Frequently Asked Questions

We start by protecting the hearth area and laying drop cloths from the entry to the fireplace. Then our tech runs a rotary brush or a rod-and-brush system sized to your flue from the roof or the firebox, depending on access. The goal is removing creosote and soot buildup from the flue walls, smoke shelf, damper, and firebox. After that, a Level 1 inspection checks the accessible chimney structure, clearances, and connector pipe. You get a written summary of what was found and what was removed. That's the entire scope under the Haven Standard.

Yes. Gas fireplaces produce a different kind of deposit than wood, but they still need regular attention. The concern with gas is less creosote and more soot, rust, and sometimes debris or nesting material in the flue. We clean gas, wood, and pellet systems throughout the Financial District, Midtown Manhattan, and the surrounding neighborhoods. If you've never had the gas unit looked at since you bought the place, a cleaning and Level 1 inspection is the right starting point. We'll document what we find and tell you if anything needs a closer look.

You don't need to be home for the cleaning itself if we can access the roof and the fireplace is reachable from outside or through a super or property manager. But for a first visit, we recommend being present for at least the last 15 minutes so we can show you the photos and walk you through the summary. That's the Evidence on every job clause of the Haven Standard. You should see what we saw. If you can't be there, we'll send the written record and call you with anything that matters.

Most single-flue cleanings take 45 to 90 minutes on site. Access conditions are the variable. A walk-up in Murray Hill with stairwell access and a roof ladder might be 45 minutes. A Financial District high-rise where the tech needs security clearance, a freight elevator escort, and rooftop access through a locked bulkhead can take two hours or more before any cleaning begins. The written quote accounts for the access realities of your building, so you're not paying for our logistics.

NFPA 211 defines Level 2 as a camera scan of the entire flue interior, and it's the standard for any real estate transaction, after a chimney fire, after an earthquake or major weather event, or when you change the appliance connected to the flue. The camera sees what a flashlight can't: cracked clay tiles, separated mortar joints, hidden creosote pockets, and liner damage. We run camera scans as standard practice on every Level 2, and more importantly, we archive the footage. That archive is how a homeowner can prove a liner failed before a fire rather than after one.

You're not alone. Many Financial District homeowners buy units with chimneys that haven't been touched in years because the previous owner never used the fireplace. Before your first fire, have it cleaned and inspected. Even if the flue looks fine from the firebox, there can be debris, nesting, or deterioration higher up. A cleaning and camera inspection gives you a documented baseline, which is exactly what you want if you ever sell the unit or file an insurance claim. No records means no defense.

You get a written service record that includes the flat price, the work performed, the condition of the chimney, and any recommendations with supporting photos. For camera scans, you get access to the archived footage. That's the documentation Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires. The record matters for insurance, for resale disclosure, and for peace of mind. We're not handing you a receipt with "cleaned chimney" scribbled on it. You get evidence.

We source liners from manufacturers we trust, and the ones you'll see in our work most often are DuraFlex and Copperfield. DuraFlex is a proven stainless steel liner system used in both resurfacing and new installations. Copperfield has a strong reputation in the masonry and prefab chimney space. We don't push a brand for the sake of it. The liner choice follows from the chimney's condition, the fuel type, and the clearances required by code. If you're comparing options, we'll show you what's on the market and why we're recommending one over another.

HeatShield is a ceramic coating system that can repair deteriorated flue tiles in certain situations without a full stainless liner replacement. It's not right for every chimney. We carry it as an option because it works well for specific types of clay tile deterioration where the underlying structure is sound. If your flue has structural separation or the damage extends through the masonry, HeatShield won't be the fix. A camera scan tells us which category you're in. We'll show you the footage and explain why one path makes more sense.

Gelco makes a range of caps and dampers that we install regularly in the New York metro area. Caps prevent water penetration, animal entry, and downdrafts that push smoke back into the living space. If your cap is missing, rusted through, or the damper doesn't seal, adding the right hardware can be a straightforward job. We'll show you a photo of what's there now and give you a written price for the replacement before any work starts. No "while we're in here" additions.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state and local jurisdiction requires. For this branch, that means New York City and New Jersey compliance for any work across the river in Hoboken, Jersey City, and Union City. We're an independently owned and operated local business working to the Haven Standard. If you want to see proof of insurance on file before we step on to a roof, just ask at (551) 213-4778 and we'll provide it.

Corrine Halstead leads the local branch here in the Financial District. The brand, Level Two Chimney Co., has been running inspections and cleanings since 2009, and the name comes from NFPA 211's inspection levels. Level 1 is a look with a flashlight. Level 2 is the camera scan that reveals what's actually happening inside the flue. Most companies charge for Level 1 and call it an inspection. We work to Level 2 because that's what the standard actually demands. The name is the standard.

The local team that serves the Financial District, Murray Hill, and the surrounding neighborhoods works under the branch led by Corrine Halstead. We don't send third-party crews whose training we can't vouch for. What we can say plainly: every pro working under our name is required to carry the licenses and insurance their jurisdiction requires, and every job has to meet the Haven Standard. That's a written price before work starts, a documented record when it's done, and evidence of what was found.

A chimney fire, smoke backing up into the living space, a strong gas odor, or visible falling debris from the flue are all reasons to call immediately. Those are not "schedule a cleaning next week" situations. If you've had any of these in your Financial District apartment or townhouse, stop using the fireplace and call (551) 213-4778. Our phone line is answered around the clock. We'll assess what's happening, advise you on next steps, and get the right person to your building. A real chimney fire damages the flue even if it looks fine from the outside. It needs a camera scan before anyone uses the fireplace again.

We can often accommodate same-week service for cleanings and inspections across Financial District, Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, and the surrounding metro. Same-day is possible when the schedule has an opening and the access works. We don't promise a technician at your door within a set number of minutes because that's not how rooftop work in New York works. What we do promise is a real window, a named tech, and a text when they're on the way. That's Clause 2 of the Haven Standard: Arrive on schedule.

Call (551) 213-4778. The phone is answered 24 hours a day. A live coordinator answers, takes the details of what you're seeing, and connects you with the local team. If it's a fire or gas situation, tell the coordinator immediately and they'll prioritize your call. If it's a water leak or a smoking fireplace that can wait until morning, they'll document it and we'll follow up with scheduling. You're not leaving a voicemail that disappears into a void.

Yes, and most of our Financial District work is exactly that. We're used to freight elevator schedules, roof access through locked bulkheads, and working with building management and supers. If you own a unit with a private flue, we'll coordinate with your building for access. If it's a common chimney serving multiple units, the work usually falls under the building's maintenance scope, but we can still do the inspection and give you written evidence to bring to your board. Many boards act faster when they see photos.

The Haven Standard is five clauses the local team works to on every job. 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." That's the deal, on every chimney in the Financial District and everywhere else we work.

Our guarantee is built into how we work rather than a separate promise we make after the fact. Since 2009, the company has inspected and cleaned thousands of chimneys, every one with a written price before work started and a documented record when the tech left. That's the standard, and the local branch holds to it. If a customer questions whether work was performed correctly, the documentation shows what was done. We stand behind the work because there's a record to stand behind.

NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 inspection for real estate transactions. A standard home inspection does not satisfy that requirement. If you're buying in a prewar building in the Financial District and the seller can't produce a recent Level 2 camera scan, order one yourself. The cost of a few hundred dollars is nothing against discovering a failed flue after closing. We'll run the scan, archive the footage, and write up anything that needs attention. If the flue is clean, you'll have documentation to list when you resell. If it isn't, you'll know before you sign.

The short answer from NFPA 211: inspect annually and clean when creosote reaches 1/8 inch of accumulation, or when the flue is obstructed. For most wood-burning chimneys in active use in the Financial District area, that's once per year. For gas fireplaces, every one to two years is usually enough. If you only burn occasionally in a condo unit, you might stretch to 18 months, but you still need the annual look. The fire you prevent is invisible. The scan shows it.

You don't take anyone's word for it, including ours. You ask to see the camera footage. A liner recommendation should always be traceable to something visible: cracked tiles, separation at a mortar joint, a warped or pitted stainless liner, or a hole. Under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, we don't recommend anything we can't show you with photos or camera stills. If another company told you the liner is shot but won't provide images, get a second camera scan. The chimney belongs to you, and the evidence belongs in your hands.