Before & After Gallery - Kindling Chimney Brooklyn

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Brooklyn, NY

We could tell you our sweeps are thorough, but honestly, seeing the work speaks louder than any claim we’d make. The photos below show what Brooklyn chimneys actually look like before and after our crews finish: creosote buildup, animal nesting, years of soot from wood-burning fireplaces in Park Slope brownstones and Carroll Gardens rowhouses. Every job gets the same treatment: a written price before we start, drop cloths down, and a photo report so you can see exactly what changed inside your flue.

Call (607) 695-6218

Recent Transformations

Heavy Creosote Removal in a Park Slope Brownstone

BeforeAfter

The problem: this three-story brownstone had gone four winters without a sweep, and the flue was coated in a shiny, tar-like glazing that’s a genuine fire risk. Danny and the crew ran our rotary whip system with professional-grade rods, then hand-scrubbed the smoke chamber where residue had hardened into a crust. The result: a clean liner with full draft restored, and the homeowners told us they could feel the difference in how their fireplace drew the very next evening.

Animal Nesting Extraction in a Carroll Gardens Rowhouse

BeforeAfter

Brooklyn roofs collect a lot of winged tenants, and this Carroll Gardens flue had become a full bird condominium. Twigs, feathers, and debris were blocking over half the passage. We removed the nest by hand, swept the full length of the chimney, and installed a stainless steel cap to make sure the birds don’t return next spring. The homeowner was most relieved about one thing: no more faint chirping sounds echoing into the living room.

Smoke Chamber Cleaning in a Ditmas Park Victorian

BeforeAfter

This Ditmas Park Victorian had a fireplace that would puff smoke back into the room every time the wind shifted. The issue wasn’t the liner itself; it was a smoke chamber caked with years of soft soot that had narrowed the opening. We used our HEPA-filtered vacuum system alongside hand brushes to get every surface clean without sending dust into the house. Now the fireplace drafts properly, and the family can light a fire without cracking three windows.

Pre-Sale Chimney Inspection and Sweep in Williamsburg

We get a lot of calls from Brooklyn sellers who need a chimney certification before closing. This Williamsburg condo had a medium creosote load plus a surprising amount of construction dust from a kitchen renovation that had migrated into the flue. We swept the full system, ran a Level 1 inspection, and provided the photo report the buyer’s inspector wanted to see. The homeowner didn’t have to renegotiate anything at the closing table.

Fireplace Smoke Odor Remediation in a Brooklyn Heights Co-op

Even in summer, this Brooklyn Heights co-op carried a stale smoke smell that no candle could cover. The culprit was a firebox and damper assembly coated in soot that had absorbed years of wood smoke. We deep-cleaned the firebox, degreased the damper, and applied our pet-safe odor neutralizer to the masonry surfaces. Within a day, the living room smelled like nothing at all, which was exactly what the owner wanted.

Chimney Sweep After a Chimney Fire Scare in Bay Ridge

A Bay Ridge homeowner called us after hearing a low rumble in the chimney and seeing sparks from the cap one January night. When we got there, the camera inspection showed thick, puffy creosote that had started to harden in places where the heat had been most intense. We swept everything, then sat down with the owner to review the footage frame by frame. The liner showed minor flaking but nothing that required immediate replacement, and we told them so honestly. They booked us again for a pre-season sweep the following October.

Want Results Like These?

Every chimney has a history, and most of the time, a good sweep and an honest inspection are all it needs. We’ll show you what’s inside your flue before we recommend anything, and the written price comes first, no surprises. Call us at (607) 695-6218 to book a sweep or inspection in Brooklyn. A live person answers, day or night.

Written by Danny Cortes, Owner at Kindling Chimney Brooklyn, serving Brooklyn since 2003.