Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Puyallup, WA
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve documented every one. In Puyallup, where wet winters and Douglas fir-heavy burning seasons accelerate creosote buildup, the difference between a neglected flue and a properly swept one is visible, measurable, and worth seeing before you hire anyone.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - South Hill, Puyallup
The homeowner on 122nd Street East had burned wet alder for two seasons without sweeping. We found Class III creosote - that’s the shiny, tar-like layer that can’t be brushed off with standard tools and ignites at lower temperatures than raw wood. We applied a creosote-modifying agent over two visits, then rotary swept with a DuraFlex chain whip to bare terracotta. The camera scan afterward showed clean flue tiles with full joint visibility. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard required the photo record; we delivered 23 images and the written scope.
Smoke Chamber Parging - Summit, Puyallup
This 1974 ranch near Rogers High School had the original corbeled brick smoke chamber - that’s the inverted funnel above the firebox that guides smoke into the flue. The brick was rough, with mortar gaps that trapped creosote and created turbulence. We parged the entire chamber with HeatShield cerfractory foam, smoothing the surface to improve draft and reduce future buildup. The homeowner received before-and-after photos, a written warranty on the parging, and the flat price before we started, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Flue Liner Degradation and Soot Buildup - Downtown Puyallup Historic District
The 1922 Craftsman on Meridian had a clay flue liner with diagonal cracking at the third course - visible once we removed the Class II soot layer. We swept the flue, then ran the camera to document exactly where the liner was compromised and where it was still sound. The homeowner got the photo record, a written scope with options, and our assessment that replacement could wait one burning season with increased monitoring. No pressure, just what we found and what it meant.
Chimney Cap and Crown Repair with Full Sweep - North Puyallup
Water had been entering this North Puyallup chimney for two winters through a cracked crown and missing cap. The flue was packed with damp, degraded creosote that smelled when the fireplace was cold. We swept the flue, applied a Gelco stainless steel cap with mesh screening, and sealed the crown with CrownCoat flexible sealant. The flue draft improved immediately - wet creosote restricts airflow more than most people realize. Everything was documented under Clause 4, and the written price was delivered before any work started, as Haven Standard Clause 1 requires.
Fireplace Insert Removal and Flue Restoration - Edgewood Border, Puyallup Service Area
The previous owner had installed a wood insert without a proper liner connection, which is a common setup we see near the Edgewood line. The insert came out, revealing a throat damper frozen half-open and a smoke shelf loaded with fallen debris from twenty years. We repaired the damper, swept the full flue, and restored the fireplace to open-hearth function. The homeowner wanted to burn for ambiance rather than heat; we made sure the system was safe for that use and documented the smoke chamber condition for future reference.
Annual Maintenance Sweep - Graham Adjacent, Puyallup Service Area
This is what prevention looks like. The homeowner burns only seasoned Douglas fir, sweeps annually, and called in September before the first fire. We found a light Class I soot layer - brushable, no glazing, no degradation. The flue swept clean in under an hour, the camera showed sound terracotta with no spalling or cracking, and the smoke chamber was clear. The documentation goes in their file; next year we’ll compare. This is the kind of routine work that keeps Puyallup chimneys safe and avoids the emergency calls we get in January.
What Every Project Includes
- Written price before work starts - Haven Standard Clause 1, no exceptions
- NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection - not a flashlight look, a documented scan
- Photo record of findings and completed work - Haven Standard Clause 4, included as standard
- Written scope and written warranty - what we did, what we found, what’s covered
- 365-Day Done Right Promise - if it’s not done right, we make it right
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Before
AfterWant Results Like These?
Call (253) 323-5667. Corrine Halstead or a live member of our team will answer, schedule your sweep, and deliver your written price before anyone arrives. We’ve documented every chimney since 2009. Yours will be number 38,001 or beyond, and it will have the same photo record, the same flat price guarantee, and the same Done Right Promise.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Puyallup, serving Puyallup and surrounding communities since 2009.