Before & After Gallery - Alcott Chimney Queens

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Queens, NY

We can describe a chimney cleaning until we’re blue in the face, but it doesn’t carry the same weight as seeing it. What follows are real jobs we’ve done across Queens, from Astoria to Forest Hills. Each one started with a problem the homeowner couldn’t see, and ended with a clean, safe flue and a written report. We show our work because we expect you to look.

Call (518) 719-4643

Recent Transformations

Heavy Creosote Removal in a 1960s Brick Colonial, Bayside

BeforeAfter

This Bayside homeowner had been burning unseasoned wood for two winters. The result was a quarter-inch of creosote, the tar-like buildup that causes chimney fires, glazed across the flue. We swept the full run with professional rotary tools, not just a brush on a pole, and removed every visible deposit. The after photo shows clean brick, which is what a safe chimney actually looks like.

Smoke Chamber Clearing and Smoke Shelf Cleanout, Kew Gardens

BeforeAfter

The smoke chamber is the section above the damper where smoke stalls and slows before heading up the flue. In this Kew Gardens home, decades of soot had packed into the chamber corners and the smoke shelf was full of fallen mortar crumbs. We vacuumed and hand-cleaned both areas, which most sweeps skip. The homeowner reported the draft improved noticeably the first fire after we left.

Animal Nest Removal and Full Flue Cleaning, Whitestone

BeforeAfter

Whitestone has big trees, and big trees mean squirrels looking for a warm spot. This flue had a nest compacted about four feet down from the crown, enough to block the draft and push carbon monoxide back into the house. We removed the nest by hand, swept the flue, and installed a proper chimney cap to keep animals out for good. We’d recommend every homeowner in Queens with trees nearby check their cap before the first cold night.

Gas Fireplace Log Set Replacement and Cleaning, Forest Hills

Gas fireplaces still need service, just different service. This Forest Hills co-op had a gas log set that was so corroded the flames burned orange and lazy, which is a sign of incomplete combustion. We cleaned the burner ports, checked the gas pressure, and installed a new log set from our trade catalog. The after photo shows a proper blue and yellow flame pattern, which is what you want to see before paying the Con Ed bill.

Flue Liner Inspection After a Chimney Fire Scare, Middle Village

This Middle Village family heard a low rumble one January night and called us the next morning. What they thought was wind was actually a small chimney fire that had already cooled by the time they noticed. Our camera inspection found two cracked flue tiles, which meant the chimney was no longer safe to burn. We specified and installed a DuraFlex stainless liner system, and the after photo shows a properly sized, fully insulated flue that will outlast the house.

Want Results Like These?

Every one of these jobs started with a camera inspection and a written price before any work began. No surprise charges, no vague recommendations. If your chimney hasn’t been looked at in a year or two, call us at (518) 719-4643. We’ll show you what’s in there, explain what it means in plain English, and you decide what happens next.

Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner at Alcott Chimney Queens, serving Queens since 2002.