Before & After Gallery - Emberly Chimney Cleaners Boulder

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Boulder, CO

We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve photographed every one. Below are real conditions we’ve found in Boulder homes, what the fix looked like, and what the homeowner walked away with. No stock photos. No staging. Just flue liners, creosote buildup, and the documented result after we finished.

Call (970) 598-0453

Recent Transformations

Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, North Boulder

The homeowner in North Boulder noticed smoke backing up into the living room during shoulder-season fires. We ran a camera scan and found Class III glazed creosote, hardened by repeated partial burns and Boulder’s freeze-thaw cycles, coating more than 70% of the flue surface. That’s the most dangerous form of creosote; it ignites at lower temperatures and burns hotter than Class I or II. We applied a creosote-modifying powder, let it dwell, then rotary-cleaned the flue with polypropylene whips. The homeowner received a photo record showing the flue diameter before and after, plus a written scope stating the chimney was safe for normal use. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires that photo record on every job; this one ran twelve images from top to bottom.

Chimney Swift Nest and Debris Clearout, Table Mesa

A family in Table Mesa called in late August smelling ammonia from their fireplace. We found a collapsed chimney swift nest above the throat damper, packed with droppings and partially composted material. Boulder’s open space corridors make this common from April through September. We removed the debris by hand and HEPA-vacuumed the smoke chamber, then camera-scanned to confirm no remaining obstructions. The damper, which had been wedged open by nesting material, was freed and tested. The homeowner got photos of the nest volume, the cleaned smoke chamber, and the damper operation, plus a written note that no liner damage had occurred. No charge for the second opinion they’d gotten elsewhere; we just confirmed what needed doing and named the price before we started.

Prefabricated Fireplace Flue Fire Recovery, Martin Acres

The Martin Acres homeowner heard a roaring sound from the chimney during a Saturday evening fire and called us Sunday morning. We found a classic prefab chimney fire: warped galvanized flue pipe, discolored metal chase cover, and popped seams where the pipe sections had expanded beyond their crimp joints. Boulder’s dry winters and the homeowner’s habit of burning pine scraps from yard cleanup had built up enough fuel. We replaced the damaged flue pipe with a stainless steel liner rated for the appliance, rebuilt the chase top with proper clearance, and ran a pressure test. The photo record included thermal images of the chase exterior and the new liner joints. Written price was $2,840 before we touched a tool; final invoice matched. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the liner and chase work.

Smoke Chamber Parging and Creosote Removal, Newlands

The Newlands homeowner had lived with a smoky fireplace for three winters, assuming it was just how old chimneys behaved. We found a corbeled brick smoke chamber, original to the 1926 construction, with rough faces that trapped creosote and created turbulence that pushed smoke into the room. The smoke chamber is the inverted funnel above the damper; when it’s rough or out of plumb, draft suffers. We removed the accumulated creosote, then parged the chamber with HeatShield refractory mortar to create a smooth, sloped surface that directs smoke into the flue. The camera footage showed the before texture and the after slope angle. Written scope: $1,950 for parging, cleaning, and Level 2 inspection. The homeowner reported no smoke spillage on the first fire after completion.

Factory-Built Chase Rebuild with Liner Replacement, Dakota Ridge

A Dakota Ridge homeowner called after finding water stains on the ceiling near their fireplace during Boulder’s May monsoon season. The factory-built chase, a wood-framed structure common in 1990s construction, had been leaking through a rusted chase cover and deteriorated siding for years. Water had compromised the galvanized flue liner and rotted the OSB sheathing. We rebuilt the chase with treated sheathing, new metal siding to match the home, installed a Gelco chase cover with proper overhang, and ran a DuraFlex stainless steel liner from appliance to cap. The photo record included sheathing replacement shots, liner termination details, and water-test video. Written price before work: $4,200. The homeowner also received the material spec sheet showing DuraFlex and Gelco sourcing through Haven’s buying network.

Annual Sweep with Level 2 Inspection, South Boulder Flats

This South Boulder Flats homeowner books annually, which is what the NFPA 211 recommends for chimneys in regular use. We found moderate soot and Stage 1 creosote, soft and powdery, exactly what you’d expect from someone who burns properly seasoned hardwood and doesn’t overfire. We rotary-swept the flue, inspected with camera from firebox to crown, and found no spalling, no liner cracks, no mortar joint loss. The entire visit took under two hours. Written price before arrival: $285 for sweep and Level 2 inspection. Photo record: eight images, including the creosote depth measurement and the clean flue crown. We told the homeowner honestly that no further work was needed this season, and we’ll see them next October.

Want Results Like These?

Every job above started the same way: a call to (970) 598-0453, answered by a live person. We schedule a visit, run a camera scan, and deliver a written price and written scope before any work begins. You’ll get a documented photo record when we’re done, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise backs everything. Call (970) 598-0453 or book online. Estimates are free, and we’ll honor any competitor’s written quote with a free second opinion.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Boulder, serving Boulder since 2009.