Before the first cold night, get the soot and creosote out of your flue. We sweep fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts, inspect the whole chimney, and fix what we find, working out of Sharrotts Road in Charleston.
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Creosote gives off a strong, smoky odor in summer humidity or when the AC pulls air down the flue.
Crusty, shiny or tar-like flakes mean creosote is building up on the flue walls.
A narrowed flue or blockage slows the draft, so smoke rolls into the room instead of going up.
Birds, squirrels and raccoons nest in uncapped chimneys, especially in spring.
Even a lightly used fireplace should be checked once a year for buildup, cracks and debris.
Open fireplaces, wood stoves, inserts and gas units each need different care. We clean them all and keep the chimney above them in good shape.
Wood-burning fireplacesRotary and hand brushes scrub soot and creosote off the flue walls while a HEPA vacuum keeps it out of your house.
Stoves · inserts · gasStoves and inserts collect ash and creosote in baffles, connectors and liners. We clean the appliance and its venting together.
Stage 2 & 3 buildupShiny, tar-like glazed creosote doesn't come off with a normal brush. We use chemical treatments and power tools to break it down.
Birds · squirrels · raccoonsWe clear nests and debris, then fit a screened cap so animals and rain can't get back in. Top-sealing dampers stop cold drafts too.
Leaks & stainsWater is what ruins chimneys. We reseal flashing and apply a breathable water repellent so brick sheds rain instead of soaking it up.
Cracked flue tilesWhen an inspection finds cracked or missing flue tiles, a new stainless steel liner restores a safe path for smoke and exhaust.
NFPA 211, the fire code standard covering chimneys and fireplaces, describes three levels of inspection. The right level depends on what's changed with your chimney.
For chimneys used the same way as before. We look at the readily accessible parts of the chimney, flue and appliance.
When buying or selling a home, changing fuel or appliance, or after a chimney fire or storm. Includes attic, crawlspace and a camera look inside the flue.
Only when a serious problem is suspected in concealed areas, which may mean opening up parts of the chimney or wall.
You get photos of what we saw, so you or your home inspector can see it too.
A cracked mortar crown lets water straight into the chimney. We patch, seal or pour a new crown with a proper overhang.
Worn joints are ground out and refilled so the stack stays solid and watertight.
Leaning or crumbling tops are taken down and relaid course by course with new brick and mortar.
We also repair brick hearths, front steps and walkways while we're there.
We're on Sharrotts Road near the West Shore Expressway, so South Shore homes are minutes away and the rest of the island is an easy drive. Tap a neighborhood.
Typical drive estimates from 715 Sharrotts Rd with normal traffic. Your appointment window is set when you call.
Most standard sweeps take around an hour. Heavier buildup, stoves or repairs take longer, and we'll tell you up front.
Drop cloths from the door to the hearth, plastic over the opening, HEPA vacuum running.
Rods and brushes sized to your flue, from the roof or the firebox.
Damper, smoke chamber, liner, crown and cap checked once the soot is out.
Firebox vacuumed, cloths rolled up, photos and findings shared before we go.
NFPA 211 defines three. Level 1 covers the readily accessible parts of the chimney and is the standard yearly check. Level 2 adds accessible attic and crawlspace areas and a camera look inside the flue, and is called for when a home is sold, the fuel or appliance changes, or after a chimney fire or storm. Level 3 involves accessing concealed areas when a serious hazard is suspected.
Creosote is the residue left on flue walls when wood smoke cools. It's flammable, and thick layers are a leading cause of chimney fires. Regular sweeping keeps it from building up.
Yes. Gas burns cleaner than wood, but vents still get blocked by nests and debris, and liners and connections can deteriorate. A yearly inspection checks that exhaust is venting safely.
Don't light a fire and don't open the damper. Close the fireplace doors if you have them and call us. We'll remove the nest or animal and install a screened cap so it doesn't happen again.
It shouldn't. We lay drop cloths, seal the fireplace opening with plastic and run a HEPA vacuum during the sweep, so the soot goes into the vacuum instead of your living room.
Spring and summer are the easiest times to get an appointment. Fall fills up fast as people get ready for the heating season, so booking early gives you more choice of dates.
Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM. We're closed on Sunday.
Home base is Charleston, and we sweep chimneys in every Staten Island neighborhood.
One call to Staten Island Chimney Sweep and we'll find a day that works. Sweeps, inspections and repairs, all from one crew.
(929) 661-1895 Call to book| Monday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM – 7 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |