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 Long Island Homeowners
A chimney cleaning and sweep in Long Island typically costs between $189 and $329 for a standard fireplace with a single flue, takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and should be done once a year whether you burn wood regularly or not. That’s the honest answer, and it’s the same number you’ll hear whether you call us at (516) 968-5380 or ask Wendell Pike face to face. Wendell founded Top Hat Chimney in 1999 and has been sweeping chimneys across Long Island since before half the national franchises even had a truck on this island. The difference you’ll notice right away is that the person who answers the phone is the same person who shows up at your door, and the price quoted on the phone is the price on the invoice. No mystery fees, no bait-and-switch, no stranger who disappears after the job. Just a local sweep who puts his name, license number, and a written 90-Day Done Right Promise on every single job. We’re also running $40 off any repair over $200 and a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve received from another company. If you’re inside our service county, there’s no trip charge, either. Seniors and veterans always get 10% off.
What Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Service Includes
Every chimney we clean in Long Island gets the same baseline treatment: a thorough sweep of the flue, a safety inspection of the firebox and smoke chamber, and camera footage shown to you before we leave. Wendell and his crew don’t do drive-by sweeps. If we’re in your home, we’re doing the job right, and we’re showing you the proof. Here’s what each part of the service actually involves.
Level 1 Inspection
A Level 1 Inspection covers the readily accessible parts of your chimney and fireplace. This is what you get with every standard sweep, no extra charge. Wendell checks the flue for creosote buildup, blockages, and any visible cracking or deterioration, then runs a camera up to document what he sees. If you’ve been using the same fireplace for years and nothing has changed, a Level 1 is usually all you need. It’s included with every cleaning we do in Long Island, and the camera footage means you see exactly what the sweep sees.
Level 2 Inspection
A Level 2 inspection goes deeper, covering attics, crawl spaces, and the exterior of the chimney from roof to foundation. This is required when you’re buying or selling a home, after a chimney fire, or if your chimney has taken a hit from a Long Island nor’easter. We use a camera to inspect the full interior from top to bottom. If you’re closing on a home in Dix Hills or Commack, call us before the paperwork is signed. A Level 2 camera inspection has caught more hidden chimney damage than we can count.
Creosote Removal
Creosote Removal starts with understanding that creosote is the residue left behind when wood smoke cools inside your flue, and it’s the leading cause of chimney fires. First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze that hardens like tar and requires special tools and sometimes chemical treatment. If Wendell finds heavy creosote, he’ll show you the footage and explain exactly what level you’re dealing with and what it’ll take to remove it. Catching it at first-degree costs you a sweep. Letting it build to third-degree can cost you a liner.
Soot Removal
Soot is the lighter, flakier byproduct of burning wood, oil, or gas, and it still needs to come out. It builds up on the flue walls and can restrict airflow even when it doesn’t look dramatic from the outside. Our vacuum systems keep soot contained while we work, so your living room stays as clean as it was when we arrived. Soot removal is a standard part of every sweep we do, not an add-on.
Annual Sweep
Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season, too. Moisture gets into the masonry, freeze-thaw cycles do their damage, and animals build nests in flues that sit idle through the spring and summer. Booking an Annual Sweep keeps your chimney ready for the first cold night in Huntington or Seaford, not waiting on a repair call during peak season. We recommend scheduling your annual sweep in the late summer or early fall, before the burning season rush hits Long Island.
Fireplace Cleaning
Your fireplace itself needs attention beyond the flue. We clean the firebox, remove ash and debris, check the damper for proper operation, and inspect the hearth for any safety issues. A damper that doesn’t seat properly lets heated air escape up the chimney all winter long and lets cold air pour in during the summer. Fireplace Cleaning is part of every full sweep, and Wendell will tell you plainly if your damper needs replacement or if it’s got another season in it.
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 service and install products from DuraFlex and Copperfield, and Wendell works with these systems often enough to know their quirks. DuraFlex liners are common across Long Island, both for wood-burning and gas applications, and we stock the connectors and components that keep them working safely. If you’ve got a Copperfield system, Wendell knows the installation specs and what to look for when things aren’t performing the way they should.
HeatShield is another brand we work with regularly, especially when it comes to repairing damaged flues without a full rebuild. HeatShield’s cerfractory coating system can reline a chimney from the inside, and we’ve used it on homes from Oceanside to Smithtown where a traditional liner wasn’t practical. Whether your chimney has a DuraFlex liner, a Copperfield component, a HeatShield coating, or any other make, the cleaning and inspection process is the same: we document what’s there, show you the camera footage, and give you a plain-English verdict. No brand loyalty, just whatever’s safest for your home.
Signs You Need Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Right Now
- Smoke backing up into the room. If smoke rolls into the living room instead of up the flue, you’ve got a draft problem, a blockage, or a creosote buildup restricting airflow. This is the most common call we get during burning season in Long Island, and it’s usually fixable with a proper sweep. Don’t keep burning until it gets better, because it won’t.
- A strong campfire smell when the fireplace isn’t in use. That odor is creosote, and it means there’s enough built up in your flue to notice without even lighting a fire. Damp or humid Long Island summer weather makes it worse. A sweep eliminates the smell and the fire risk in one visit.
- Black, crusty flakes falling into the firebox. Those flakes are pieces of creosote breaking loose from the flue walls. When it starts flaking, it’s already built up enough to be a real fire hazard. Call for a sweep before your next fire.
- You can’t remember the last time the chimney was cleaned. Most homeowners we meet in Freeport and Levittown tell us it’s been “a while,” which usually means three to five years. Your chimney doesn’t send reminders. If you can’t name the year it was last swept, it’s due.
- Birds, squirrels, or strange sounds coming from the flue. Animals love an uncapped chimney, and Long Island has plenty of squirrels and starlings looking for a warm place to nest. A nest blocks the flue and can catch fire. We’ll clear it out and install a proper cap if needed.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Process - Step by Step
You should know exactly what happens when you book a cleaning with Top Hat Chimney. Here’s how it works, from the call to the final walkthrough. Wendell’s been doing this since 1999, and this process hasn’t changed because it works.
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You call, a live person answers. We don’t have a voicemail box or a call center. Call (516) 968-5380 any time, day or night, and a real person picks up. It might be Wendell himself. You’ll get an upfront price quote on the phone, and that’s the number on your invoice. No surprises at the door.
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We arrive on time and in uniform. The sweep who shows up at your door is background-checked and uniformed, and you’ll get a real arrival window before we head your way. If that window slips, we call you. Wendell runs into his customers at the hardware store in Hempstead and the diner in Levittown, so his reputation rides on every visit.
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We protect your home and sweep the flue. Before anything else, we lay down drop cloths and set up our vacuum system so soot and creosote stay contained. Then we run the brushes up the full length of the flue, clearing creosote, soot, and any debris from the firebox to the chimney cap. This is the core of the cleaning, and it’s done thoroughly every time.
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We run the camera and show you the footage. After the sweep, Wendell sends a camera up the flue and shows you what he sees on screen. Clean flue? You’ll see it. Cracks, gaps, or deterioration? You’ll see that too. This is the part national franchises skip. We don’t recommend repairs without visual evidence, and the camera footage and a plain-English verdict are yours every time, no exceptions.
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We walk you through what we found and what it means. Before we leave, you’ll know exactly what condition your chimney is in and whether anything needs attention. If it’s clean and safe, Wendell will tell you that and not try to sell you anything. If something needs work, he’ll show you the footage and explain your options in plain language. Every job is backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not done right, one call brings us back at no additional cost.
How Much Does Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Cost in Long Island?
A standard chimney cleaning and sweep in Long Island runs between $189 and $329 for a single-flue fireplace. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect:
- Standard sweep with Level 1 inspection: $189 - $249
- Sweep with Level 2 camera inspection: $249 - $329
- Heavy creosote removal (third-degree glaze): $349 - $499, depending on flue length and severity
- Fireplace cleaning as a standalone service: $129 - $189
- Chimney cap replacement (if needed after cleaning): $149 - $399, depending on cap type and material
What affects the price? Flue height, the amount of creosote built up, whether it’s a wood or gas chimney, and whether you need a Level 2 inspection. Homes in older Long Island communities like Rockville Centre and Freeport sometimes have taller, more complex chimney systems that take longer to sweep properly. The best way to avoid overpaying is to get the price on the phone before we come out, which is exactly how we operate. No trip charge inside our service county, and if you have a written estimate from another company, we’ll give you a free second opinion and save you money if we can do the work for less. Seniors and veterans always receive 10% off, and any repair over $200 comes with $40 off automatically.
Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Near Long Island - Our Service Area
Top Hat Chimney is based right here on Long Island, and we serve the entire island from the Nassau border through Suffolk County. We’re regularly in Rockville Centre, Brentwood, Southampton, Dix Hills, Smithtown, Commack, Seaford, Hempstead, Freeport, Oceanside, and Levittown. Most cleanings are scheduled within a few days, and if you’re inside our home county, there’s no trip charge. Ask anyone on your street; chances are Wendell has been up on their roof at some point in the last 29 years. For more about what we do across our full service area, see our home page.
Serving Long Island, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Long Island 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 Long Island
A chimney cleaning and sweep is the process of removing creosote, soot, and debris from the inside of your flue to keep your chimney safe and functioning. It’s done with brushes and vacuum systems that run the full length of the flue from firebox to cap. The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual chimney inspections and cleaning as needed, and we recommend once a year for any chimney in regular use. Call (516) 968-5380 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
A standard chimney cleaning and sweep takes 60 to 90 minutes from setup to final walkthrough. If we’re also doing a Level 2 camera inspection or clearing heavy creosote glaze, it may take longer. We’ll give you a realistic time estimate when you book, and if we’re running late, we’ll call you before we arrive.
A chimney cleaning in Long Island costs between $189 and $329 for a standard single-flue fireplace, depending on flue height and creosote level. Heavy third-degree creosote removal runs higher because it requires special equipment and more time. The price we quote on the phone is the price you pay, guaranteed. Call (516) 968-5380 for an exact quote, and remember seniors and veterans always get 10% off.
Yes, we service and install systems from DuraFlex, Copperfield, and HeatShield, along with products from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Famco. Wendell has worked with these brands for decades and knows their installation specs and common failure points. Whether you have one of these systems or something else entirely, we can clean and inspect it properly.
We answer every call with a live person, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’ve had a chimney fire or smoke is backing up into your home and you’re worried about safety, call (516) 968-5380 any time. Wendell will tell you honestly whether it’s safe to keep burning or whether you should stop using the fireplace until we can get there. If it can wait until morning, he’ll say so. If it can’t, he’ll make time.
Every job we do comes with the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something isn’t right after we leave, one call brings us back at no additional cost. That’s not a marketing line; it’s stamped on every invoice we hand out in Long Island. Wendell has been doing this since 1999, and his name goes on every job.
Clear the area around your fireplace of any furniture, decorations, or valuables about six feet back from the hearth. Remove anything from the mantel that could get knocked loose by the brush or hoses. If you have pets, keeping them in another room helps us work faster and keeps them calm. That’s all you need to do; we bring everything else, including floor protection and our vacuum system.
Schedule Your Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Service in Long Island Today
Don’t wait until the first cold snap in Dix Hills or the annual holiday rush in Commack to book your sweep. Call (516) 968-5380 today and talk to a real person who’ll give you an upfront price and a time that works. The estimate is free, the phone call is free, and there’s no trip charge inside our service county. A clean chimney is a safe chimney, and the sooner you book, the sooner you’ll stop wondering what’s been building up in that flue.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Long Island since 1999.