What Annapolis Homeowners Say About Top Hat Chimney
Reviews matter because a chimney is one of the few things in your house you can’t easily inspect yourself. You can’t see the creosote building up behind the damper, and you can’t tell from the hearth whether the flue is drafting properly. That’s why we ask every customer, after we leave, to tell us plainly how it went. What you read below is what people in Annapolis actually say about Wendell and his crew. We earn these reviews the same way we’ve earned everything since 1999: one chimney at a time, with a camera, a straight answer, and a 90-Day Done Right Promise stamped on the work.
Recent Reviews
“We bought a 1960s rancher in Hillsmere and the fireplace hadn’t been touched in years. Top Hat found second-degree creosote and showed me the camera footage before recommending anything. They swept it, took photos after, and explained what to watch for. The price matched the quote on the phone, to the dollar.”
Leela M., Hillsmere, Annapolis
“Wendell’s crew came out to fix a cap that had blown off during a storm in January. I could see daylight from the hearth, which isn’t right. They were straightforward about what could wait and what couldn’t. The crew showed up in uniform, called ahead with a real arrival time, and cleaned up before they left. The new cap was installed and sealed the same afternoon.”
Tiana W., Murray Hill, Annapolis
“I called at 7:30 in the evening expecting a voicemail. A live person answered. By the end of the week, the flue had been swept and we got the receipt with the 90-day promise on it. That’s exactly how a local business should work. No call center, no runaround.”
Ryan M., Admiral Heights, Annapolis
“We had a competing estimate saying we needed a full liner replacement, north of four thousand dollars. Wendell came out, ran the camera, and said no, a HeatShield resurfacing job was the right call. He saved us thousands and could have easily sold us the bigger job. He earned every bit of our trust that day.”
Cedric P., Eastport, Annapolis
“Found Top Hat because a neighbor off Bay Ridge Road used them for years. Our fireplace was producing a smoky smell even when it wasn’t lit. Turns out a birds’ nest was sitting above the damper. The sweep got it out, swept the flue, and suggested a different cap with a smaller mesh. No more guest bedroom smell, no more birds. Simple as that.”
Leela M., Bay Ridge, Annapolis
“We book a sweep every November before burning season. The technician always brings the camera and walks us through what he sees. Last time, minor first-degree creosote and some cracked flue tiles they said could wait. He flagged it, showed us the photos, and didn’t push a repair. That kind of honesty keeps us coming back every year.”
Tiana W., Sherwood Forest, Annapolis
Why Customers Trust Us
Those reviews all point to the same things, and that’s not by accident. Wendell Pike founded Top Hat Chimney in 1999 and still puts his name on every job. That means the sweep who shows up at your door in Annapolis works for the owner, not a franchise that rotated in last spring. Every call is answered by a live person around the clock, and if Wendell isn’t on the phone, one of his people is. We give you a flat price before a single tool comes off the truck, and what you hear on the phone is what you see on the invoice. We install and service DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, so the products we stand behind are the ones you’ve actually heard of. And if the work isn’t done right, the 90-Day Done Right Promise means one call brings Wendell back at no additional cost. A free second opinion on any written estimate, $40 off any repair over $200, no trip charge inside the county, and 10% off always for seniors and veterans. Call (240) 851-3653 and you’ll get a live person. That’s the whole point.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Annapolis since 1999.