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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Bethlehem, PA
We’ve cleaned chimneys in Bethlehem since 1984. Over 42 years, we’ve pulled out everything from packed creosote to bird nests to chimney swifts. Photos don’t lie. Below you’ll see what our technicians actually encounter, what we did about it, and how the chimney looked when we finished. No staging, no stock imagery. This is the work.
Recent Transformations
Level-3 Creosote Removal, Historic Bethlehem Home
The homeowner on the South Side smelled smoke in the living room even when the fireplace wasn’t lit. We ran our camera and found Level-3 glazed creosote, the kind that looks like tar and can ignite at 451 degrees. Our technician used rotary chain whips and chemical treatment to break it down, then swept the full 25-foot flue. The camera inspection afterward showed bare terracotta all the way up. No more smoke smell. No fire hazard.
Chimney Swift Nest Extraction, West Bethlehem
A family on West Broad Street heard chirping that stopped abruptly, then noticed a draft reversal on windy days. Chimney swifts had nested in the flue, and the abandoned nest was catching debris. We removed the nest material by hand, brushed the flue, and scraped the smoke shelf clean. Because swifts are migratory birds protected under federal law, we timed the work outside nesting season and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with proper spark arrestor. The cap keeps wildlife out without restricting draft.
Flue Fire Damage Assessment and Restoration, Hanover Township Border
The homeowner heard a roaring sound in the chimney one cold February evening, then found charred debris on the hearth the next morning. That’s a flue fire, even if it burns itself out. Our Level-2 inspection revealed a vertical crack in the clay liner and spalled surfaces that would let heat reach combustible framing. Rather than a full liner replacement, which would have meant breaking into walls, we applied HeatShield cerfractory sealant to restore the liner’s integrity. The camera photos show a smooth, continuous surface from top to bottom. Documented like an engineer, explained like a craftsman.
Factory-Built Fireplace Rebuild, Bethlehem Township
Prefab fireplaces don’t last forever. This Bethlehem Township unit had original refractory panels that were cracking and a chase cover that funneled water straight into the firebox. We replaced the panels with factory-matched refractory, fabricated a new galvanized chase cover with proper drip edges, and ran a DuraFlex stainless liner from the insert to the cap. The homeowner got another 15-20 years out of the unit instead of a $4,000+ replacement. Photos of every stage went into the report.
Smoke Stain Remediation, Downtown Bethlehem Historic District
A Main Street bed and breakfast had blackening above the fireplace that kept returning after cleaning. The problem wasn’t the brick, it was the draft. The firebox was too deep for the flue diameter, and the damper was set too low. We swept the system, adjusted the damper to the correct stop position, and showed the owner how to build fires toward the back of the box. The smoke test with the door open pulled straight up the flue, no spillage. The brick cleaned up with mild detergent. No more guest complaints about smell.
Water Intrusion and Crown Repair, Saucon Valley Area
Water is what destroys chimneys in Bethlehem’s freeze-thaw climate. This Saucon Valley chimney had a flat crown that pooled water, and the cracks went straight through to the flue. Every spring, the homeowner found damp ash and a musty smell. We broke out the old crown, formed a new concrete crown with a 2-inch overhang and proper slope away from the flue, and sealed it with a breathable masonry treatment. Inside, we ran a drying pass and swept out the water-damaged residue. The flue walls showed clean clay on camera. Done right, and we stand behind it.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started with a phone call to (610) 595-5754. A live person answers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll schedule your inspection, show you exactly what we find with camera photos you can see, and give you a plain-English verdict. No surprises on the bill, and everything we do carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If you’re in Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, or anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, call (610) 595-5754 or ask about our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Bethlehem since 1984.