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 Denver, CO
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve photographed every one. The difference between a neglected flue and a properly swept system isn’t subtle - it’s the gap between a house fire waiting to happen and a fireplace you can light with confidence. Here’s what that actually looks like.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - Park Hill, Denver
The homeowner in Park Hill had been using their fireplace three to four times a week through Denver’s shoulder seasons without a sweep in six years. We found Class III glazed creosote - the hard, shiny, fuel-like buildup that standard brushes won’t touch - coating roughly 70% of the flue liner surface. We applied a creosote-modifying chemical treatment, let it work overnight, then ran a rotary chain system to break the glaze before finishing with a poly sweep and full Level 2 camera inspection. The flue liner came back to bare clay. The photo record, delivered same day, showed the full progression. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires that documentation - we’ve done it on every job since 2009.
Smoke Chamber Parging - Congress Park, Denver
This Congress Park bungalow had a classic 1920s corbelled smoke chamber - the brick steps inward above the damper, creating rough ledges where smoke swirls and creosote collects. The gaps between bricks were large enough to slide a pencil into, which meant poor draft, smoke backup into the room, and a surface that couldn’t be properly cleaned. We parge-coated the chamber with HeatShield Cerfractory Foam, smoothing it to the proper 45-degree slope the IRC requires. The result is a smoke chamber that drafts cleanly and can be swept thoroughly next season. Written scope, written price, written warranty - all delivered before we started, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Stainless Steel Liner Installation - Stapleton, Denver
The Stapleton homeowner called after a home inspector flagged “possible flue damage” during a sale. Our Level 2 camera scan showed a clay flue liner with longitudinal cracks running three courses down, plus spalling - the surface was flaking off in pieces, exposing mortar joints to direct combustion byproducts. That’s a carbon monoxide risk and a failed inspection item. We installed a DuraFlex 316Ti stainless steel liner, sized correctly for their gas insert, with proper top plate termination and insulation wrap to maintain flue temperature. The camera footage from before and after went into their photo record, along with the written warranty. They closed on schedule.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild - Highlands, Denver
A Highlands homeowner had water staining on their bedroom ceiling directly below the chimney chase. The crown - the concrete slab that tops most masonry chimneys - was cracked through to the flue, and there was no cap at all. Rain was running straight down the flue, carrying dissolved creosote and soot onto the smoke shelf, where it sat and rotted. We removed the failed crown, poured a new one with proper slope and drip edge, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with 5/8-inch mesh to keep birds and squirrels out while maintaining draft. The materials came through Haven’s buying network - DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, Copperfield - which is how we keep the price honest and documented upfront.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement - Cherry Creek, Denver
The refractory panels in this factory-built fireplace had hairline cracks that the homeowner had been told to “just keep an eye on.” Those panels are the only barrier between 1,200-degree fire and the combustible framing of your house. When they crack, the clearance is compromised. We sourced replacement panels through our Olympia Chimney supply line, fitted them to the firebox dimensions, and sealed the joints with proper refractory cement. The fireplace looked new and operated within factory specifications. We also found Class II creosote - flaky, porous, easier to remove than glazed but still a fuel load - in the flue above, so we swept that while we were there. One visit, one written price, two problems solved.
Annual Maintenance Sweep - Washington Park, Denver
Not every job is a rebuild. This Washington Park client books annually, which is why we found only Class I creosote - light, dusty, the kind that comes off with a standard poly brush - and no liner damage. We swept the flue, inspected the smoke chamber and firebox, ran the camera to confirm liner integrity, and delivered their photo record. The whole visit took under two hours. They’ll book again next September, before Denver’s first real cold snap, because they don’t want to be the ones calling in January when the system is clogged and every sweep in town is booked two weeks out. Regular maintenance is cheaper than emergency service, and it’s the only way to catch a cracked liner before it becomes a carbon monoxide event.
Want Results Like These?
Every job you see here started with a phone call and ended with a written record. We’ll inspect your system with a Level 2 camera scan, show you exactly what we find, and give you a written price before any work starts. No exceptions. Call (720) 674-7312 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day. Or bring us a competitor’s written estimate for a free second opinion. Corrine Halstead and the team at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Denver have been doing this since 2009, and we’re not in the business of surprises.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Denver, serving Denver since 2009.