Frequently Asked Questions

A Level 1 inspection uses a flashlight and mirror. A Level 2 puts a camera down the flue and records what's actually inside. NFPA 211 defines these levels, and the Level 2 is required when a home changes hands, after a chimney fire, or when a new appliance is installed. Most companies charge for Level 1 and call it an inspection. We work to Level 2 as standard because it's the only way to actually see a liner crack or creosote glaze before it becomes a fire.

Plan for 60 to 90 minutes for a standard sweep of one flue. A Level 2 camera inspection adds another 30 to 45 minutes. Larger homes in Scarsdale or Harrison with multiple flues, or fireplaces with heavy creosote buildup, can run longer. We'll give you a real arrival window when you book, a text when the technician is on the way, and the technician's name before they pull up. No waiting around for a four-hour window.

We protect the hearth, run a brush through the flue to dislodge soot and creosote, vacuum out the firebox and smoke chamber, and then run a camera through the flue to check for cracks, gaps, or glazing. You get photos and a written record of what we found. In White Plains, where many homes burn seasoned hardwood through long winters, we often find stage 2 creosote which requires more than a basic brushing, and we'll show you the camera evidence before recommending anything further.

No. We lay drop cloths, run a HEPA vacuum throughout the process, and seal the fireplace opening while we work. The only thing left behind is a clean flue and a written record. If you have white carpet or antique furniture near the hearth, tell us when you book and we'll take extra care around it. In older White Plains homes with shallow hearths, the technique matters, and our technicians have seen every layout the city's housing stock can throw at them.

Yes, though the work differs from a wood-burning flue. Gas fireplaces produce less creosote but can accumulate debris, nests, or corrosion in the venting. The bigger risk with gas is carbon monoxide, which is why a camera inspection matters as much as with wood. In White Plains, many post-2000 homes and new construction in the Highlands have direct-vent gas fireplaces, and those need a different inspection protocol. We handle both.

We run a brush sized to the liner's diameter through the flue, then camera-scan to check for cracks, gaps, or creosote glazing the brush couldn't reach. Stainless steel liners clean differently than clay tile liners, and older White Plains homes with original masonry flues need a gentler touch. The camera scan afterwards is the real cleaning verification. If the liner shows damage, we'll pull the footage and show you exactly what we're seeing before any repair is discussed.

Yes. We install and service chimney caps and top-sealing dampers from Copperfield and Gelco, both of which we've found hold up well through Westchester winters. A proper cap keeps rain, snow, and animals out of the flue, and a top-sealing damper stops conditioned air from escaping when the fireplace isn't in use. In White Plains, where winter temperatures routinely dip below freezing, a failed damper is one of the most common issues we find, and it's also one of the easiest to fix.

We work with Olympia Chimney and Copperfield liners because both have proven reliable in the Northeast's freeze-thaw cycles. The right liner depends on your appliance, flue size, and fuel type, and we'll recommend based on what the camera scan shows, not on what's in stock. No liner recommendation happens without footage you can see yourself. That's the whole point of the Haven Standard: evidence on every job, in this case a documented reason for the liner you're being quoted.

Operating a fireplace with a broken damper is dangerous, and you should not do it. A damper that won't open prevents smoke and carbon monoxide from venting properly, and a damper that won't close sends heated air up the flue all winter. In White Plains, we replace or repair dampers regularly, and it's a straightforward job once we've seen the current condition. Call (914) 350-5204 and we'll assess it and give you a written quote.

Beyond sweeping and inspections, we service chimney caps, dampers, liners, and flashing from Copperfield, Olympia Chimney, and Famco. The brand matters less than the install, and we document every installation with photos and readings. If a part is failing in a White Plains chimney, we'll show you the evidence before recommending a replacement, and the written quote covers the exact part we're installing.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. The White Plains team operates under the standards set by Level Two Chimney Co., which has been inspecting and cleaning chimneys since 2009. Ask to see credentials when we arrive, and our technician will have them ready. We're an independently owned and operated local business, and the name on the truck is the standard we work to.

Yes. Verified crews are one of the Haven Standard's five clauses: licensed, insured, background-checked, with license numbers available. The person who arrives at your White Plains home has been vetted before they're on your property. We send a text with the technician's name before they arrive, so you know exactly who to expect at the door.

Ask for the license number before booking, check that they carry liability insurance, and ask what documentation you'll receive after the job. A legitimate sweep, which is what we strive to be on every job, leaves a written record with photos and findings, not just a receipt. In White Plains, the city's building department can confirm local requirements, and any reputable company will meet them without hesitation. We'll provide all of it before the first brush goes up the flue.

Call 911 first and get everyone out of the house. Chimney fires burn hot and fast, sometimes quietly enough that homeowners don't realize it's happening until flames are visible at the chimney top. After the fire department has cleared the scene, call us at (914) 350-5204 for a Level 2 inspection before using the fireplace again. A chimney fire can crack flue tiles, compromise the liner, and damage the masonry in ways you can't see without a camera.

We're open seven days a week, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and you can call (914) 350-5204 during those hours for urgent concerns. For a confirmed chimney fire, always call 911 first. For everything else, rain leaks, collapsed caps, animal entry, sudden smoke backup, we'll assess the urgency when you call and schedule accordingly. We won't push emergency pricing on a problem that can wait until morning.

Most non-emergency sweeps and inspections in White Plains are scheduled within a week, often sooner depending on the season and the neighborhood. We serve the entire city, from the Highlands to North White Plains, and out through Harrison, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Rye Brook, Elmsford, Greenville, Ardsley, Port Chester, Byram, Eastchester, and Hawthorne. Call (914) 350-5204 and we'll find the soonest real window.

Yes. Our White Plains team covers the surrounding area, including Harrison, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Rye Brook, Elmsford, Greenville, Ardsley, Port Chester, Byram, Eastchester, and Hawthorne. If you're within about 20 minutes of White Plains, we're likely your local crew. Call (914) 350-5204 and confirm your address is in our service area, and we'll get you scheduled with a real arrival window.

Every job is quoted in writing before it starts and leaves a documented record when we leave, under the Haven Standard. What this means in practice: you'll see the flat price, written scope, and written warranty before anyone starts, and you'll get photos and readings of what we actually found when we're done. If something isn't right, we'll come back and make it right. That's the standard we've worked to since 2009, on more than 38,000 chimneys inspected and cleaned.

The Haven Standard is five clauses we don't negotiate on. Have it in writing: flat price, written scope, written warranty, before anyone starts. Arrive on schedule: a real window, a named tech, a text when they're on the way. Verified crews: licensed, insured, background-checked, license number on the page. Evidence on every job: photos and readings of what we actually found. No surprises: no door upsell, no scope creep, no "while we're in here" pricing. The contract covers everything in the written scope.

Call us and tell us what's wrong. We'll come back and address it under the warranty we put in writing before the work started. The guarantee exists because of the documentation: you have the record of what was done and the photos of what we found. If the cleaning didn't meet the scope we agreed to, we fix it. That's how the Haven Standard works, and it's why every job starts with a written agreement. Call (914) 350-5204 if something isn't right.

Because you can't see a cracked flue tile or a failing liner with a flashlight, and we'd rather show you than ask you to take our word for it. The camera footage becomes part of the permanent record of your chimney, which matters when you sell the house, file an insurance claim, or wonder years later whether the liner was already damaged. In White Plains, where century-old homes and recent construction sit side by side, the camera shows conditions a visual inspection simply can't. And it's why the name on the truck is Level Two.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney White Plains, serving Westchester County since 2009.