Ye Old Town Sweep

Our usual pellet stove cleaner was unable to clean it due to issues with a change in their policy to only work on stoves they sold. They referred us to this business. He came out and refused to clean it, charged us 189 bucks for an inspection we did not request in which they said it was not functioning though it was. Stove Doctor told us there was no issue. They did a wonderful job cleaning it. I think he just did not want to do the work (because he would need a ladder) and wanted to still get paid. Never use or recommend these folks to anyone. Never.

We had Ye Old Town Sweep come out for animal removal and chimney cleaning because we had a crazy infestation of flies in the house. They removed a dead squirrel and said they cleaned the chimney. There was no reduction in flies. We had dozens and dozens in the house. It was totally gross. We called and said we thought they might have not gotten everything and wanted them to come back. The owner was defensive and said the tech did everything they could and he'd been in business for 40 years and we just had to wait it out. Weeks later we still had flies and called another company. They were cheaper, more professional and showed us pictures of everything Ye Old Town Sweep missed. We didn't have a single fly after the other company did the work. Our problem was mostly with animal removal but based on what was left behind after they "cleaned" the chimney I wouldn't trust Ye Old Town Sweep with the safety of my chimney or my house.

Great service. Fast and friendly and didn't leave a mess. I will definitely use them again.

Be sure to check all city ordinances or this guy will charge you for the privilege of learning them

Ye Old Town Sweep has cleaned and repaired our fireplace chimneys for over two decades. He shows up when scheduled, cleans both chimneys and leaves no mess.
Our home first build date is 1880 with a second build date 1951. Standards have changed over many decades. Recommendations to rebuild meet current standards. While I have not yet saved enough to do the recommended repairs, I have always had excellent service for very fair fees.

Did a through job, was mindful of COVID protocols and pleasant. Would use again. Reliable, showed up on time

Very professional and thorough! We called for a last minute inspection, and they were able to squeeze us in. Fantastic service!

Glenn came out for an inspection and clean for our new house. He ended up repairing two things. The first was we didn't have a cap on our chimney so he took care of that with one he had in his van. He also replaced our ash dump which had rusted into oblivion because of no cap. He then talked to us about building a fire since our chimney was too old to have a draw from outside so we need to crack a window once the fire gets going.

Went above and beyond to get our chimney cleaned and capped after chimney swifts made a home. It was a dirty job but they did it promptly for a great price! Highly recommend!

TL;DR:
Probably good at cleaning, but they don't actually listen to the problem you want solved. They're more interested in getting out to your property to charge you the fee than in working with you on an issue.

Experience:
We contacted several chimney specialists regarding a newly-purchased property with a chimney in poor repair. Among these, Ye Old Town Sweep was the only one who charged for a visit. A not-insubstantial $169. But for this amount, we were promised a detailed inspection, a full report with recommendations for options, and that a portion of the fee could be applied to whatever remedy we decided to go with. We were sold on the phone regarding their experience and ability. We emphasized the importance of their expert consultation.

Following the inspection, we received a one page stock form that described the components and features of the fireplace and chimney. A summary of condition, and a single line recommendation to replace the chimney stack. In response to a follow-up text, we were told this was the extent of the report. Additional texts only provided alternatives in the form of my asking if something was an option and getting a yes/no. We also learned that the repair recommended by Ye Old Town Sweep on their "full report" was not a service they performed, so our fee couldn't apply forward to anything.

In contrast, the two other chimney specialists we spoke with provided us with options and recommendations--and without charging for the site visit.

In all likelihood Ye Old Town Sweep is good at chimney cleaning. However they are not clear on communication and happy to oversell you on what they will provide. Once they have completed the work, they leave you with a bill and little interest in actually solving your problem.

I sent the payment with a full page typed letter explaining my disappointment with the service they provided. That I was paying them as promised, even though they did not deliver on the specific request I made from them. There was no response, only a prompt cashing of the check.

This was a $169 learning experience. Ye Old Town Sweep is not a business I would use again and I would not recommend.