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.
Famco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Paterson: What to Know First
Famco chimney cleaning and sweep in Paterson typically runs $189-$289 for a standard annual sweep, and we complete most jobs the same week you call. We’re an independent Famco service provider - not affiliated with the manufacturer - but our techs work on Famco caps, dampers, and chimney components every week across Paterson. If you own a home with Famco products and need the flue cleaned, inspected, or diagnosed, call (862) 356-5229. We write the price down before any work starts, and we show you the camera footage before we quote a repair.

This page is for Paterson homeowners who have Famco chimney components - multi-flue caps, dampers, or chase covers - and want a sweep company that knows how those parts age in this climate. Corrine Halstead, our owner, has worked chimneys across Paterson for years, including older row houses near the Great Falls Historic District where original masonry meets newer Famco hardware.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
Famco makes solid, widely distributed chimney components. But in Paterson, we see the same failure patterns repeat. Here’s what actually happens, and what we do about it.
- Famco multi-flue caps with wind-bent mounting brackets. The galvanized brackets on older Famco multi-flue caps corrode at the fastener points, especially within a mile of the Passaic River where moisture hangs in the air. The cap stays on, but it shifts, letting rain track down the crown. We catch this during a Level 2 camera scan, then remount with stainless hardware or replace the cap before water gets behind the liner.
- Famco top-mount dampers seizing shut on the hinge pin. We regularly see Famco damper assemblies where creosote has cemented the pivot point. The cable still works, so the homeowner thinks the damper is fine - but it’s not opening fully. That restricts draft and pushes smoke back into the house. We clean the hinge, test the full travel, and replace the cable if it’s frayed. If the damper is beyond saving, we quote a replacement before touching anything.
- Famco chase covers on prefab chimneys rusting at the lap joints. Chase covers take the brunt of Paterson’s freeze-thaw cycles. Snow sits on the cover, melts, refreezes, and works into the folded seams. Famco covers hold up well, but after eight to ten years the seams start weeping rust down the chase. We document it with photos, tell you straight whether it needs replacement now or can wait another season, and quote it in writing.
- Creosote buildup behind Famco spark arrestor screens. The mesh on Famco caps is tight enough to stop sparks, which means it’s also tight enough to catch soot in a short chimney. Homes near Eastside Park with tall, established trees burning seasoned hardwood see this most. During a sweep we brush the screen, not just the flue, and note the creosote class in your report.
- Famco dampers on oil-to-gas conversions not closing all the way. When Paterson homes convert from oil to gas, the old Famco damper sometimes gets left in place without adjustment. Gas burns cooler and produces more water vapor. A damper that doesn’t seat fully lets that vapor sit in the smoke chamber, which is how you get efflorescence on the brick and eventually spalling. We check damper seat tightness on every gas fireplace we service in Paterson, and we’ll show you the gap on camera if it’s there.
Our Famco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Process

Here’s what a Famco chimney cleaning and sweep looks like when you call us in Paterson. Every step is documented.
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You call (862) 356-5229. A live person answers, asks about your chimney and the Famco components you know you have, and books a window. You get a text when the tech is on the way.
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We inspect before we clean. Corrine’s rule, every time: camera first, quote second, work third - in that order, every time. We run the camera down the flue before a brush goes up it. We don’t charge extra for this. It’s Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, and we’ve done it this way since 2009.
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We show you what the camera sees. You watch the footage on our monitor. If the liner is cracked, if the Famco cap is failing, if there’s a Class III creosote condition - you see it, not just hear about it.
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We quote in writing before any work starts. Sweep price, any repair scope, parts choice (OEM Famco or quality aftermarket), and warranty. You approve the paper, then we start.
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We sweep, creosote-grade, and document. Brushes sized to your flue, full cleanup with drop cloths and HEPA vacuum. We record the creosote class, note what the cap and damper look like, and take before-and-after photos.
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Your photo record is emailed before we leave the driveway. Camera stills, written scope, written warranty - everything. That’s your record, on every visit, no add-on charge.
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Costs in Paterson
Here’s the price sheet we work from in Paterson. It’s posted in the truck and quoted on paper before any work begins.
- Standard annual sweep (single flue, no complications): $189-$249
- Sweep with Level 2 camera inspection: $249-$289 (camera inspection alone is $149 if you need a report for insurance or a sale)
- Heavy creosote removal (Class III glazed): $325-$475, depending on flue length and severity
- Famco cap cleaning or minor cap repair: $89-$150 as an add-on during a sweep
- Famco top-mount damper replacement: $425-$675 installed, depending on flue size
- Famco chase cover replacement: $375-$600 for standard sizes, custom taller covers more
What moves the price: roof height and pitch, flue length, creosote class, and whether the Famco cap or damper needs extra work while we’re up there. You get the exact number in writing before we start. Never a call-back for a quote. For a free estimate, call (862) 356-5229.
Why Paterson Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Paterson for Famco Work

We’re the crew that writes the price down before we touch the chimney. That’s not a slogan; it’s Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, and we’ve operated under it since 2009. Thirty-eight thousand chimneys inspected and cleaned, every one with a documented photo record when the job was done. Our techs are background-checked, uniformed, and licensed - the license number is on every page we hand you and on our website. They know Famco dampers, caps, and chase covers because they see them weekly in Paterson homes. And if a repair needs parts beyond Famco, we stock or source from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco through Haven’s buying network - which keeps the material costs on your written estimate honest. If the work isn’t done right, the 365-Day Done Right Promise means we fix it. That’s the whole point.
We also offer a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate. Bring us a quote from another chimney company - we’ll tell you if it’s fair, what’s actually needed, and what can safely wait. You don’t have to hire us after. Most people in Paterson do, but the opinion is free either way.
FAQs
A standard Famco chimney sweep in Paterson runs $189-$289, depending on flue condition and whether you add a Level 2 camera inspection. Heavy creosote removal runs higher, and we quote it in writing before starting. Call (862) 356-5229 for an exact estimate - it’s free, and it’s the actual number, not a teaser price.
Yes. We’re an independent Famco service provider, so our work doesn’t void a Famco product warranty. Our own written warranty covers our labor and workmanship as well. What we find during the camera scan gets documented in your photo record, which is useful if you ever file a manufacturer claim.
In most cases, yes. We keep common Famco damper cable assemblies and replacement handles on the truck. If the damper itself is seized or the hinge is corroded past saving, we’ll quote a replacement on the spot. Either way, we show you the problem on camera before we touch it - you’ll see exactly why it failed.
Once a year if you burn more than a cord of wood, which is most Paterson homeowners with working fireplaces. Gas fireplaces can go two to three years between inspections. The rule is simple: one cord of wood equals roughly one sweep. Burn more than that, schedule twice a year. We’ll tell you straight if your burn rate means you can skip a year.
Creosote builds in layers. Glaze forms. A chimney fire becomes possible, and slow-burning creosote damage inside the flue goes unseen without a camera. Some Paterson homes we visit have Famco caps and dampers doing their jobs fine while the liner behind them is coating up. It’s not dramatic until it is. That’s why the camera goes down first - call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll show you what’s in your flue.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Paterson at Level Two Chimney Paterson, serving Paterson and nearby areas.





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