Frequently Asked Questions

We lay down protective covers, run a rotary brush system up the flue to remove creosote buildup, and then send a camera through the entire length of the chimney. The camera lets us see cracks, gaps, or obstructions that a visual check from the top or bottom would miss. The whole process takes 60 to 90 minutes for a standard fireplace, and we leave your living room exactly as we found it.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual inspection, with cleaning as needed. In Elizabeth's climate, where we get real winter use and humid summers that can accelerate masonry deterioration, we suggest sweeping wood-burning systems every year and oil or gas systems inspected annually with cleaning every one to two years depending on use. If you burn more than three cords of wood per season, consider a mid-season check.

A standard sweep and inspection takes about an hour to an hour and a half. If we find damage that needs documenting with extra photos, or if you have questions about what we're seeing, it might stretch to two hours. We don't rush. The 400th job gets the care of the first - that's our K.E.Y.S. code, and we mean it.

Remove any items from the mantel and hearth area, and don't use the fireplace for 24 hours before we arrive so everything is cool. We bring our own covers, vacuums, and tools. You don't need to clear furniture from the room, though moving a coffee table a few feet back helps us work. If you have a wood stove, removing ashes beforehand saves us time and saves you money.

Yes, immediately. There's no curing time or waiting period after a standard cleaning. If we've performed masonry repairs or installed a new liner, we'll tell you exactly when it's safe to burn again - usually 24 to 48 hours for mortar work, depending on materials and weather conditions.

We work with several established manufacturers and select the right product for your specific system. For stainless steel relining, we often use DuraFlex for its flexibility in older chimneys with offsets. For cast-in-place restoration, HeatShield is our go-to when the existing clay liner is sound structurally but has gaps or cracks that need sealing. We don't push one brand for every job - we match the material to the problem.

Yes, we source from both Gelco and Olympia Chimney for caps, dampers, and specialty fittings when they're the right match for the application. Gelco's stainless caps hold up well in Elizabeth's coastal-influenced climate where salt air accelerates corrosion. Olympia Chimney supplies components we trust for proper sizing and fit. We order what the job calls for, not what we have excess stock of.

No. Nothing is recommended without camera evidence you can see for yourself. If your clay liner has minor cracking that doesn't affect safety, we'll tell you it can wait and when to recheck it. If there's a gap at the flue joint or deteriorated mortar that's allowing gases to escape, we'll show you the photo and explain why it matters. We've built our reputation in Union County on straight talk, not scare tactics.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we push for CSIA certification as the baseline standard. Russell Haines, who leads our Elizabeth branch, insists on ongoing training because chimney systems and venting codes change. We document every inspection with photos and a written report because that's what a craftsman does - and because it protects you if you ever sell your home.

Yes, we carry general liability and workers' compensation coverage. We're happy to provide a certificate of insurance upon request. When someone works on your roof and inside your home, you want to know they're covered. We wouldn't send anyone into our mother's house without it, and we don't send them into yours that way either.

When permits are required for liner installation, exterior rebuilds, or structural modifications, we handle the paperwork and scheduling with the City of Elizabeth Building Division. Most routine sweeps and inspections don't require permits. If your job does, we factor the permit cost into your written estimate upfront - no surprises on the bill.

Stop using the system immediately and call us at (908) 923-3159. Smoke odor when the fireplace is cold often means a blocked flue, a damaged liner, or negative air pressure pulling chimney gases into living space. It's a carbon monoxide risk that needs prompt professional evaluation. Don't try to diagnose it yourself - downdraft issues and flue blockages require camera inspection to locate and fix safely.

We answer the phone 24 hours a day, and our live coordinator will connect you with the local team to find the earliest available appointment. During peak fall season in Elizabeth and the surrounding towns, our schedule fills several days out. For urgent safety concerns - suspected carbon monoxide, visible chimney fire, or structural damage after a storm - we prioritize those calls and do our best to get there quickly.

A loud roaring or cracking sound from the chimney, dense smoke pouring from the top or into the room, and a strong hot smell are the classic signs. If you suspect an active chimney fire, call 911 first, then call us. After the fire department clears the scene, we perform a level-2 inspection to assess liner damage and determine what repairs are needed before the system can be used again. Even a small chimney fire can crack clay liners and create hidden hazards.

We apply The Keystone Standard to every job: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If something we did isn't right, we come back and fix it. For liner installations and major repairs, manufacturer warranties apply on top of our workmanship guarantee - DuraFlex and HeatShield both carry their own product warranties that we pass through to you. We explain both warranties in plain English before any work begins.

You own the photos and the report - get a second opinion if you'd like. We're confident in our assessments because we document everything, and we've found that homeowners who understand what they're looking at make better decisions. If another sweep disagrees with our findings, we're happy to review their report with you. A square deal means you have the information to decide, not pressure to decide now.

No honest sweep can guarantee that, and we won't insult you by trying. A proper cleaning removes the creosote buildup that fuels most chimney fires, but how you burn - the wood you use, the air settings, the frequency of hot fires - matters enormously. What we guarantee is that we'll do the work right, document what we found, and tell you straight whether your system is safe to use or needs attention before the next burning season.

In twelve years of serving Elizabeth and Union County, we've learned that respect for your home is non-negotiable. We lay covers, we wear shoe protection, and we move furniture only with your permission. If something does go wrong, our insurance covers it, and our K.E.Y.S. code - specifically "Your home first" and "Standing behind it" - means we make it right without paperwork or arguing.

Call (908) 923-3159 and our live coordinator will find a time that works. We'll ask about your appliance type, how often you use it, and any concerns you've noticed. We serve Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway, Cranford, Hillside, Westfield, Woodbridge, Clark, Roselle Park, Carteret, Summit, and Roselle. We'll be there when we say, we'll do the work right, and we'll stand behind it.

Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Elizabeth since 2014.