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
AfterThe Top Hat Chimney Guarantee
We’ve been sweeping and repairing chimneys in Waterford since 1999, and the reason we’re still here is simple: Wendell Pike puts his name on the work and then runs into you again on Saturday. Every job we complete carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, on the invoice. If it’s not done right, one call brings Wendell back, no charge, no argument, no fine print. That’s not a marketing line. It’s the way we’ve operated for over 29 years, and it’s why ask anyone on your street before you call us.
What’s Covered
- Workmanship. Every sweep, repair, cap installation, and liner job is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise, so if anything we touched isn’t right, we come back and make it right at no additional cost.
- Parts and materials. We work with trusted industry brands like DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, and we handle any material problem the same way we handle a workmanship problem: it gets fixed.
- Cleanup. The sweep who shows up at your door treats your home like his own, and that means drop cloths, shoe covers, and a workspace left cleaner than he found it.
- Honest pricing. The number you hear on the phone is the number on the invoice. Upfront pricing, delivered before a single tool comes off the truck.
- On-time arrival. You get a real arrival window, and if it slips, we call you. You won’t be sitting around wondering if anyone’s coming.
Our Satisfaction Promise
Here’s how it works. If you’re not satisfied with the work we did, you call (860) 390-4899, and a live person answers. It may well be Wendell himself picking up. You tell us what’s wrong, and we schedule a time for Wendell and his crew to come back and make it right. No charge. No “that’s normal wear and tear.” No disappearing act.
We also offer a free second opinion on any written estimate. If another company handed you a quote for liner work or a rebuild and you want a straight answer on whether it’s actually necessary, bring it to us. The camera footage and a plain-English verdict, every time, no exceptions. If the job doesn’t need doing, we’ll say so. That tends to be the thing people remember.
Licensed & Insured Backing
Anyone can print a guarantee on a flyer. The real backing is what happens when something goes wrong, and that’s where licensing and insurance matter. Top Hat Chimney is state-licensed and insured, which means the work we do in Waterford is done by a company that’s accountable to the state, not just to you. Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform, and we carry the coverage that protects your home while we’re working on it. If a guarantee is only as good as the company behind it, we’ve made sure the company is solid.
What We Don’t Guarantee (And Why You Should Appreciate That)
We don’t guarantee things we can’t control, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes. A chimney that’s been neglected for a decade will sometimes need more than one sweep to get fully clean, and we’ll tell you that honestly instead of promising a miracle. First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze, and catching it early is the difference between a $200 sweep and a $3,000 liner. We’ll give you the straight story every time, even when it’s not what you hoped to hear.
What Actually Happens If Something Goes Wrong
Step one: you call (860) 390-4899. A live person answers, around the clock. Step two: you explain what’s not right. Step three: we schedule the return visit and Wendell or one of his crew comes back, walks through the problem with you, and fixes it. That’s the whole process. No claims department, no voice mail box, no call center routing you to someone in another state. You’re dealing with a locally owned, owner-operated business that has a published address in the community, and Wendell’s reputation rides on every single job.
Why a Written Promise Matters More Than a Handshake
A handshake is nice, but a handshake doesn’t hold up when memory gets fuzzy. That’s why the 90-Day Done Right Promise is stamped on every job, in writing. You’ll see it on your invoice before we leave. If you ever need to use it, the proof is in your hand, not in a conversation you half-remember. We’ve been doing this since 1999, and we learned early on that people in Waterford, New London, East Lyme, and the surrounding communities appreciate a company that writes down what it stands behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers every job we complete. If anything we did isn’t right within 90 days, one call brings Wendell back at no additional cost. Most issues show up quickly after a sweep or repair, and 90 days gives you a full heating season of confidence. Call (860) 390-4899 if you have questions about how the promise applies to your specific job.
Our standing offers don’t expire: $40 off any repair over $200, a free second opinion on any written estimate, no trip charge inside the county, and 10% off always for seniors and veterans. On top of that, every job is backed by licensed, insured, background-checked work. When you combine those things, you’re covered before, during, and after the service.
You call (860) 390-4899. A live person answers, you explain what’s wrong, and we schedule a return visit. Wendell and his crew come back and make it right under the 90-Day Done Right Promise. No charge, no hassle, no fine print. That’s the entire process.
We install and service products from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, and we handle material problems the same way we handle workmanship problems: we fix them. If a part fails and it’s related to our installation, we make it right under our 90-Day Done Right Promise. For manufacturer-specific warranty details on a particular liner or cap, call us and we’ll walk you through exactly what applies to your situation.
Because we’ve been in business since 1999, over 29 years, and we’re still here because people in Waterford and the surrounding communities keep calling us back. Wendell Pike owns the company, puts his name on the work, and runs into you again on Saturday. A franchise that rotated in last spring can print a guarantee too, but they can’t back it with three decades of local reputation. Ask anyone on your street.
Ready to Talk to a Real Person?
If you have questions about our guarantee, our pricing, or whether your chimney actually needs work, call (860) 390-4899. A live person answers every call, around the clock, no voice mail box and no call center. We’ll give you an honest answer, and if the job doesn’t need doing, we’ll tell you that too. No trip charge inside the county, and free second opinions on any written estimate you’ve already received.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Waterford and surrounding communities since 1999.