What Severna Park Homeowners Say About Hearthstone Chimney Co.
We’ve been sweeping chimneys in Severna Park since 1984, and we’ve learned that a good reputation isn’t built on what you say about yourself. It’s built on showing up when promised, doing the work right, and standing behind it if something’s off. The reviews below come from neighbors we’ve served across Severna Park, from Old County Road to the water-oriented communities along the Magothy. We don’t edit them for polish. We earn them.
Recent Reviews
We bought our house on Park Road last winter and had no idea when the chimney was last swept. Russell sent a technician who ran a camera all the way up and showed us photos of the flue on a tablet. There was a surprising amount of glazed creosote buildup from the previous owner’s heavy use. They cleaned it thoroughly and gave us a written condition report we could actually understand. No pushy upsells, just facts.
Emily N., Severna Park
After the big freeze in January, I noticed a draft issue every time the wind came off the Chesapeake. Called Hearthstone on a Saturday morning and a real person picked up, which I honestly didn’t expect. They found the chimney cap had corroded through and was letting water and wind straight down the flue. Replaced it with a Gelco cap same visit. Bill matched the estimate exactly.
Sarah P., Benfield Pines, Severna Park
Our home inspector flagged the chimney liner when we purchased in Chartwell, but the seller’s contractor gave us a vague “it’s fine” verbal assurance. I wanted a second opinion with actual documentation. Hearthstone’s Level-2 inspection found three cracks in the terra cotta liner and heat damage to the surrounding masonry. They showed me every photo, explained which cracks were active risks versus old settling, and laid out options from repair to full relining with DuraFlex. We went with the reline. The crew finished in one day and left no mess in our living room.
Kristen M., Chartwell, Severna Park
I’d been putting off a sweep for two years, which I now realize was stupid given how much we burn in our fireplace. The technician found a bird nest partially blocking the flue, and creosote buildup that was getting into stage two glazing. He explained that Severna Park’s humidity, especially being this close to the water, accelerates condensation in the flue and makes creosote stick harder. That’s information I couldn’t have gotten from a YouTube video. Already booked next year’s sweep.
Anika M., Old County Road area, Severna Park
We had a smell issue every summer that two other companies couldn’t diagnose. Russell himself came out, which I appreciated given that we’d already spent money on guesses. He found a cracked crown with water intrusion that was breeding bacteria in the flue, then showing up as that awful sour odor when humidity spiked. Repaired the crown with HeatShield, swept the flue, and the smell hasn’t returned in two seasons. His 90-Day Done Right Promise turned into a two-year reality check, and he still answers my questions when I call.
Emily N., Severna Park
My mother’s house in the Robinson Road area needed a full liner replacement, and I was bracing for a nightmare of scaffolding and dust and contractors who disappear. Hearthstone’s crew arrived in uniform, laid down protective covering through the entire house, and completed the rebuild and reline in a single day. My mother is 78 and was worried about being taken advantage of. The upfront pricing meant she knew the exact cost before they started, and the technician took time to walk her through the photos afterward. She called me that evening to say it was the most professional home service she’d experienced in thirty years of owning that house.
Sarah P., Severna Park
Why Customers Trust Us
These reviews keep showing the same patterns, which tells us we’re doing something right. Homeowners in Severna Park value straight information over sales pressure. They want to see evidence, not hear assurances. Our Level-2 camera inspections produce photos you can see and a plain-English verdict, because a crack in your flue that you can’t see might as well not exist for decision-making purposes.
The 90-Day Done Right Promise governs everything we do. In writing, no arguing. If it’s not right, we come back. That’s the Keystone Standard, and it’s not a marketing line, it’s how Russell Haines has run this company since 1984. We’re not building a business to flip. We’re building one that’ll be sweeping chimneys in Severna Park thirty years from now, which means every job has to hold up to that timeline.
Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and most jobs finish in a single visit. The price we quote is the price on the invoice. No surprises on the bill. We work exclusively with professional-grade materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, because builder-grade substitutes fail faster, especially in Maryland’s freeze-thaw cycles and the salt-air exposure you get this close to the Chesapeake.
A live person answers our phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not because chimney emergencies only happen during business hours, but because questions don’t keep office hours. If you’re weighing whether your chimney needs attention before the next burning season, or you’ve received an estimate that doesn’t sit right and want a second opinion, call us at (443) 464-2560. Estimates are free, and we’ll show you exactly what we find.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Severna Park since 1984.