Frequently Asked Questions

A chimney cleaning in Leesburg takes 45 to 90 minutes and follows the same sequence every time. We lay drop cloths, set up a HEPA vacuum, and run rotary brushes from the top of the flue down through the firebox. We also clean the smoke shelf, damper, and smoke chamber. Then we run a camera down the flue and walk you through the footage on the spot. You get a written report with photos and any recommendations, all documented under the Haven Standard. Nothing gets recommended that we can't show you.

Once a year if you burn wood regularly, or every 40 to 50 fires. In Leesburg, the burning season runs late October through March, so most homeowners schedule a sweep in late summer or early fall before the first fire. If you burn unseasoned wood or notice a strong campfire smell in the house when the fireplace isn't in use, schedule sooner. Gas fireplaces need less frequent cleaning but should still be inspected annually for venting issues.

We typically book sweeps 3 to 7 days out in Leesburg, and we can often fit someone in sooner during spring and summer when the schedule is lighter. Fall is our busiest season across Loudoun County. If you need a sweep before a real estate closing or an insurance inspection, let us know and we'll do what we can to prioritize it. Call (571) 601-3174 and we'll give you the next available date and a flat price at the same time.

Look for three things. First, a visible black or brown glaze on the fireplace walls above the damper. Second, a smell like asphalt or old campfire in the room, especially on humid days. Third, poor drafting, meaning smoke curls into the room instead of up the flue. Any of those means you're past due. But here's the honest truth: many chimneys that need a sweep show no visible signs at all. Creosote builds where you can't see it. That's why the annual cadence matters.

Yes. Gas fireplaces don't produce creosote, but they do accumulate soot, dust, and sometimes nesting material from birds that find their way through a damaged cap. More importantly, gas flues need inspection for carbon monoxide venting issues. We check the termination cap, the flue condition, and the damper setup to make sure exhaust is actually leaving your house. If a previous owner converted a wood fireplace to gas without a proper liner, we'll show you exactly what that looks like on camera.

We install Olympia Chimney and Copperfield caps most often, both of which hold up well to Loudoun County's wet springs and freezing January nights. The right cap depends on your flue size and whether you have a single flue or a multi-flue chase. A proper cap keeps rain, birds, and debris out, and in Leesburg's older neighborhoods with mature trees, that's not a minor concern. We'll show you the damaged cap on camera before recommending a replacement, and the price is set in writing before any work starts.

Yes. DuraFlex is one of the liners we specify when a flue has failed and needs a new one. It's a flexible stainless steel liner that we install when the existing clay tile liner is cracked, spalled, or missing sections, which we confirm with camera footage before recommending anything. A liner replacement is a real investment, and we never suggest it without showing you exactly what the camera saw. If your flue is in good shape, we'll tell you that plainly and you'll only pay for the sweep.

We use Olympia Chimney, Copperfield, and Famco components depending on the application and what's already on the house. For caps and chase covers, Olympia and Copperfield are our go-to because they're built for the freeze-thaw cycles we get in northern Virginia. For dampers and cleanout doors, Famco cast iron holds up well. We stock common sizes and can usually handle a cap replacement in a single visit, with the price agreed before we go up on the roof.

Level Two Chimney Leesburg is independently owned and operated, and every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. We carry general liability and workers' compensation coverage. We'll provide documentation if you ask. That's not a favor, it's what you should expect from anyone working on your roof and inside your flue.

Virginia doesn't require a specific chimney sweep certification to operate, but we don't think that's a good reason to hire someone without credentials. The standard we work to is the Haven Standard, which requires the same things you'd expect from any qualified contractor: licensed where required, insured, background-checked, and willing to document their work. When you call, ask us anything about our credentials. We'll answer directly.

Level Two Chimney Leesburg is an independently owned and operated local business working under the Level Two Chimney brand. Corrine Halstead leads the local team here. That means you get a locally accountable company backed by the Haven Standard: flat pricing in writing, camera inspection on every job, and a documented record of what we found. The combination is what matters to most Leesburg homeowners.

A chimney fire, visible smoke entering your living space, a strong gas smell from a gas fireplace, or a carbon monoxide detector going off near your fireplace are all emergencies. In any of those cases, stop using the fireplace, ventilate the house if you smell gas or CO, and call the appropriate emergency services first. Once the immediate situation is handled, call us at (571) 601-3174 and we'll schedule an inspection to assess what happened and what repairs are needed. We document everything on camera for your insurance claim.

We handle urgent repairs as quickly as our schedule allows, but we're honest about what that means: we book a specific window, name the tech who's coming, and text you when they're on the way. That's Clause 2 of the Haven Standard. We don't promise emergency response times we can't keep. What we do promise is that when we arrive, you'll get a flat price in writing before any repair starts, and camera evidence of the problem before we recommend a fix.

Water in the firebox usually points to one of three things: a failed cap, a damaged chase cover, or cracks in the crown. In Leesburg, where we get heavy spring rains and occasional nor'easters, crown damage is common on homes built in the 90s and early 2000s. The fix ranges from a simple cap replacement to crown sealing work. Don't ignore it. Water accelerates flue damage and can turn a $200 cap job into a $2,000+ liner replacement. Call us and we'll diagnose it with the camera.

Every chimney job is quoted in writing before it starts and leaves a documented record when we leave, under the Haven Standard. For component installations like caps, dampers, and liners, manufacturer warranties apply and we'll register them for you and provide the paperwork. If you have an issue with work we performed, call us. We stand behind what we do, and we don't make you chase a national number to get an answer.

You get a written report with photos and camera stills showing the condition of your flue before and after the sweep. We'll note any cracks, creosote levels, damper issues, or cap problems with timestamps. If we recommend repairs, the recommendation includes the camera evidence that justifies it. That archive is what matters. If you sell your home in Leesburg, you can hand the buyer's inspector real documentation instead of a vague recollection.

Tell us. If the cleaning didn't meet what we described, or you weren't shown the camera footage, or the crew didn't leave your home as clean as they found it, we want to know. The Haven Standard exists because the industry has a documentation problem. We'd rather fix an issue on the spot than have you doubt the work. Call (571) 601-3174 and ask for Corrine Halstead directly.

NFPA 211 defines three inspection levels. Level 1 is a look with a flashlight. Level 2 puts a camera down the flue and is what a home sale, a chimney fire, or a new appliance actually requires. Most companies charge for Level 1 and call it an inspection. The name is the standard we work to. Since 2009, that camera-first approach has been the core of how this brand operates, and it's the standard we bring to every job in Leesburg.

Corrine Halstead leads the local team in Leesburg. She's your point of accountability for the work we do in Loudoun County and the surrounding area. That means when you call (571) 601-3174, you're reaching a real local business with a named person responsible for the standard of every sweep, inspection, and repair. The brand behind the standard is Level Two Chimney. The team doing the work is local, accountable, and documented.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Leesburg, serving Loudoun County since 2009.