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.
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AfterTrusted Chimney Cleaning & Sweep for Commack Homeowners
A chimney cleaning in Commack typically costs between $189 and $389, depending on how much creosote has built up, how tall your flue runs, and whether you need a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection. Most sweeps take 45 to 90 minutes once Wendell and his crew are on site. If you’re smelling smoke inside the house or you can’t remember the last time the flue was touched, call (631) 502-3612 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Wendell Pike founded Top Hat Chimney in 1999, and he’s been inside more Commack flues than he can count since then. This is not a franchise that rotated in last spring and will be gone by fall. Wendell lives and works in the same communities he serves, answers his own phone more often than not, and stands behind every sweep with a 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not done right, one call brings him back. No argument, no charge.
We clean chimneys the way we’d want our own cleaned. We show up in uniform, give you a real arrival window, and the price you get on the phone is the price on the invoice. Plain and simple.
What Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Service Includes
Every chimney cleaning begins with a conversation about what you’ve been seeing and smelling, then a careful look at the firebox, damper, and flue. From there, Wendell recommends exactly what the chimney needs and nothing it doesn’t. Here’s what each part of the service covers.
Level 1 Inspection
A Level 1 inspection looks at all the readily accessible parts of your chimney: the firebox, damper, cap, and the full interior of the flue. This is the inspection you want when nothing has changed since the last sweep, the fireplace is burning the same as always, and you just need your annual upkeep. Every Annual Sweep we do in Commack includes a Level 1 inspection as part of the job. We document what we find with camera footage so you can see the condition for yourself.
Level 2 Inspection
A Level 2 inspection goes further and is the standard whenever something has changed: you bought the house, you switched fuel type, a storm rolled through, or there was a chimney fire. Wendell uses a video camera to scan the full flue interior, looking for hidden cracks, gaps in mortar joints, or damaged flue tiles that a visual check from the roofline misses. If you’re unsure which level you need, call and describe the situation; Wendell will tell you straight and charge you only for what’s needed.
Creosote Removal
Creosote is the tar-like residue wood smoke leaves behind, and it builds up in layers. First-degree creosote is flaky and brushes off easily. Third-degree is a hard glaze that requires rotary tools and professional training to remove without damaging the flue. In Commack, where plenty of homes run wood stoves and fireplaces all winter, we see glazed creosote most often in flues that haven’t been swept in several years. Our Creosote Removal equipment handles all three stages and we’ll show you the before and after footage.
Soot Removal
Soot is the finer, powdery byproduct carried up with smoke. It clings to flue walls and reduces draft, which is why rooms get smoky when you open the door. We vacuum and brush the full flue length to clear soot, then clean the smoke chamber and firebox so your fire pulls cleanly again. A soot-clogged flue is also a carbon monoxide risk, which is all the reason to keep it clear.
Annual Sweep
Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season too. In Commack’s freeze-thaw winters, water seeps into tiny cracks and widens them, and animals build nests when the chimney sits quiet. Our annual sweep means we’re looking at the flue while it’s empty, catching small issues before they become rebuilds. If you burn more than two cords a season, we may recommend a mid-season check as well. Better to brush it out than to find out the hard way.
Fireplace Cleaning
This goes beyond the flue. We clean the firebox, the smoke shelf, the damper assembly, and any accessible ash dump areas. We remove old ash, inspect the firebrick for crumbling, and check that the damper opens and closes fully. A clean firebox burns more efficiently and keeps ash from drifting back into the living room on a draw. It’s part of every full sweep and can be done as its own Fireplace Cleaning service in the warmer months.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Cleaning & Sweep
We’ve worked with equipment and liners from Olympia Chimney for years, especially on homes around Commack with stainless steel relining systems. Olympia’s components are built to last and we clean them carefully with the right brush density so the liner isn’t scarred during a routine sweep. If you have an Olympia cap or liner, we can inspect and service it without voiding any warranty.
We also see a lot of Famco caps and dampers on Long Island chimneys, and we know how to remove, clean, and reseat them properly. Copperfield products are another common sight, especially their chimney caps and chase covers on newer builds in Commack and the surrounding towns. Whether you have one of those brands or something older and harder to identify, Wendell can service it. If parts are needed, we source trusted brands rather than whatever is cheapest on a shelf.
Signs You Need Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Right Now
- Smoke rolls back into the room when you open the door. That’s a draft problem almost every time, and the usual culprit is a flue narrowed by creosote or blocked by a nest. A clean flue pulls smoke up and out, not into your living room.
- You smell last night’s fire the next morning. A fireplace shouldn’t perfume the house the day after. That stale smoke smell means soot and creosote are sitting in the flue and the chimney isn’t venting fully.
- You can see dark, shiny buildup on the flue walls. Shiny is the word that matters here: that’s glazed, third-degree creosote, and it’s the kind most likely to fuel a chimney fire. It won’t brush off with a standard sweep and needs a rotary treatment.
- You hear scratching, fluttering, or chirping in the chimney. That’s a living thing in your flue, usually a bird, squirrel, or raccoon. Animals bring nesting material, and nesting material blocks the flue and catches fire. We’ll clear it and can add a proper cap to keep them out.
- It’s been more than 18 months since the last sweep. Even if the fireplace seems fine, creosote builds quietly. The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection and cleaning as needed. If it’s been over a year, get it looked at before the burning season starts.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Process - Step by Step
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Scheduling and the straight number. You call (631) 502-3612 or send a note, and a real person answers, day or night. We ask what you’ve been seeing, what you burn, and when the last cleaning happened. Then we give you an upfront price before any tools leave the truck.
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Protecting the home before we start. We lay down drop cloths from the front door to the fireplace and around the hearth. We use a high-powered HEPA vacuum to keep dust from escaping the firebox. Your rugs and floors stay clean; that’s the standard, not an add-on.
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Inspection with camera evidence. Wendell runs a video camera up the full flue before brushing so we both know what’s there. You’ll see the creosote, the cracks, the rust, or the clean liner. The footage and a plain-English verdict, every time, no exceptions. If something shows up that needs repair, we’ll show you the frame and explain exactly what it means.
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The sweep itself. We use the right tool for the buildup: wire or poly brushes for standard creosote, rotary whips for glazed third-degree, and a matched brush for metal liners so we don’t scar them. We clean the firebox, smoke shelf, and damper too, then vacuum everything out before we pack up.
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The after-sweep report. We walk you through what we found, what we did, and what we’d watch for. If anything needs follow-up, you get photos, the recommendation, and an honest take on urgency. Some things can wait until spring. Some things can’t. Wendell will tell you which is which.
How Much Does Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost in Commack?
A standard chimney cleaning and Level 1 inspection in Commack runs between $189 and $259 for a single-story flue with normal creosote buildup. Two-story flues and steeper roofs push that to $260 to $389 because of the extra access work. If the creosote has glazed into third-degree, a rotary treatment adds $100 to $150 on top of the base sweep. A Level 2 camera inspection, which we recommend for any home purchase or after a chimney fire, runs $249 to $399 as a standalone service.
What actually moves the price is accessibility: roof pitch, flue height, and how long it’s been since the last cleaning. A flue that hasn’t seen a brush in six years takes longer than one swept last fall. The good news is the price you hear on the phone is the price on the invoice, and estimates are free. We also hold standing offers: $40 off any repair over $200, no trip charge inside our county, and 10% off for seniors and veterans. If another company gave you a written estimate, bring it in and Wendell will give a free second opinion with no pressure to switch.
Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Near Commack - Our Service Area
Top Hat Chimney is based here and serves Commack plus the surrounding towns: Smithtown, Northport, East Northport, Kings Park, Greenlawn, Elwood, and out toward Setauket and Stony Brook. We run routes through the area weekly, so scheduling is usually a matter of days, not weeks. If you’re on the edge of our service area, call and Wendell will tell you honestly what’s feasible. We’re the home team for chimney work in this part of Suffolk County.
Serving Commack, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Commack area and 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 - Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Commack
Chimney cleaning, or sweeping, is the removal of creosote, soot, and blockages from the interior of your flue so your fireplace or stove vents safely and draws properly. It includes cleaning the firebox, smoke chamber, and damper, plus a visual inspection of the chimney’s condition. A proper sweep keeps smoke and carbon monoxide moving up and out instead of into the house. In Commack, we recommend it at least once a year, more often if you burn heavily.
Most sweeps in Commack take between 45 and 90 minutes from setup to final vacuum. Heavier creosote, glazed buildup, or animal nests add time, sometimes a couple of hours. You’ll get a clear arrival window when you book, and if anything changes, we call you before you’re left wondering. Call (631) 502-3612 for a time estimate on your specific chimney.
You’ll typically pay between $189 and $389 in Commack depending on flue height, roof access, and how much creosote has built up. Glazed third-degree creosote that needs rotary treatment adds $100 to $150. The quote you get on the phone is what you pay, nothing changes at the door. Estimates are free, so call (631) 502-3612 and get a straight number.
Yes. We clean and service flues, liners, caps, and dampers from Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield regularly throughout Commack and the surrounding towns. Wendell knows these systems well enough to clean them without damaging the liner or voiding a warranty. If you have a different brand, bring us the details and we’ll tell you what we can do.
Call (631) 502-3612 and a live person answers, any hour of the day or night. If it’s a safety issue, like smoke backing into the house or you suspect a chimney fire has already happened, we move fast. We’ll give you the soonest real appointment, not a vague window. For non-urgent cleanings, we’ll find the next opening that works for you.
Every sweep and every repair carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the work isn’t right, one call brings Wendell back to make it right at no additional cost. That’s been the standard since 1999 and it’s stamped on the job. We also back any product installs with the manufacturer’s warranty honored through us.
Move any furniture or decor at least six feet from the fireplace opening, and clear the area right in front of the hearth if you can. We’ll handle the floor protection and dust containment with drop cloths and a HEPA vacuum. If your roof has a locked gate or an aggressive dog, just let us know when you book so we can plan the access.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Service in Commack Today
If your chimney hasn’t been swept in the last year or you’ve noticed smoke, odor, or sounds coming from the flue, call (631) 502-3612. Wendell or someone from his crew will answer, give you a straight price, and get you scheduled. Better to spend a few hundred on a sweep now than thousands on a liner rebuild or worse later. Free estimates, no pressure, and a 90-Day Done Right Promise on every job since 1999.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Commack and the surrounding Suffolk County communities since 1999.