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 Leesburg, VA
Photographs tell the truth faster than any claim we could print on a page. For 16 years, we’ve documented every chimney we touch in Leesburg, from first camera pass to final sweep. Below are representative jobs from the last few seasons. Names and addresses are withheld, but the conditions are exactly what we found when we got there.
Recent Transformations
Class III Creosote Removal, Downtown Leesburg
The problem: a homeowner near King Street called us before burning season with a fireplace they’d used heavily for two winters without a sweep. The camera scan showed Class III creosote, the kind that has hardened into a glossy, tar-like glaze on the flue walls. That’s the stage where a chimney fire becomes a real possibility, not a theoretical one. We ran the full sweep, used mechanical brushing to break the glaze off the liner, and ran the camera again to confirm we got all of it. The after photo shows bare flue tile. The homeowner walked away with both images plus a written record of what was removed, per Clause 4 of the Haven Standard.
Flue Liner Scale and Corrosion, Leesburg West
The problem: a house west of the bypass had a clay tile liner that showed white, chalky scaling on the camera. That scale usually comes from moisture mixing with combustion byproducts, and it can eat away at the tile over time. We swept the flue, removed the scale that was safe to remove, and documented the remaining liner condition in the written report. Corrine Halstead looked at the footage herself and told the customer plainly: this liner doesn’t need replacement yet, but it needs watching. No upsell, just the finding. The homeowner got a quote in writing before we started, a photo report after, and a recommendation they can verify with their own eyes.
Smoke Chamber Deconstruction, East Leesburg
The problem: we arrived at a 1990s home off Plaza Street where the homeowner said smoke kept spilling into the room. The camera found the answer fast: the smoke chamber, the angled area above the firebox, was packed with flaking creosote and a small bird’s nest. We removed the debris, brushed the chamber walls, and checked the damper operation before leaving. The after image shows the chamber surfaces exposed and clean. The smoke spill stopped the same night. Written scope, written price, photos on file.
Chimney Cap Replacement After Animal Entry, Rural Leesburg
The problem: a property out toward Evergreen Mills Road had a cap that had rusted through at the mesh, and a squirrel had taken full advantage. We swept the flue, removed the nesting material, and installed a replacement cap from our standard supply line, sourced through Haven’s buying network. The before photo shows the rust and the mess under the cap. The after shows a clean flue and a new cap seated tight. We don’t sell anything that isn’t in the photo record. Every job includes the archive.
Crown Spalling Repair and Sweep, North Leesburg
The problem: spalling. That’s when water gets into the crown, freezes and thaws through a Leesburg winter, and the concrete starts flaking away in chunks. A homeowner near the county line showed us a crown that looked like a gravel driveway. We repaired the crown, then swept the flue and ran the camera to check for water damage inside. The before and after speak for themselves. The homeowner received the written warranty before we started, per Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, and a photo record when we finished.
Full Rebuild After Chimney Fire, South Leesburg
The problem: the kind of job nobody wants to need. A chimney fire had cracked the tile liner in a home south of Route 7. We pulled the damaged tiles, rebuilt the flue with new liner material from DuraFlex, and documented every layer before it was sealed. The after photo shows a liner with a smooth, continuous surface. This is why we push for a sweep before burning season, not after. Prevention costs a few hundred dollars. A rebuild runs into the thousands. Corrine Halstead walked the homeowner through every photo before we closed the job out.
Want Results Like These?
Every chimney we work on in Leesburg gets the same treatment: a camera scan, a written price before work, and a photo record when we’re done. If you have a sweep on your calendar already or you just want a second opinion on an estimate you’ve received, call us at (571) 601-3174. We keep the phone answered, we show up on time, and we never ask you to trust a claim you can’t see for yourself.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Leesburg, serving Leesburg since 2009.