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 Woburn, MA
We’re not big on talking ourselves up. Photos do that better. Below you’ll find real jobs we’ve completed around Woburn and nearby towns, with the kind of before-and-after detail that helps a homeowner understand what they’re actually looking at up there. Every project here follows our standard process: camera inspection first, photos you can see, a plain-English verdict, then the work.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Creosote Buildup After Three Seasons of Skipped Maintenance - Woburn
The homeowner on Russell Street hadn’t had the flue swept since before the pandemic. When we ran the camera, we found stage-2 glazed creosote a quarter-inch thick in spots, plus a partially obstructed smoke shelf. We used mechanical brushing followed by a creosote-modifier treatment, then swept the full system including the firebox and smoke chamber. The after photos showed clean flue tiles with every mortar joint visible, and the draft improved enough that the homeowner noticed less smoke rollback on windy days.
Blocked Chimney Cap Causing Water Damage and Draft Problems - North Woburn Near Horn Pond
This was a 1970s split-level off Lexington Street where the original cap’s mesh had packed solid with leaf debris and creosote flakes. Water was getting in around the crown, staining the flue liner, and the draft had gotten so weak the family was getting headaches from CO backup. Russell Haines walked the homeowner through the camera footage, pointed out the rust streaks on the stainless liner, and showed how the cap was failing at the corners. We swept the flue, installed a Gelco stainless cap with proper overhang, and sealed the crown with CrownSeal. The draft tested 40% stronger after.
Failed Clay Tile Liner in a Woburn Center Victorian - Full HeatShield Restoration
The homeowner on Main Street near the library district knew the chimney was old, but didn’t realize how far gone until pieces of clay tile started dropping into the firebox. Our camera inspection showed three cracked tiles, missing mortar in seven joints, and a thumb-sized gap at the thimble connection. A full liner replacement would have meant significant masonry work. Instead, we recommended HeatShield cerfractory coating, which fills gaps and creates a new continuous flue surface. We applied it in two passes, camera-documented the cure, and the system now meets NFPA 211 standards without tearing into the original brickwork.
Fireplace Smoke Staining and Poor Draft in a Woburn Ranch - Level-2 Inspection Revealed Hidden Issue
A family near Mishawum Road was burning candles to mask a persistent “campfire smell” and had given up using the fireplace because of smoke staining the mantel. The damper was rusted open three inches, and the smoke chamber had never been parged. We swept the system, installed an Olympia Chimney top-sealing damper with a stainless cable, and parged the smoke chamber with Chamber-Tech 2000. The before photo shows the firebox blackened to the lintel; the after shows clean brick and a damper that actually seals. No more candle purchases necessary.
Chimney Crown Deterioration Leading to Flue Damage - Woburn Heights Area
This chimney on a raised ranch near the Burlington line had a crown that had cracked clean through, letting water run straight down the flue. By the time we were called, the top three courses of brick were spalling and the flue liner showed vertical cracking from freeze-thaw cycles. We removed the old crown, tuckpointed the damaged courses with matching mortar, and poured a new concrete crown with a proper 2-inch overhang and drip edge. The flue got swept and inspected, and we documented that the liner damage was still within acceptable limits, no rebuild required. The homeowner’s insurance adjuster later told him the documentation saved him from a denied claim.
Seasonal Tune-Up Reveals Bird Nest in Unused Flue - Woburn
The $89 Seasonal Tune-Up brought us to a first-time customer near the Woburn Mall who’d bought the house in February and never checked the second flue for the basement stove. The cap was missing entirely, and a partial starling nest had blocked about 60% of the flue. We cleared the nest, swept both flues, and found the primary flue had a cracked crown and the secondary was in decent shape. Installed a Famco stainless cap on the secondary, quoted the crown repair for the primary, and the homeowner scheduled the crown work for spring. No hard sell. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started with a phone call to (781) 404-3793, answered by a live person. We’ll schedule a Level-2 camera inspection, show you exactly what we’re seeing, and give you no-hassle upfront pricing before any work begins. Most jobs are completed in a single visit. And everything we do is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise: in writing, no arguing. Call (781) 404-3793 or book your inspection today.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Woburn and local communities since 1984.