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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Across Lexington
A Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lexington, MA typically runs $180-$340 for a standard Level 1 cleaning with inspection, while a Level 2 camera inspection runs $350-$550. Most appointments are completed in a single visit, and our Boston office dispatches crews to Lexington daily. Call (781) 905-8338 to book - estimates are free, and a live person answers the phone 24 hours a day.
We’ve been serving Lexington homeowners for over 42 years, from the historic colonials ringing the Battle Green to the garrison colonials and ranches off Waltham Street and Marrett Road. Russell Haines built this company on the idea that a sweep should explain what they found, show you the photos, and give you a plain-English verdict you can act on or set aside. No pressure, no mystery.
Why Hearthstone Chimney Co. Is Lexington’s Preferred Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Company
Lexington homeowners call us back because we document what we find. Every Level 2 inspection ends with dated photos and a written report - not a verbal summary that evaporates once the truck leaves. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if something isn’t right, we make it right. In writing. No arguing.
Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and most jobs finish in one visit. The price we quote is the price on the invoice. We’ve earned a strong local reputation in Middlesex County by showing up when we say and doing the thing correctly.
Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Boston office, but our crews live and work in the Lexington area. We know the difference between a Mass Ave colonial with a 250-year-old central stack and a 1960s ranch with a factory-built fireplace in a prefab chase - and we service both correctly, with the right parts and the right approach.
A live person answers every call, every hour, every day. Not a voicemail, not a callback queue. That’s been true for over 42 years.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Services in Lexington
Level 1 Inspection
A Level 1 inspection is the annual baseline for any chimney in regular use. We examine the readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior, interior, and connecting appliance - checking for obstructions, combustible deposits, and basic structural soundness. In Lexington’s newer homes, particularly the 1950s-1970s garrison colonials near Waltham Street, this inspection confirms whether your factory-built fireplace and chase cap are still within manufacturer specifications. If we see something that needs a closer look, we’ll tell you plainly and recommend a Level 2 before any work proceeds.

Level 2 Inspection
This is where we get specific. A Level 2 inspection includes everything in Level 1, plus a live camera scan of the flue interior and inspection of attics, crawl spaces, and basements as needed. For Lexington’s factory-built fireplaces - the ones hidden behind chase covers in those postwar ranches and garrison colonials - this is the only way to see cracked refractory panels, warped dampers, or deteriorated DuraFlex liner sections that a visual sweep would miss.
A homeowner near the Minute Man National Historical Park called about smoke smell in a 1960s garrison colonial, and our tech popped the chase cover to find a stamped factory-built fireplace with a DuraFlex liner section and a chase cap that had rusted through at the seam. We pulled the firebox panels, found first-degree creosote flaking off the flue walls and a damper that no longer sealed, then swept the flue, replaced the cap, and documented the firebox for a Level 2 report. Nothing was recommended that we couldn’t show her in the photos.

Creosote Removal
Creosote builds in every wood-burning system, factory-built or masonry. First-degree creosote is flaky and brushes off easily; second-degree is tar-like and requires more aggressive cleaning; third-degree is glazed, hardened, and a genuine fire hazard. Lexington homeowners with newer factory-built fireplaces often assume creosote isn’t a concern because the chimney “looks fine.” It isn’t fine. We’ve pulled chase covers on 30-year-old systems in the Follen Heights area and found third-degree glazing that the homeowner never suspected, because the problem was inside the metal chase, not visible from the living room.
Our sweeps use professional-grade equipment matched to the creosote stage and the flue material. No shortcuts. The flue gets cleaned to NFPA 211 standard, and we show you the after photos.

Soot Removal & Fireplace Cleaning
Soot accumulation isn’t just cosmetic. In factory-built fireplaces, excess soot can degrade gaskets, interfere with damper operation, and reduce efficiency. Our fireplace cleaning service removes soot from the firebox, smoke shelf, and accessible flue areas, then inspects the refractory panels, grate, and hardware for wear. We stock replacement components from Olympia Chimney and Famco for common factory-built models, so most repairs don’t require a second trip.

What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Lexington
We work exclusively with professional-grade materials - no builder-grade substitutes. For Lexington’s factory-built fireplaces and prefabricated chases, we stock and install DuraFlex liner sections, Gelco chase covers and caps, and components from Olympia Chimney and Famco. This matters because a factory-built fireplace is a manufacturer-specific appliance. The wrong cap or an incompatible liner section creates a clearance or draft problem that shows up three winters later as water damage or a smoking fireplace. We match the part to the unit, install it to spec, and document it in your report.
Common Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Problems We See in Lexington Homes
- Factory-built fireplaces neglected because they “look new.” The chase cover hides everything. A clean brick facing in the living room tells you nothing about the rusted cap, cracked refractory panel, or first-degree creosote accumulating inside the metal chase. We find this constantly in Lexington’s 1960s-1970s neighborhoods.
- Sweeps who clean the flue but skip the manufacturer-specific parts. A generic brush job removes loose soot from the flue walls but leaves a warped damper, deteriorated gasket, or cracked panel unaddressed. The fireplace works poorly, smokes occasionally, and the homeowner assumes it’s normal. It isn’t.
- Freeze-thaw damage on thin-wall masonry chimneys mistaken for cosmetic cracking. Lexington sits 11 miles inland, so freeze-thaw cycling is more severe than in Boston proper. Hairline crown cracks on newer thin-wall masonry let water in, which expands when it freezes, which opens the crack further. Left alone, water reaches the flue liner. We’ve replaced crowns on 40-year-old chimneys in the Liberty Heights area that the owner thought just needed caulk.
- Chase caps rusted through at the seam, directing water onto the firebox. Factory-built chase caps are thin-gauge metal with a finite lifespan. When they fail, water runs down the chase interior and pools on the firebox top, accelerating rust and degrading the refractory panels below. We catch this in Level 2 inspections and replace with proper Gelco or Famco caps sized to the chase.
Pricing for Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lexington, MA
Here’s what chimney cleaning and sweep services cost in the Lexington market:
| Service | Typical Range in Lexington |
|---|---|
| Level 1 Inspection & Sweep | $180 - $340 |
| Level 2 Camera Inspection | $350 - $550 |
| Creosote Removal (first-degree) | $180 - $280 |
| Creosote Removal (second- or third-degree) | $280 - $650 |
| Fireplace Cleaning (firebox, smoke shelf, accessible flue) | $150 - $260 |
| Chase Cap Replacement (factory-built) | $280 - $480 |
What moves the number: creosote stage, accessibility of the chase or flue, whether the firebox needs panel replacement, and if the damper requires adjustment or rebuilding. We give you the full price before any work starts. The estimate is free, and the number we quote is the number on the invoice. Call (781) 905-8338 for an exact quote on your system.
We Also Serve Cities Near Lexington
Our crews work throughout Middlesex County, including Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lexington and neighboring Winchester, Waltham, Belmont, and Lincoln. Same standards, same documentation, same live-answer phone line. If you’re unsure whether your home falls in our service area, call and we’ll tell you directly.
Serving Lexington, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lexington area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lexington
Yes. Factory-built fireplaces accumulate creosote and soot like any wood-burning system, and their metal chases, chase caps, and refractory panels deteriorate with heat cycling and weather exposure. The chase cover conceals problems that a living-room visual inspection cannot catch. Annual service keeps the warranty valid on many units and catches cracked panels or rusted caps before they become safety issues. Call (781) 905-8338 to schedule - estimates are free.
A Level 1 examines accessible areas with basic tools - adequate for chimneys in continued service with no changes. A Level 2 adds a live camera scan of the flue interior and inspection of concealed spaces, which is required for prefab systems because the firebox panels, damper, and liner section are hidden behind metal or chase framing. For Lexington’s factory-built fireplaces, we recommend Level 2 at least every three years, or annually if you burn more than a cord per season. We’ll tell you which level your situation warrants when you call.
Lexington’s inland location means colder overnight lows and more freeze-thaw cycles than Boston proper. Water enters hairline cracks in the crown or flashing, expands when it freezes, and widens the crack incrementally. On older lime-mortar chimneys near the Battle Green, this spalls mortar joints; on newer thin-wall masonry in the postwar neighborhoods, it cracks crowns and degrades flashing seals. Annual inspection catches this early, before water reaches the flue liner or interior framing. We document crown condition with photos and recommend repair when the cracking is active, not when it’s cosmetic.
Yes. Creosote stage depends on burning habits, wood moisture content, and draft conditions - not chimney age. We’ve removed glazed third-degree creosote from 25-year-old factory-built fireplaces in Lexington where the homeowner burned unseasoned oak with the damper barely open. Third-degree creosote cannot be brushed out; it requires rotary removal with specialized equipment. If you notice reduced draft, a tar-like odor, or visible black glazing in the firebox, call for inspection before the next burning season.
Yes. We stock and install DuraFlex liner sections, Gelco chase covers and caps, and components from Olympia Chimney and Famco. Factory-built fireplaces are appliance-specific - the wrong part creates clearance or draft problems and may void the unit’s listing. We identify the manufacturer and model, match the correct component, and install to factory specification. Most parts are available without special ordering, so repairs finish in the same visit. Call (781) 905-8338 with your fireplace make and model if you know it.
Ready to schedule your chimney cleaning in Lexington? Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. at (781) 905-8338. A live person will answer, 24 hours a day. We’ll ask about your home’s age and fireplace type, give you an upfront price, and book a time that works. Estimates are free, and every job is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Lexington and local communities since 1984.





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