The short answer
Boerum Hill chimneys often need a new liner when a boiler converts from oil to gas, when an old clay or brick flue is cracked, or when a new appliance is added. We inspect the flue first, then install a liner sized for the appliance it serves.
Many Boerum Hill homes are brownstones, rowhouses and pre-war apartment buildings, and their chimneys often date to the same era. Some of those flues were built of clay tile or bare brick for coal or wood heat. Today they may vent gas boilers, water heaters or fireplaces they were never designed to handle. A properly sized liner protects the masonry, keeps exhaust moving up and out, and helps keep heat and combustion gases away from the wood framing around the chimney. Our certified technicians install chimney liners throughout Boerum Hill (ZIP 11201), about a mile northwest of our office in Clinton Hill.
Why Older Boerum Hill Chimneys Need Relining
Masonry chimneys in older Brooklyn buildings take decades of heat, freeze-thaw cycles and moisture. Clay tile liners crack, mortar joints wash out, and some flues were never lined at all. A damaged flue can let heat and exhaust reach brick and wood it shouldn't, and it can let carbon monoxide leak into living space.
Rowhouses and brownstones share party walls, and some stacks carry several flues side by side. A failed liner in one flue can affect neighboring flues or units. That makes a sound liner important for your household and for the people next door.
- Cracked, shifted or missing clay tiles
- Crumbling mortar or brick debris at the base of the flue
- White staining, flaking or damp spots on chimney walls
- A flue that is too large or too small for the appliance it serves
- Draft problems, smoke spillage or exhaust odors indoors
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. In an unlined or poorly lined chimney, that moisture soaks into the brick and mortar and breaks it down from the inside.
If you are planning a conversion in a Boerum Hill brownstone or small apartment building, bring us in early. We can inspect the flue and coordinate with your heating contractor so the liner matches the new boiler's venting requirements.
How We Install a Chimney Liner
Every job starts with an inspection. The NFPA 211 standard describes three inspection levels. A Level 2 inspection applies when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch in fuel, or when a home is sold. We use a camera to look at the full length of the flue and document what we find. If a hidden problem has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or building, that is a Level 3 inspection, and we will explain why before doing anything.
From there, we recommend a liner type based on the appliance, the fuel and the condition and shape of the flue.
- Stainless steel liners for gas, oil and wood appliances, sized to the appliance's venting needs
- Insulated liners where clearances or draft call for them
- Cast-in-place liners that can help strengthen a deteriorated masonry flue
- New chimney caps and top plates to keep out rain, debris and animals
Time for your annual chimney check?
Planning Around Heat Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that time, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. If you own a multi-unit building in Boerum Hill, a boiler that can't run because of a chimney problem in January is a serious issue.
Scheduling liner work in late spring or summer gives you time to inspect, plan and finish before the heat has to be on. If a problem turns up mid-season, call us and we will work with you to get the system back in service safely.
Serving Boerum Hill and Nearby Neighborhoods
Our Clinton Hill office is about a mile from Boerum Hill. We also install chimney liners in Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. These neighborhoods share many of the same building types, from brownstones and rowhouses to pre-war apartment buildings, so we see the same flue problems throughout the area.
More services in Boerum Hill
- Chimney Sweep in Boerum Hill
- Chimney Inspection in Boerum Hill
- Chimney Repair in Boerum Hill
- Air Duct Cleaning in Boerum Hill
