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
AfterTrusted Fireplace Services for Commack Homeowners
A fireplace in Commack is not just decoration. It is a working appliance that heats your house, and when it is not burning right, you feel it in the living room and in the utility bill. We have been inside more Commack chimneys than we can count since 1999, and Wendell Pike has put his name on every job since the day he founded Top Hat Chimney. Most fireplace problems give you a warning first: a smell when the wind shifts, glass that hazes over, a fire that will not draw. Whether you need a gas fireplace serviced, a wood burner swept and inspected, or a conversion from one fuel to the other, call (631) 502-3612 and a live person answers, around the clock.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
What Our Fireplace Services Service Includes
Here is what we actually do when you call us for fireplace work in Commack. Not a sales pitch. The work.
Gas Fireplace Service
A gas fireplace that has not been serviced in a few years will show it: lazy yellow flames, soot on the glass, a burner that lights unevenly, or a smell like burning dust. We clean the burner and pilot assembly, check gas pressure and thermocouple readings, and test every safety shutoff. Wendell and his crew service all major gas log sets and direct-vent units. You get a written summary of what was checked and what, if anything, needs attention.
Wood Burning Fireplace
Wood burning is simple in theory and unforgiving in practice. The chimney has to draw, the damper has to seal, and the firebox has to hold together under repeated heating cycles. We sweep the flue, inspect the smoke chamber and damper, and check the firebox for cracked mortar and spalled brick. Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes. If the draw is weak or smoke rolls into the room when you open the doors, that is a fixable problem, not a personality quirk of the house.
Fireplace Insert
An insert turns an open fireplace that loses heat up the chimney into a closed heating appliance that actually warms the room. We install and service wood, gas, and pellet inserts, and we are straight with you about whether your existing firebox and flue will support one. Some Commack homes need a new liner before an insert goes in. The camera inspection before install will show exactly why, and you will see the footage yourself.
Damper Repair
A damper that is rusted open, warped, or missing lets heated air pour out of the house all winter and lets cold air drop down the chimney all summer. We repair and replace throat dampers and top-sealing dampers. This is one of the most common things we fix in Commack, and it is usually a same-visit job once we see what is there. First-degree creosote is a brush job. A bad damper is a replacement. We will tell you which one you have.
Firebox Repair
The firebox takes the direct heat. Mortar joints crack, bricks spall, and panels shift. Small cracks are cosmetic; bigger ones let heat reach framing or let sparks find places they should not go. We repair fireboxes with refractory mortar and firebrick rated for repeated high heat. We do not patch over rot with a skim coat and call it done. If the firebox is beyond repair, Wendell will say so plainly and show you why.
Fireplace Conversion
Plenty of Commack homeowners get tired of hauling wood and want gas, or inherit a gas unit they never liked and want a real wood fire again. We handle both directions. A conversion is not just swapping a log set: it means checking the flue, the gas line or the wood clearances, the damper setup, and local code requirements. We have converted hundreds of fireplaces across Suffolk County, and every one gets the same camera-backed inspection before and after.
Brands We Service for Fireplace Services
We service gas and wood units from Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, among others, and we stock parts for these brands on the truck. That means less waiting on a second trip. If you have an Olympia Chimney damper or cap that has failed, we have probably replaced one just like it in a Commack house in the last month. Famco makes a line of dampers and chimney accessories we install regularly, and when a homeowner wants a specific top-sealing damper on a wood burner, that is the brand Wendell usually reaches for.
Copperfield components show up a lot in older Suffolk County homes, particularly dampers and chimney cleanout doors that have been in place since the house was built. We know how they age and what tends to fail first. If your fireplace runs on a brand we have not named here, that is fine. We service what is in your house, not what a distributor paid us to push.
Signs You Need Fireplace Services Right Now
- You smell smoke or old soot when the weather shifts. That is air moving down the chimney and pushing fireplace odors into the room. It often points to a damper that will not seal or negative pressure in the house. Either way, it is a sign the system is not working as it should.
- Your gas fireplace flames are yellow or orange, not blue. A healthy gas flame burns mostly blue. Sooting yellow flames mean incomplete combustion, which can mean clogged burner ports, low gas pressure, or a ventilation issue. That is a service call, not something to ignore until February.
- The fire will not draw, no matter how you adjust the damper. Weak draft usually means a clogged flue, a cold chimney, or a damper problem. In Commack, we also see flues that were never sized right for the firebox. The camera will tell us which one you have.
- You see cracked mortar or crumbling brick in the firebox. Heat and time break down every firebox eventually. Small cracks can be repointed. Bigger ones need real repair before the next fire. Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too.
- The last sweep was more than a year ago, and you have been burning regularly. Creosote builds up faster than most homeowners think, especially with softwood and overnight burns. If you cannot remember the last time someone looked inside your flue, that is the answer.
Our Fireplace Services Process - Step by Step
- 1
You call, a person answers. No voicemail tree, no call center. Call (631) 502-3612 and you get a live person any hour of the day or night. Often it is Wendell on the line. We talk through what you are seeing and book a time that works.
- 2
We arrive when we said we would. You get a real arrival window, and if something slips, we call before it slips. The sweep who shows up is background-checked and in uniform. The price you heard on the phone is the price on the invoice. Nothing changes at the door.
- 3
We inspect before we touch anything. We run a camera down the flue and through the smoke chamber. You see the footage. We walk through what it shows in plain English, and we do not recommend a single thing we cannot point to on the screen.
- 4
We do the work and show the result. Sweeping, damper repair, firebox work, conversion, insert install, service. When we are done, we show you what changed and why it matters. If you ask, we will explain what we saw and what can wait.
- 5
You get the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Every job, every time, stamped on the invoice. If the work is not right, one call brings the crew back at no cost. Wendell still answers the phone. He runs into you again at the hardware store or the deli. He stands behind it in person.
How Much Does Fireplace Services Cost in Commack?
What affects the price most is what the camera finds. A flue packed with third-degree creosote takes longer than a first-degree brush job. A firebox that needs rebuilding costs more than a few repointed joints. We do not give vague ranges over the phone and surprise you later. We give you a number before a single tool comes off the truck, and we honor it. If you have a written estimate from another chimney company, bring it in. We will give you a free second opinion on it. And $40 off any repair over $200, no games.
Fireplace Services Near Commack - Our Service Area
We work all over Commack and the surrounding towns: East Northport, Kings Park, Smithtown, Elwood, Greenlawn, and down to Northport and Centerport. If you are in one of those communities, the drive time is short and we know the houses: the split-levels off Jericho Turnpike, the colonials in the older neighborhoods, the Capes built in the 1960s with flues that have seen everything. For a full look at what we do in neighboring towns, see our Fireplace Services in Smithtown page or Fireplace Services in Northport. You can also head back to the home page for the big picture. We are the local crew, not a franchise that rotated in last spring.
Serving Commack, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Commack area and offer our Fireplace Services in Commack, so we know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Fireplace Services in Commack
What exactly is fireplace services?
Fireplace services means any work related to your fireplace working safely and well: sweeping, inspection, gas service, damper and firebox repair, insert installation, and fuel conversion. At Top Hat Chimney, it always starts with a camera inspection so you can see what we see. From there, the work is whatever the footage shows is actually needed, nothing more. Call (631) 502-3612 and we will talk through what you are experiencing.
How long does a fireplace service call take?
A standard sweep and inspection runs 60 to 90 minutes. A gas fireplace service is usually 45 minutes. Damper or firebox repair can be same-day if parts are on the truck, which they often are. Bigger jobs like insert installation or full conversion may take a second visit. We give you a real time estimate on the phone and a written one before work starts.
How much does fireplace service cost in Commack?
Most jobs land between $149 and $450, with bigger repairs like full firebox rebuilds or liner-connected insert work running higher based on what the camera finds. We quote before work begins and that number does not move. Seniors and veterans always get 10% off, and there is no trip charge inside our service county.
Do you service Olympia Chimney and Famco products?
Yes. We service Olympia Chimney and Famco components regularly and usually carry the common parts on the truck. Copperfield dampers and cleanout doors show up often in older Commack homes, and we know how they age. If your unit is a different brand, we still service it. The brand does not matter as much as what the camera shows.
Do you offer emergency fireplace service?
Live people answer the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that is not a call center. If you have a fireplace or chimney problem that cannot wait, call (631) 502-3612 and explain what is happening. We will tell you honestly whether it is an emergency or something that can wait until morning, and get you on the schedule either way.
What kind of warranty do you offer on fireplace work?
Every completed job comes with the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the work is not right, one call brings Wendell and his crew back at no additional cost. That applies to sweeps, repairs, installations, and service calls. Wendell puts his name on the invoice, not a corporate logo. Ask anyone on your street.
How should I prepare for a fireplace service appointment?
Clear the area in front of the fireplace about six feet back so the sweep can set up drop cloths and tools. Move any furniture that blocks easy access. If you have a gas unit, leave the pilot light as it is unless we tell you otherwise. And if there is anything unusual, like a smell or a noise or a fire that has been acting strange, write it down before we arrive. The details help.
Schedule Your Fireplace Services Service in Commack Today
Call (631) 502-3612 for a free estimate on any fireplace service in Commack. A live person answers, day or night. We will talk through what you are seeing, give you a real price before work starts, and back the finished job with the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. No pressure, no surprises, no stranger at the door. Just Wendell and his crew, the same faces you will run into again on Saturday.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Commack since 1999.