- Clean • Safe • Reliable • Done Right
Clear answers to the chimney questions Greater Boston homeowners ask us most — about cleaning, inspections, repairs, safety and cost.
Everything Greater Boston homeowners ask us most about cleaning, inspections, repairs, safety and cost. Can’t find your answer? Just give us a call.
At least once a year. Industry standards recommend an annual inspection, plus a cleaning whenever creosote builds up, to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide problems.
A smoky-smelling fireplace, weak draft, white staining on the brick, crumbling mortar, falling debris, or a damper that sticks are all signs to get it checked.
Yes. Creosote is highly flammable, and cracks or open joints can let heat and gases reach the wood framing around the chimney. Regular inspection and repair keep it safe.
A Level 1 is the routine annual visual check with no camera. A Level 2 adds a camera scan of the flue and is required when buying or selling a home, changing appliances, or after a fire or storm.
Usually yes. A Level 2 inspection with a camera scan is the standard for a property sale and protects both buyer and seller from hidden problems.
No. We use drop cloths and HEPA vacuums to keep your living space completely clean from start to finish.
Repointing grinds out failed, crumbling mortar joints and repacks them with fresh mortar to seal the masonry against water and restore the chimney’s strength.
The crown is the concrete slab on top of the chimney. When it cracks, water gets into the masonry — crown repair stops leaks and freeze-thaw damage.
The smoke chamber is the funnel above the firebox. We parge it smooth with refractory mortar for safe draft and less creosote — and because it’s interior work, we can do it year-round.
Often just the damaged section. We only rebuild fully when the structure is unsafe — an inspection shows exactly what’s needed.
A liner safely channels smoke and gases up the flue and protects the masonry from heat and acidic condensate. A cracked or missing liner is a common safety issue.
A cap keeps out rain, animals and debris, stops downdrafts, and blocks sparks — a small part that prevents big, costly problems.
Yes. A breathable sealant blocks water absorption, leaks and freeze-thaw damage while still letting the masonry breathe — one of the best-value ways to extend a chimney’s life.
It’s usually a draft problem: creosote buildup, a blockage, a deteriorated smoke chamber, or a missing cap. An inspection pinpoints the cause.
Yes — we install, clean, service and safety-check gas fireplaces and inserts for reliable, efficient heat.
Yes — contact us for a free, no-obligation quote on any chimney service.
TopDog Chimney serves Burlington and Greater Boston, across Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth and Worcester counties.
We usually schedule within the week, and we can work to real-estate closing timelines when you’re under a deadline.
