Question 1

My chimney has two openings at the top — do you sweep both?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and in Westmont that's the norm rather than the exception. Most of the original masonry stacks here were built to carry a fireplace flue alongside a second flue for the old coal or oil heater. Even if that second flue hasn't vented anything in decades, we look down it, because an abandoned flue that's open at the top is a direct path for rain, animals and debris into the shared masonry. If it's still in service for a furnace or water heater, it gets inspected and swept on the same visit. We'll tell you which flue is which before we start, since the labeling on these houses is usually nothing but guesswork passed down from the last owner.

Question 2

Smoke rolls back into the room when I light a fire. Is the chimney dirty?

Accepted Answer

It might be, but in this neighborhood it's often not the main cause. The fireboxes in these 1910s–1940s Colonials, foursquares and bungalows are small and shallow by modern standards, and the original cast dampers rarely open fully anymore after decades of rust and paint. Add the tight lots, short setbacks and mature street trees along the side streets, and the column of air over the chimney gets disturbed enough to push smoke back down. We sweep first so we're judging a clean flue, then check damper travel, firebox depth and the termination height. Sometimes the fix is mechanical, sometimes it's a cap or a top adjustment, and sometimes it's just burning drier wood with a warmed-up flue.

Question 3

What do you end up finding most often on Westmont chimneys?

Accepted Answer

Water coming in from the top. The crowns on these stacks are original or close to it, and once they crack, water runs straight into the masonry and the flue. A lot of these chimneys have never had a rain cap at all — that was simply not how they were built. Inside, the terra cotta liner installed early on has usually opened at the mortar joints, and plenty of the older stacks aren't lined at all. The telltale signs homeowners notice first are a damp or musty smell near the firebox in wet weather, staining on the wall above the mantel, or crumbling mortar visible from the yard.

Question 4

How fast can you get out here, and can you do it the same day?

Accepted Answer

Within Haddon Township we can usually schedule a routine sweep within a few days, and it's more like a week or two once the first cold stretch hits and everyone remembers their fireplace at once. Same-day does happen when there's a cancellation or we're already working nearby, but we won't promise it, and we'd rather tell you no than show up without enough daylight. Daylight matters here more than people expect — the steep roof pitches and slate or aging shingle on these houses mean rooftop work takes longer and we won't rush it in bad light or wet conditions. If you have active water coming in or smoke pushing into the house, say so when you call and we'll prioritize accordingly.

Question 5

What makes one Westmont sweep cost more than my neighbor's?

Accepted Answer

Mostly the number of flues and how hard the top is to reach. A single fireplace flue on a house with workable roof access is the straightforward case. Two flues in one stack — the fireplace plus the old heating flue — means more time. Steep pitch, slate, or a stack set back from the eave means we're setting up differently and sometimes working from the roof rather than a ladder, and that adds to it. Condition plays in too: heavy creosote, a damper seized shut, or a chimney that's been taking rain for years all take longer than a flue that's been swept regularly. We walk the job before we quote so there are no surprises once we're on the roof.

Chimney Sweep in Westmont, NJ

Chimney work in Westmont, NJ

Serving Westmont, NJ and Surrounding Areas

Chimney Sweep services in Westmont

Frequently Asked Questions

My chimney has two openings at the top — do you sweep both?

Smoke rolls back into the room when I light a fire. Is the chimney dirty?

Need chimney sweep in Westmont?