Frequently Asked Questions

A standard cleaning means a certified sweep covers your floors, runs brushes and rods up the flue to remove creosote and debris, vacuums the smoke chamber and firebox, and conducts a level-1 visual inspection of accessible portions. In Jacksonville, we often find animal nesting from squirrels and chimney swifts, plus heavy creosote from oak and pine fires that weren't fully seasoned. The whole visit usually takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes. You'll get a written condition report with photos before we leave.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection, with cleaning as needed based on creosote accumulation. In Jacksonville's humid subtropical climate, we see faster mortar deterioration and more moisture-related creosote glazing than drier regions, so most wood-burning homeowners here need a sweep every year. Gas fireplaces need annual inspection too, even though they don't produce creosote, because corrosion and debris blockages still happen. If you burn more than three cords of wood per season, consider a mid-season check.

Level-1 is a visual check of readily accessible areas, appropriate for annual maintenance when nothing has changed. Level-2 adds a camera scan of the flue interior and accessible portions of the attic and basement, required for real estate transactions, after chimney fires, or when you're switching fuel types. Level-3 involves removing building materials to access concealed areas, and we only recommend it when level-2 evidence suggests a hidden hazard. Most Jacksonville homeowners need level-1 for routine cleaning and level-2 when buying or selling.

Yes, and most homeowners do. We seal the fireplace opening with a plastic barrier and run HEPA vacuums so soot doesn't enter your living space. You might hear brushing and vacuum noise for an hour or so. We do ask that pets be kept in another room, and that you avoid using the fireplace for 24 hours beforehand so everything's cool. We've worked in homes from Atlantic Beach to Macclenny, and we treat your space the way we'd work in our mother's house.

A routine cleaning and level-1 inspection takes 45 to 90 minutes. If we find significant creosote glazing, a damaged liner, or need to run a level-2 camera inspection, it can stretch to two hours. We don't rush. The 400th job gets the same care as the first, and if we're running behind schedule, we'll call you before we leave the previous job. We'll be there when we say, or we'll tell you otherwise.

We use HeatShield for cerfractory flue resurfacing, Gelco for stainless steel caps and chase covers, and Olympia Chimney for UL-listed stainless steel liners. These are brands we've worked with for years because they hold up in Jacksonville's salt air and humidity. We're not married to any single manufacturer, though. If your situation calls for something specific, we'll tell you why and show you the specs. Every pro working under our name is required to use materials that meet or exceed Florida building code.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the certification and insurance their state requires, and we prefer technicians who've completed CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) training. Certification matters because chimney work involves fire safety, carbon monoxide exposure, and structural liability. We've been in Jacksonville since 2014, and we've seen what happens when uncertified sweeps miss a cracked flue or install a liner wrong. We document every inspection with photos and a written report because that's what a craftsman does.

We're properly registered to operate in Florida, and every technician on your property carries the insurance coverage required for residential chimney work. We don't publish policy numbers online, but we'll provide proof of insurance on request before any work begins. It's part of doing business the right way. We've been a fixture in this community too long to cut corners on protection for our customers or our crew.

Most chimney cleaning and minor repairs don't require permits, but structural rebuilds, liner replacements, and new chimney installations typically do. Jacksonville's building department and some municipalities in Duval County have specific requirements for masonry and venting work. We handle permit applications as part of any job that requires them, and we know the inspectors in this area because we've worked with them for decades. If your project needs permitting, we'll tell you upfront and include it in your written estimate.

Yes. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. If you've had a chimney fire, a collapsing crown, or carbon monoxide alarms going off, call (833) 974-6113 immediately. A live coordinator will connect you with our local team. We can't promise every call results in same-day dispatch, but emergencies move to the front of our schedule and we'll tell you honestly when we can be there. In 42 years, we've learned that some situations can't wait until morning.

Sometimes. During Jacksonville's busy season, October through February, we're often booked several days out. In summer months, we frequently have same-day or next-day availability. The best move is to call (833) 974-6113 and ask. Our coordinator will check the schedule and fit you in if there's an opening. Even if we can't make it today, we'll give you a firm appointment and show up when we say. No four-hour windows, no "sometime Tuesday."

Stop using the fireplace, open windows for ventilation, and call us at (833) 974-6113. That smell usually means a blocked flue, negative air pressure pulling downdrafts through a dirty chimney, or a damaged liner letting smoke seep through masonry. In Jacksonville's older homes, especially in neighborhoods like San Marco or Avondale, we've seen deteriorated mortar joints allow smoke migration into wall cavities. Don't try to diagnose it yourself. A level-2 camera inspection will show us exactly what's happening.

We apply The Keystone Standard to every job: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If something we cleaned, repaired, or installed isn't right, we come back and fix it. No paperwork battle, no runaround. For manufacturer warranties on products like HeatShield or Olympia Chimney liners, those terms apply in addition to our own guarantee. We've honored this standard since 2014 because it's how you stay in business for four decades. Standing behind it is one of our K.E.Y.S. values.

K.E.Y.S. is our values code, and it shapes how we treat every customer and every job. Krafted right means trained journeymen, proper materials, no shortcuts. Every time means the 400th job gets the care of the first. Your home first means we work in your house the way we'd work in our mother's. Standing behind it means if it's not right, we come back, no paperwork, no arguing. These aren't posters on a wall. They're how we decide what to do when no one's watching.

We guarantee our workmanship meets or exceeds applicable codes and manufacturer specifications. We don't guarantee a third-party home inspector's opinion, because inspectors vary in thoroughness and interpretation. What we do promise is documented work: photos, written reports, and clear explanations you can show any inspector. In 42 years of Jacksonville real estate transactions, our documentation has satisfied every competent inspector who's reviewed it. If an issue arises from our work, The Keystone Standard applies.

Tell us before we leave, and we'll make it right on the spot. If you discover something afterward, call within 90 days and we'll return at no charge. The Keystone Standard is simple: if it's not right, we come back. No arguing, no forms to fill out in triplicate. We've been in Jacksonville long enough to know that a happy customer tells a neighbor, and an unhappy one tells the internet. We'd rather earn your trust than win a dispute.

Call (833) 974-6113. A live coordinator will answer, day or night, and connect you with our local team. We'll ask about your fireplace type, how often you use it, and any concerns you've noticed. Then we'll set a firm appointment and send a certified sweep who knows Jacksonville chimneys, from the beach cottages in Atlantic Beach to the brick colonials in Orange Park. Estimates are free, and we'll be there when we say.

Written by the team at Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Jacksonville, serving Jacksonville, Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, Nassau Village-Ratliff, Oakleaf Plantation, Orange Park, Lakeside, Fleming Island, Fruit Cove, Middleburg, Asbury Lake, Macclenny, and Atlantic Beach since 2014.