Before & After Gallery - Top Hat Chimney

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Haverhill, MA

Photos tell the truth faster than any sales pitch. Below are real chimney cleaning jobs from Haverhill and the surrounding Merrimack Valley. Some looked fine from the hearth but weren’t. Others were obviously overdue. Every one of them breathes better now, and we have the before and after footage to prove it.

Call (978) 724-7935

Recent Transformations

Glazed Creosote Removal in a Bradford Colonial

The homeowner had been burning unseasoned pine for years. The flue was lined with a shiny, tar-like glaze that a standard brush couldn’t touch. Wendell and his crew used mechanical removal to break the glaze down layer by layer. Afterward, the clay tiles were visible again for the first time in a decade, and the chimney drafted like it should.

First-Degree Creosote in a Haverhill Split-Level

This one looked worse than it was. Thick, dusty creosote had accumulated after two seasons of regular use, but it was still first-degree, meaning a brush job would handle it. The sweep who showed up ran the brush through the full length of the flue, cleaned the smoke chamber, and vacuumed everything out. The before and after photos make the point better than words.

Animal Nest Removal in a Riverside Chimney

The homeowner near Riverside heard scratching in the chimney in early spring. What we pulled out was a full squirrel’s nest, packed tight about eight feet down from the cap. After removing it and sweeping the flue, we showed them the camera footage so they could see the obstruction was gone. A new cap with proper screening made sure it stayed gone.

Heavy Soot Buildup in an Older Cape

Years of occasional fires without annual sweeping had left the firebox and lower flue coated in fine black soot. It wasn’t a glaze yet, but it was heading that way. We swept the full system, brushed the firebox, and removed what had settled behind the damper. The homeowner said she forgot the firebox was that color.

Third-Degree Creosote in a Rental Property

A landlord in Haverhill called after tenants reported smoke backing into the living room. Third-degree creosote had narrowed the flue to about half its original diameter. Wendell’s crew removed the glaze mechanically and recommended a follow-up liner inspection before the next tenant moved in. The camera footage we provided gave the landlord everything he needed to make the call.

Chimney Cap Replacement and Debris Clearing

The old cap on this center chimney had rusted through in two places, letting rain and leaves fall straight down the flue. We cleared the debris, swept the lining, and installed a new stainless cap sized for the tile. The crown got a cleaning while we were up there. The difference in the before and after photos is obvious even from the ground.

Want Results Like These?

If your chimney hasn’t been swept in the past year, it’s time. We’ll show you the camera footage before and after so you can see exactly what we saw. Call (978) 724-7935 to book a sweep. Wendell or a live person answers, and pricing is set before any work begins.

Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Haverhill and the Merrimack Valley since 1999.