Frequently Asked Questions

We lay protective floor and furniture covers, run a rotary brush system up the flue to dislodge creosote and debris, then pass a high-resolution camera the full length of the flue to inspect the liner, joints, and any obstructions. In Kennesaw's clay-heavy soil zones, we pay particular attention to lateral shifting that can crack terra cotta liners - something we see regularly in 1970s-1980s builds near Pine Mountain Road. The whole process takes 60-90 minutes for a standard fireplace. You receive the photo report before we pack up.

The NFPA recommends annual inspection for all solid-fuel systems, and sweeping when creosote buildup exceeds 1/8 inch. In practice, Kennesaw homeowners who burn oak and hickory from North Georgia suppliers two to three times weekly usually need sweeping every year. Occasional holiday burners can often go two seasons between sweeps, but the inspection should still happen annually - especially given our freeze-thaw winters that stress masonry crowns. We check buildup depth with a scraper during every inspection and tell you honestly whether sweeping can wait.

Clear a 6-foot workspace in front of your fireplace, remove ashes if they're more than a day old (cold ashes only), and secure pets in another room - the rotary brush makes noise that startles dogs. You don't need to cover furniture; we bring drop cloths and a HEPA vacuum. If your flue cleanout is in the basement, please make sure we have access. For homes in Kennesaw's hilly areas like Ben King Road or Stilesboro Road, we also confirm driveway access for our van since steep grades can affect equipment staging.

We inspect first, then sweep - never the reverse. Heavy neglect usually shows as glazed creosote, which requires a chemical pretreatment before mechanical removal. In Kennesaw, we've found this most often in homes purchased from estate sales or foreclosures in neighborhoods like North Shores or Acworth's Governor's Towne Club, where the chimney sat unused for multiple seasons. The camera tells us what we're dealing with before we quote any additional work. Skipping years doesn't automatically mean damage; it means we look more carefully.

Yes, immediately - there's no curing time. The flue is clear of obstructions and creosote, and the firebox is vacuumed clean. We do recommend waiting if we've applied a chemical glaze treatment, which requires a brief firing cycle to set - we'll give you specific timing if that's the case. Otherwise, light your evening fire same-day. In Kennesaw's shoulder seasons, that's often the same night, especially when a cold front drops through from the northwest.

We source stainless steel liners from Gelco and Olympia Chimney, both UL-listed manufacturers with 316Ti alloy options rated for wood, pellet, and gas applications. For chase covers and caps, we use Famco and Copperfield components - the latter especially for custom copper caps on historic or high-visibility chimneys in Kennesaw's older districts. We don't install generic or unlisted liners; every component carries a manufacturer's warranty that we pass through to you in writing. The brand and alloy grade appear on your estimate before any work begins.

We stock common refractory panels, gaskets, and termination caps for major prefab brands, but we don't manufacture proprietary firebox components. If your Heatilator, Superior, or Lennox unit needs a factory-specific part, we order it with a clear lead time and install once it arrives. Prefab systems in Kennesaw's 1990s-2000s subdivisions - think Legacy Park, Wicklow, or Tippett's Mill - are reaching the 20-25 year mark where refractory panels crack and gaskets degrade. The camera inspection shows whether the issue is sweepable or requires parts replacement.

Gelco specializes in flexible liners with tight corrugation for easier retrofit down offset flues, which matters in Kennesaw's split-level and tri-level homes common near Kennesaw State University. Olympia Chimney offers thicker-gauge rigid options we prefer for straight, vertical runs in two-story colonials. Copperfield caps and Famco dampers are our go-to for exterior components - the 304 stainless holds up to our pollen-heavy springs and occasional ice events without the maintenance of galvanized steel. We match the component to the application, not the margin.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we verify it before they arrive at your Kennesaw home. Georgia does not issue a dedicated chimney sweep license, so our technicians hold appropriate trade credentials and general liability coverage. You can request certificate of insurance documentation when you book - we email it without hesitation. Clause 3 of the Haven Standard requires license numbers on your service record.

Look for CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certification, which requires passing a written exam and adhering to a code of ethics. We maintain this standard across our network. NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild) membership indicates ongoing education. We don't list individual technician credentials on our site because they rotate and renew; we verify current status internally and provide it on request. The key question isn't the wall certificate - it's whether the inspection includes camera documentation you can see for yourself.

This location is independently owned and operated, led by Corrine Halstead, while working to the Haven Standard established by Level Two Chimney Co. since 2009. The brand provides the documentation system, the pricing transparency requirements, and the buying power that keeps parts costs honest. Corrine built the local team, knows Kennesaw's housing stock from Barrett Greene to Legacy Park, and makes the call on what your chimney actually needs. The standards come from the brand; the service comes from your neighbors.

We're open Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We do not offer after-hours emergency dispatch - chimney fires and carbon monoxide events require calling 911 first, then contacting us during business hours for the follow-up inspection and repair. For urgent but non-emergency situations (storm damage, sudden water intrusion, animal entry), we typically book within 24-48 hours during our operating hours. Our real hours are posted above; we don't pretend to be available around the clock.

Call 911 if flames or heavy smoke are visible, then do not use the fireplace until a Level 2 inspection is completed. Chimney fires often sound like a freight train or low rumbling, with dense smoke and a hot exterior chimney wall. Even a small fire can crack terra cotta liners or damage mortar joints, creating paths for carbon monoxide or future ignition. In Kennesaw's older homes with single-wythe brick chimneys, thermal shock from a fire is particularly destructive. We inspect post-fire systems as priority bookings during our regular hours, with full camera documentation of every crack and gap.

Yes - our standard service area includes Acworth, Marietta, Woodstock, Fair Oaks, Holly Springs, Dallas, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Canton, Dunwoody, and Milton. Travel beyond this radius is available with a modest trip charge, quoted in advance. Homes in the farther reaches of Cherokee County or up toward Ball Ground may schedule on specific days when we're already routing north. We don't charge differently for Kennesaw versus adjacent cities; the price depends on the chimney, not the map.

Our sweep and inspection carry a 90-day guarantee against workmanship defects - if creosote falls or odors develop due to incomplete cleaning, we return at no charge. Repairs and liner installations carry manufacturer warranties (typically lifetime for stainless steel liners from Gelco or Olympia) plus our own installation guarantee. Every warranty term appears in writing on your invoice before work begins - Clause 1 of the Haven Standard. We don't promise what we can't document.

We categorize every finding as "address now," "monitor annually," or "document for future reference." A cracked crown with minor spalling might be monitorable; a separated flue liner or missing mortar joint is "address now" due to fire or CO risk. You receive the photos, we explain the hazard level, and you decide. No work proceeds without your written approval. We've had Kennesaw homeowners wait a season on non-critical crown sealing after seeing the camera evidence - that's fine, as long as the risk is understood. The documentation protects both of us.

You receive before-and-after photos from the camera scan, a written condition report, and archived footage accessible through your customer portal. For repairs, we photo-document each stage. If we install a Gelco or Olympia liner, you get the manufacturer's warranty card plus our installation certificate. Corrine Halstead reviews every report before it goes out - not as oversight of doubt, but as the standard we set in 2009 and have maintained through 38,000+ documented inspections. The evidence is the proof; we don't ask you to trust, we ask you to look.

The Haven Standard is five clauses that govern every job: Have it in writing - flat price, written scope, written warranty before anyone starts; Arrive on schedule - a real window, a named tech, a text when they are on the way; Verified crews - licensed, insured, background-checked, license number on the page; Evidence on every job - photos and readings of what we actually found; No surprises - no door upsell, no scope creep, no "while we are in here." It was built from Level Two's practice of archiving camera footage years before the industry required it. That archive is why we could prove a liner had failed before a fire rather than after. The name Level Two itself refers to the NFPA 211 inspection level that actually looks inside - the standard most companies charge for Level 1 and skip.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Kennesaw, serving Kennesaw, Acworth, Marietta and surrounding communities since 2009.