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
Most of what a chimney sweep does disappears up a flue with the vacuum running. That’s exactly why we document every job in Gaithersburg with camera scans and photos before, during, and after the work. You don’t need to take our word for what was inside your flue. You can see it. The projects below show what we actually found in local chimneys and what changed after our crews finished. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every visit since 2009.
Recent Transformations
Glazed Creosote Removal in a Kentlands Fireplace
The flue had a Stage III creosote buildup (that’s the glossy, tar-like coating that forms when fires burn cool and the smoke condenses instead of venting). Our crew in Gaithersburg used rotary chain whips and chemical treatment, then followed with a second pass to confirm the liner was clear. The after photo shows bare flue tile again, and the homeowner walked away with 14 timestamped images plus our written report. That flue had seen better decades, and now it has several more.
Ten Years of Soot and a Nest in a Montgomery Village Chimney
We pulled a compacted bird’s nest (twigs, feathers, and what looked like the better part of a lawn) from the smoke chamber above the damper. The problem: the previous owner had run the fireplace anyway, and the blockage was starting to smoke the living room. We removed the material, swept the flue wall to wall, and installed a cap with mesh screening to stop the next bird.
Heavy Ash and Soot Buildup in an Older Rockville-adjacent Home
The firebox held so much ash and unburned material that the grate was half buried. This is common in Gaithersburg homes that burn through a full Maryland winter without a sweep. We cleared the firebox, vacuumed the smoke shelf, and swept the full length of the flue. The result looks like a new fireplace, and the draft improved immediately.
Flue Liner with Stage II Creosote, Gaithersburg City Neighborhood
The camera scan showed a crusty, flaky Stage II creosote layer about a quarter inch thick (Stage II is the brittle, honeycomb-textured buildup that forms after repeated low-temperature fires). We swept with nylon brushes first, then followed with a second pass using a stiffer poly blend. The homeowner’s before and after photos are included in the file, and the creosote is now below the level where it could fuel a chimney fire.
Damaged Crown and Water-Stained Liner in a North Potomac Home
A cracked crown (that’s the concrete cap on top of the chimney) was letting rain and snow melt down the flue. The liner showed vertical water staining and surface rust around the damper. We rebuilt the crown with a proper overhang and drip edge, sealed the liner surface, and left the homeowner with a dry, working chimney again. So many Gaithersburg chimney repairs start with water. This one ended with a crown the weather can’t get past.
Want Results Like These?
A chimney sweep in Gaithersburg with written pricing and photo documentation means you see exactly what was found and what was done. That’s been our standard since 2009. Call Level Two Chimney Gaithersburg at (240) 220-9395 to book your sweep or inspection. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, and a photo record when it’s finished. Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Gaithersburg, serving Gaithersburg since 2009.