same from the living room. We sweep, clear the blockage, and tell you if what's left is a draft or design issue a sweep can't solve.
A musty or campfire smell every summer
Humid air on old creosote is what you're smelling, and it comes from deposits in the flue and on the smoke shelf. Removing them removes most of the odor, and a proper cap keeps rain from starting it again.
You've never had it swept since buying the house
No records, unknown history, and a fireplace you'd like to use this winter. One sweep with photos gives you a baseline: how much creosote was in there, what condition the visible system is in, and whether anything needs a specialist before the first fire.
An animal nest or debris blocking the flue
Birds, squirrels, and raccoons love an uncapped chimney. We remove nesting material (never a live protected animal — we'll tell you who handles that), sweep the flue, and strongly recommend a cap, which ends the problem permanently.
Who's showing up
Local and independent since 2019.
The person on the phone is the one planning your job, and it's the same crew whether you need a rug cleaned or a basement dried.
- IICRC Certified
- Licensed
- Bonded
- Insured
- Eco-Conscious Products
Related services
More cleaning services, same crew.
Carpet Cleaning →
Hot-water extraction that rinses the soil out of the fiber.
Air Duct Cleaning →
Source-removal duct cleaning: the dust comes out of the system, not just off the registers.
Area Rug Cleaning →
Factory-style off-site wash with free pickup and delivery, or on-site if that suits the rug better.
Upholstery Cleaning →
Sofas, sectionals, and chairs, cleaned by the method the fabric can take.
Mattress Cleaning →
Allergens, sweat, and stains pulled out with low-moisture extraction.
Dryer Vent Cleaning →
A clear vent lowers the fire risk and shortens how long the dryer runs.
Odor Removal →
We find what's causing the smell and remove it, instead of covering it up.
FAQ
Questions we get most.
Do you use eco-friendly cleaning products?
Yes. Our standard residential line is non-toxic and biodegradable, chosen because we work in houses with kids, pets, and sensitivities every day. The rinse matters as much as the product: thorough extraction leaves no sticky residue in the fiber, which is what attracts soil back and causes irritation. Mention allergies or chemical sensitivities when you book and we'll use the mildest effective option.
Is the cleaning safe for my kids and pets?
Yes. The solutions we use in homes are child- and pet-safe at the dilutions we apply, and a thorough rinse means nothing harsh stays behind in the fiber. Keep kids and pets in another room during the work, mostly so nobody trips on hoses. Socks on damp carpet are fine right away; let pets back on once it's dry.
How often does a chimney need cleaning?
Inspect every year, and sweep when the inspection calls for it. That's the NFPA standard, and it applies even to barely-used chimneys, because flue damage and animal nests show up whether or not you burn. Creosote buildup is what triggers a sweep, so a fireplace that runs most of the winter needs one more often than an occasional-use one. We inspect first and tell you whether this is a sweep year.
Can you get rid of odors in carpet and furniture?
Usually, yes, by treating the source instead of spraying over it. Pet accidents, smoke, cooking oils, and dampness each need different chemistry; enzymes break down pet odors, while smoke needs a different approach. One caveat: old urine that soaked into the carpet pad may need the pad replaced for the odor to go completely. If that's your situation, we'll tell you at the inspection.
Our work
Free estimate
Get a free estimate for chimney cleaning.
Call or send the form and we'll tell you what your job needs. If cleaning won't fix what's bothering you, we'll say so first.
Office hours: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sun 8am–6pm · Closed Saturdays.