Frequently Asked Questions

We set up protective coverings in your living space, run rotary brushes and specialized tools up the flue to remove creosote and debris, and then inspect the entire system with a video camera. You'll see the footage on our monitor as we work, and we explain what we're seeing in plain English. The whole process takes about 60 to 90 minutes for a standard cleaning, and we leave your home as clean as we found it. Every inspection ends with photos you can keep and a written verdict on your chimney's condition.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection, with cleaning as needed based on use and buildup. In Waltham, where many homeowners burn regularly through the heating season from October through April, we find most wood-burning chimneys need sweeping every year. If you burn more than three cords of wood per season, or if you burn pine or other softwoods that creosote faster, you may need more frequent service. Gas fireplaces need less frequent cleaning but still require annual inspection for venting integrity and moisture damage.

A routine cleaning and inspection takes 60 to 90 minutes from arrival to departure. If we find significant buildup, animal nesting, or damage that needs documentation, it may run longer. We book appointments with enough buffer that we're not rushing from one job to the next - we'll be there when we say, and we'll take the time to do it right.

Yes, we need an adult present to let us in and to review the camera footage with you afterward. This isn't a job we can do while you're at work - the inspection findings matter, and we want you to see what we see. If you're in Belmont or Lexington and need a Saturday appointment to make it work, we book those regularly.

Remove any items from the mantel and hearth area, and don't use the fireplace for at least 24 hours before we arrive - we need the system completely cool. If you have glass doors, leave them as they are; we'll handle removal and reinstallation if needed. There's no need to clean the firebox yourself - that's part of what we're there for.

We work with proven manufacturers whose products we've tracked over years in New England conditions. For stainless steel liners, we often specify Olympia Chimney products - their alloy holds up well to the thermal cycling and moisture we see in Waltham's freeze-thaw climate. For chimney caps and termination hardware, we use Gelco and Famco depending on the application and your roofline. We don't install bargain components that won't last; every part we put in is backed by the manufacturer's warranty plus our own.

Yes, we use Copperfield chimney supplies for certain applications, particularly specialized flashing kits and custom-fabricated components where standard sizes won't fit. Their product line is extensive, which matters when we're working on the varied chimney styles you find in older Waltham neighborhoods like the Highlands or near the Charles River, where construction dates and materials vary block by block.

We don't install customer-supplied caps or liners. The reason is straightforward: if the product fails, we need to know the chain of custody from manufacturer to your roof. We stand behind our work, and that requires us to source the materials ourselves. We'll show you exactly what we propose to use, explain why we chose it, and install it properly - then it's covered by both the manufacturer's warranty and our Keystone Standard guarantee.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we prioritize CSIA-certified sweeps for chimney cleaning and inspection work in Massachusetts. Certification matters because chimney systems involve fire safety and carbon monoxide venting - this isn't a trade you learn from a weekend course. Our team trains continuously on the building codes and safety standards that apply in Waltham and surrounding towns.

Yes, we carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage as required. When someone works on your roof and in your home, you need to know they're covered if something goes wrong. We're happy to provide a certificate of insurance upon request - just ask when you call (781) 905-8338 to book.

Routine chimney cleaning does not require a permit in Waltham. Structural repairs, liner replacement, or rebuilding work may need a building permit from the Waltham Inspectional Services Department, particularly if the chimney serves as a structural element or if we're modifying the exterior profile. We handle permit applications as part of any repair project that requires them, and we know the local inspectors from years of working in this market.

We're open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and Sunday from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. We book weekend appointments regularly for homeowners in Wellesley, Wayland, and Winchester who can't be home during the work week. We don't promise same-day dispatch, but we do promise we'll be there when we say - and we'll call if traffic or a previous job runs long.

A chimney fire, sudden carbon monoxide alarm, or visible structural damage like a leaning chimney or fallen bricks requires immediate action - call the fire department if there's active danger, then call us for assessment. For less urgent concerns like a smoking fireplace, water leaks, or animal entry, we'll get you on the schedule as soon as we can, typically within a few days during peak season and sooner when possible. We don't inflate urgency to sell work; we'll tell you honestly what can wait and what can't.

Yes, we remove birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other animals that have entered chimneys in Waltham and surrounding towns. We don't use poisons or methods that harm the animals - we extract them and install proper chimney caps with animal-proof screening to prevent re-entry. In spring, we get frequent calls from Weston and Lincoln about birds nesting in uncapped flues; by late fall, it's often squirrels looking for winter shelter. The camera inspection lets us confirm the flue is clear before we finish.

We back every job with the Keystone Standard: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If something we did isn't right, we come back and fix it. No paperwork battles, no runaround. For manufacturer-warrantied products like stainless steel liners, the product warranty runs longer - typically lifetime for residential use - and we handle any claims process needed. The Keystone Standard is our promise that the workmanship itself meets the standard we claim.

You're gambling with two real risks: chimney fire from accumulated creosote, and carbon monoxide intrusion from blocked or damaged flue liners. In Waltham's older housing stock - particularly the Victorian and early-20th-century homes near Main Street and in the Warrendale neighborhood - we've found terra cotta flue tiles cracked by decades of thermal stress. A camera inspection is the only way to know your liner is intact. Skip the sweep, and you're flying blind on both fire safety and venting integrity. Call (781) 905-8338 to get back on schedule - estimates are free.

We show you the camera footage and give you a straight assessment. Some issues are clearly urgent: a detached liner, significant mortar loss, or active water intrusion that threatens the structure. Others are maintenance items you can budget for: minor crown cracking, partial tuckpointing, or a cap replacement. We never recommend work without camera evidence you can see for yourself, and we'll tell you plainly when something can safely wait a season. Our K.E.Y.S. values code - Krafted right, Every time, Your home first, Standing behind it - means we treat your home the way we'd treat our mother's.

We keep records of every chimney we've serviced in Waltham, Concord, Weston, and the surrounding towns, and we send annual reminder postcards before burning season starts. There's no contract or prepayment required - just a friendly nudge that it's time to book. Many of our customers in Lexington and Brookline have been on this cycle for years, and they appreciate not having to remember the date themselves.

Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Waltham and Middlesex County since 2014.