Before & After Gallery - Alcott Chimney Jacksonville

Chimney Cleaning Before & After in Jacksonville, FL

A photo of a clean flue tells you more than any claim we could write. Creosote hides in the dark, and most Jacksonville homeowners never see what’s actually coating their chimney walls until we put a camera up there. These before-and-after projects show the reality of what we find in Duval County fireplaces, what we do about it, and what the result looks like when the work is done right.

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Recent Transformations

Stage 2 Glazed Creosote Removal in Riverside

BeforeAfter

The homeowner called us after noticing a tar-like smell coming from the fireplace during Jacksonville’s humid summer months. What we found was stage 2 glazed creosote, the hard, shiny coating that forms when wood fires burn at lower temperatures and condensation mixes with creosote and tar. This is the kind of buildup that doesn’t brush away with a standard sweep, so we used professional-grade removal tools to break down the glaze, then swept the full length of the flue and ran a camera inspection to confirm clean masonry from firebox to cap. The result was a flue you could see brick texture through, and a fireplace safe for the first burn of fall.

Heavy Soot and Debris Clearance in Springfield

BeforeAfter

Ruben Castellano arrived at this Springfield bungalow to find nearly a half-inch of soot and debris built up across the smoke shelf, a common issue in older Jacksonville homes where chimneys were built without modern draft considerations. The real problem wasn’t the soot itself but what it suggested: the chimney hadn’t been swept in years, and the smoke shelf was doing the job of catching everything that didn’t make it out the top. We cleaned from the firebox up through the flue, removed all debris from the smoke shelf, and performed a level 1 inspection to confirm there was no hidden damage from moisture or heat. The after photo shows a clean smoke shelf and open flue, ready for a season of fires.

Gas Fireplace Vent Sweep and Log Set Restoration in Mandarin

BeforeAfter

This Mandarin homeowner assumed their vent-free gas fireplace needed nothing more than a quick dusting. What we found in the vent and around the log set was a layer of fine soot and dust that had accumulated over years of use, reducing flame quality and creating the kind of uneven burn that can send carbon monoxide into living spaces. We swept the vent passage, carefully cleaned each log and the burner assembly, and restored the flame pattern to a clean blue-and-yellow burn. No new parts were needed, but we did recommend a follow-up inspection in 12 months to monitor the burner condition.

Chimney Cap Replacement After Rust-Through in Arlington

Rust had eaten through the original chimney cap on this Arlington ranch, leaving the flue open to rain, birds, and the kind of Jacksonville humidity that turns mild rust into structural damage quickly. The before photo shows a cap with actual holes, flaking metal, and a visible gap where moisture was entering. We removed the old cap, measured the flue, and installed a Copperfield cap sized specifically for that chimney. The after photo shows a tight-fitting cap that keeps water out while allowing proper draft, and it’s protected by our 365-Day Done Right Promise.

Smoky Draft Correction in San Marco

The customer in San Marco told us every fire they lit pushed smoke back into the living room, even with the damper wide open. The before photo shows why: the smoke chamber was coated with years of creosote and soot, choking the passage where smoke transitions from the firebox to the flue. We cleaned the entire smoke chamber, removed the creosote, and verified the flue was the correct size for the firebox. The after photo shows a clear transition area, and the homeowner reported a clean, smoke-free burn on the first test fire.

Want Results Like These?

Every job starts with a written price before any work begins, and you’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo before we arrive. If you’re seeing soot, smelling smoke, or just haven’t had your chimney swept in a while, call us at (904) 453-7823. Ruben Castellano and the Alcott Chimney Jacksonville team have been serving Duval County since 2002, and we’ll tell you honestly whether your chimney needs work today or can wait.

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