Chimney, Dryer Vent and Air Duct Care for Brooklyn Homes
We sweep, inspect and repair chimneys and clean dryer vents and air ducts across Brooklyn, from Park Slope, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and Brooklyn Heights.
- We inspect and explain before we quote.
- You get a written price before any work begins.
- We show you photos of what we found.
Services
Chimney and duct work we do
From a routine sweep to rebuilding a chimney top, here is the work we do on chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts. Every job starts with a close look at what is actually there, so the work matches the problem.
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Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep removes creosote, soot and blockages from your flue and includes a basic visual inspection of… -
Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection checks the firebox, damper, flue liner, smoke chamber, crown, cap, and flashing for damage, blockages,… -
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair fixes damaged masonry, crowns, flashing, caps, and flue liners so smoke vents safely and water stays… -
Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning makes sense when you see heavy dust or debris in the ducts, find signs of… -
Chimney Liner Installation
You likely need a new chimney liner if your flue tiles are cracked or missing, you smell smoke… -
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Clean your dryer vent when clothes take longer to dry, the dryer or laundry room gets unusually hot,…
Warning signs
Call us if you notice any of these
Most problems give a warning first. Catching them early keeps a small fix from turning into a big one.
- A smoky or campfire smell in the house, especially on humid days
- Smoke drifting into the room instead of drawing up the flue
- Flakes of tile, mortar or brick falling into the firebox
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney
- Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry
- Dust blowing out of vents soon after you clean
Book before the first cold night
Fall is the busiest time for chimney sweeps. Get your sweep and yearly inspection on the calendar before you light the first fire.
How it works
Clear steps. Your approval first.
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Book a visit
Call or send a short request: the fireplace, stove, boiler flue or vents you need looked at, and what you have noticed.
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We inspect first
The crew lays down drop cloths, checks the system top to bottom and runs a camera up the flue where it is needed.
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Written price, your call
You see photos of what we found and get the price in writing. Work starts only after you say yes.
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Clean, fix, report
We sweep, repair or reline, vacuum up with HEPA filters and leave you a photo report of the finished work.
Straight pricing
No bait prices. No surprises.
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Written price first
Before any work starts, you get a written price for exactly what we'll do. Nothing begins until you approve it.
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Photos of what we found
We photograph the inside of the flue, vent or duct and show you the conditions we're describing. You see the problem for yourself.
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No surprise add-ons
If we find something new partway through a job, we stop and show you. Any added work is priced in writing and done only with your approval.
About us
Chimney and vent work built around Brooklyn's housing
Brooklyn's chimneys work hard. Many serve gas boilers and water heaters rather than fireplaces, some were converted from oil, and plenty share walls with neighbors. Expert Chimney Sweep handles the full range of that work: sweeping and inspection, liner installation, masonry repair and rebuilding, caps and chase covers, waterproofing, and fireplace and damper repair. We also clean dryer vents and air ducts, since lint and dust buildup cause their own problems. Our certified technicians start by looking at the system, not by selling a package. We follow the NFPA 211 approach of a yearly inspection and choose the inspection level that fits your situation, whether nothing has changed, you've added a new appliance or switched fuel, or you're buying or selling the house. Then we walk you through what we saw, show you photos, and give you a written price. If something can wait, we'll tell you. If it can't, we'll explain why.
More about how we workWhere we work
Every kind of home in Brooklyn
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Rowhouses and brownstones
Chimneys often run through party walls and sit alongside neighbors' flues, with roof access through a hatch. We confirm which flue serves which appliance before any sweeping, lining or masonry work.
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Co-ops and apartment buildings
These chimneys usually vent a central boiler, so work is coordinated with the board or management and planned around heat season, October 1 through May 31. When a building converts from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated, and a new liner is often needed.
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Detached and semi-detached homes
Exterior chimneys take weather on more sides, so crowns, caps, chase covers and waterproofing matter more. These homes also tend to have longer dryer vent runs and full ductwork.
Inspections
Three levels of chimney inspection
The NFPA 211 standard calls for a yearly inspection. Which level you need depends on what has changed since the last one.
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Level 1
Annual check
For a chimney and appliance that have not changed and will be used the same way: the readily accessible parts of the chimney, the flue and the connection, checked for soundness, blockages and deposits.
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Level 2
Camera inspection
When something changed — a new stove, insert or boiler, a fuel switch such as oil to gas, the sale of the home, or a chimney fire, storm or quake. Adds a video scan of the whole flue and the accessible attic, roof and crawl spaces.
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Level 3
Concealed areas
Only when a Level 1 or 2 points to a hidden hazard that cannot be checked any other way: parts of the chimney or building are opened to reach it.
Service areas
Where we work
We work throughout Brooklyn, including Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, South Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Brooklyn Heights and Carroll Gardens. If your neighborhood isn't listed, ask. We likely cover it.
FAQ
Common questions
How often should my chimney be inspected?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing has changed. Level 2 applies when you add a new appliance, switch fuels or sell the home. Level 3 applies when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
I only have a gas boiler. Does my chimney still need attention?
Yes. Gas appliances vent through the chimney, and gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can wear down an unlined or poorly lined masonry flue over time. A yearly inspection checks the liner, the connection to the appliance, and any blockages.
Our building is converting from oil to gas. What does the chimney need?
In New York City, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of an oil-to-gas boiler conversion. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust creates acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. We inspect the chimney, explain what the conversion requires, and give you a written price for the liner work.
Is air duct cleaning worth doing?
It depends on what's in the ducts. The U.S. EPA advises cleaning when there is substantial visible mold, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. It also notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems. We look first and tell you whether cleaning makes sense, and we're careful about chemical treatments.
How do I know my dryer vent needs cleaning?
Common signs are long drying times, a hot laundry room, a burning smell, or lint collecting around the outside vent flap. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires, so regular vent cleaning matters.
What happens during a chimney sweep?
We protect the area around the fireplace or appliance connection, then brush and vacuum soot and creosote from the flue, smoke chamber and firebox. We check the damper, liner and visible masonry as we go and show you photos of anything that needs attention.
Will the work make a mess in my home?
We lay down drop cloths, seal the opening we're working through, and use vacuums to keep soot and dust contained. When we're done, we clean up the work area.
Schedule a chimney or vent visit
Tell us what you're noticing and where you are in Brooklyn. We'll set a time, inspect the system, show you what we find, and give you a written price before any work begins.