What Waterbury Homeowners Say About Top Hat Chimney
We’ve been cleaning chimneys in Waterbury since 1999, and we’ve earned our reputation one flue at a time. Reviews matter because they tell you what actually happens when the truck pulls up, not what a brochure promises. Wendell Pike puts his name on every job, and he runs into you again at the grocery store on Saturday. That changes how we work. The quotes below come from real customers in Waterbury neighborhoods who called us for chimney cleaning, repairs, and fireplace work.
Recent Reviews
“Called Top Hat because our fireplace smelled like a campfire every time it rained. Wendell’s crew swept three feet of creosote out of the flue and found a cracked cap that was letting water in. They replaced it with a Famco cap and did the whole thing same week. No more smell, and the price they quoted on the phone matched the invoice to the penny.”
Reggie M.
Bunker Hill, Waterbury
“We bought a 1940s colonial in Overlook with a fireplace that hadn’t been cleaned in who knows how long. The sweep showed me camera footage of the inside of the flue and it was not pretty. He walked me through what needed to happen now and what could wait. No pressure, no scare tactics. They did the sweep and a minor repair to the damper. Fire burns better than it ever has.”
Heather N.
Overlook, Waterbury
“I’m a disabled veteran and called three companies before Top Hat. Wendell answered the phone himself at 9:30 at night. He gave me the senior and veteran discount without me asking twice and scheduled the cleaning around my VA appointments. The tech showed up in uniform, background-checked, exactly on time. That matters when you let someone into your home.”
Malik D.
East Mountain, Waterbury
“Our chimney liner was shot and a big national chain quoted us over four thousand dollars. Wendell came out for a free second opinion, ran his camera down the flue, and showed me exactly what he saw on the screen. He said we needed a HeatShield resurfacing, not a full rebuild. Cost half what the other guy wanted. That was two winters ago and the chimney runs clean.”
Rafael G.
Brooklyn, Waterbury
“First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze. That’s what the sweep told me after inspecting our chimney in the Town Plot area. We’d been burning green wood for years and had a stubborn shiny layer built up. They got it under control and then gave me a straight answer about burning seasoned wood instead. Nobody has ever explained the science of a chimney to me before.”
Heather N.
Town Plot, Waterbury
“I called Top Hat after another company told me I needed two thousand dollars of work right before Thanksgiving. Wendell’s guy came out, swept the chimney, and said the ‘crack’ the other company flagged was a normal mortar seam. He put it in writing as part of the 90-Day Done Right Promise and didn’t charge me for the extra inspection. Ask anyone on your street about this company. They’ll tell you the same thing.”
Reggie M.
Bucks Hill, Waterbury
Why Customers Trust Us
These reviews all point to the same thing: we show you what we find and we don’t sell you what you don’t need. Every sweep includes camera inspection footage and a plain-English verdict. If the chimney just needs cleaning, that’s what we’ll tell you. If there’s a real problem, you’ll see it on screen before we quote a repair. Wendell has owned Top Hat since 1999 and he still answers the phone, still backs every job with the 90-Day Done Right Promise, and still offers $40 off any repair over $200 plus 10% off for seniors and veterans. There’s never a trip charge inside our service county, and a free second opinion on any competing written estimate is standard. When you’re ready for an honest look at your chimney, call us at (203) 439-5655 and you’ll get a live person, upfront pricing, and an appointment that works around your schedule. If it’s not done right, one call brings Wendell back.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Waterbury since 1999.