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 Jamesburg, NJ
Photos tell the truth faster than any promise we could print. What follows are real jobs from chimneys around Jamesburg, Monroe, Helmetta, and Spotswood. Some were neglected for a season, some for a decade. The common thread: each one breathes properly now, and the homeowner got camera footage proving it before we packed up the truck. Wendell Pike has been at this since 1999, and he still believes in showing you the work, not just describing it.
Recent Transformations
Third-Degree Creosote Glaze Removal in a Jamesburg Ranch
The homeowner burned unseasoned pine for two winters and the flue paid for it. First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze, and that’s what our camera showed: a shiny, tar-like crust lining the upper third of the flue. Wendell and his crew ran rotary rods with a chain whip attachment, then followed with a chemical treatment to break down what remained. The after footage showed clean terra cotta top to bottom, and the draft pulled noticeably stronger the same night.
Off-Season Animal Nest Removal and Sweep in Monroe
Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too. This Monroe family hadn’t used their fireplace since March, and by September a squirrel had moved in and packed the smoke shelf with twigs, leaves, and dryer lint from a nearby vent. We removed two contractor bags of nesting material, swept the flue from roof to firebox, and installed a proper cap with mesh siding. The before footage showed a fully blocked passage. The after showed daylight from top to bottom.
Stage-Two Creosote Buildup in a Spotswood Split-Level
The homeowner called us because the living room smelled like a campfire every time it rained. That odor usually means creosote absorbing moisture, and the camera confirmed it: flaky, honeycomb-textured deposits running the full length of the flue. A standard wire brush pass wouldn’t have been enough. We used poly brushes sized to the liner, two full passes, then a HEPA vacuum to collect what fell. The after footage showed no visible deposits, and the smell was gone before we left the driveway.
Ashes and Debris Cleanout in a Helmetta Cape Cod
Some people store things in the firebox that were never meant to live there. This one had four inches of packed ash, a melted plastic toy the kids had tossed in, and a half-burned pizza box wedged behind the grate. Wendell’s crew shoveled out the debris, vacuumed the smoke chamber, and ran the brush up through a flue that hadn’t been touched in five years. The before photo showed a firebox that couldn’t hold a proper fire. The after showed a clean brick floor ready for kindling.
Smoky Fireplace Diagnosis Fix in a Jamesburg Colonial
The homeowner thought the fireplace was ruined. Every fire pushed smoke back into the room, no matter how they arranged the logs. The camera showed why: the smoke chamber, that invisible shelf above the damper, was caked with a decade of soft soot and creosote. That chamber catches everything the flue misses. We swept it thoroughly, checked the damper operation, and leveled the fire grate. First fire after the job, the smoke went up the chimney where it belonged. Ask anyone on your street how many sweeps actually clean the smoke chamber.
Chimney Cap Replacement After Water Damage in Monroe Township
The old cap had rusted through at the base, letting rain run straight down the flue and onto the damper. The homeowner noticed water staining on the ceiling near the hearth. We pulled the old cap, inspected the top courses of brick, and installed a Copperfield stainless cap with proper mesh to keep animals and debris out. The before photo showed a cap that was doing nothing. The after showed a sealed top that will outlast the roof shingles around it.
Want Results Like These?
Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes. If your chimney hasn’t been swept this year, or if you’re not sure what’s living inside it, call Top Hat Chimney at (609) 905-5820. Wendell or one of his crew will answer, quote you upfront, and bring the camera. The footage and a plain-English verdict, every time, no exceptions.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Jamesburg and surrounding Middlesex County communities since 1999.