The short answer
A chimney liner is usually needed in Clinton Hill when an older masonry flue is cracked or unlined, when a fireplace or appliance is changed, or when a boiler is converted from oil to gas. We inspect the chimney first, recommend a liner that matches the appliance and flue size, and install it with proper connections and a top cap.
Many chimneys in Clinton Hill were built long before today's furnaces, boilers and water heaters existed. A brownstone or rowhouse flue that was laid for coal or wood often has cracked clay tiles, crumbling mortar joints, or no liner at all. Expert Chimney Sweep installs chimney liners for homes and buildings throughout the neighborhood from our office at 419 Waverly Ave. Our certified technicians start by finding out what your chimney actually needs. The goal is a flue that is sized correctly for your appliance, carries exhaust safely out of the house, and protects the masonry around it.
Why older Clinton Hill chimneys often need a liner
Clinton Hill's housing is mostly brownstones, brick rowhouses, pre-war apartment buildings and some detached houses. Many of their chimneys have served several generations of heating equipment. Over time, heat, moisture and freeze-thaw cycles break down clay tile liners and the mortar between them. Some chimneys were never lined in the first place.
A damaged or missing liner lets heat and combustion gases reach the brick and the wood framing next to it. It can also let carbon monoxide leak into living spaces or a neighboring unit. When rowhouses share party walls, a problem in one flue can affect more than one home. A liner gives the exhaust a continuous, sealed path from the appliance to the top of the chimney.
Oil-to-gas conversions and 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. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate, and that condensate can corrode a masonry flue that handled oil exhaust without trouble for years.
If you are planning a conversion in a Clinton Hill brownstone or apartment building, bring us in early. We can inspect the flue and tell you whether it can be reused or needs relining. Then we can coordinate the liner work with your heating contractor so the chimney is ready when the new boiler is.
Liner types we install
The right liner depends on the appliance, the fuel and the condition of the chimney. After the inspection, we explain the options that fit your situation.
- Stainless steel liners for gas, oil and wood appliances, including boilers, furnaces and water heaters
- Insulated stainless liners for fireplace inserts and wood stoves, where extra heat protection is important
- Liners sized to match the appliance's venting needs, so the flue drafts properly and limits condensation
- Relining for flues shared by more than one appliance, when the chimney's layout allows it
- Top caps and connections installed with the liner to keep out rain, debris and animals
Time for your annual chimney check?
How liner installation works
Most liner jobs follow the same basic steps. Brooklyn rooftops and tight rowhouse layouts sometimes need extra planning for access, and we work that out with you ahead of time.
- Inspect the chimney, including a camera look inside the flue when needed
- Measure the flue and confirm the size the appliance requires
- Clean the flue and remove loose debris or old tile where necessary
- Lower the liner from the roof and connect it to the appliance at the base
- Seal and cap the top, then check that the system drafts properly
Timing, inspections and nearby service
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. For buildings with tenants, it usually makes sense to schedule liner work in late spring or summer. That way the boiler is ready before the heat has to be on.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A change to the system, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, calls for a more thorough Level 2 inspection, and so does the sale of a home. If you are buying or selling in the neighborhood, a liner question often comes up at that point.
Along with Clinton Hill, we install liners in nearby Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, South Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO.
More services in Clinton Hill
- Chimney Sweep in Clinton Hill
- Chimney Inspection in Clinton Hill
- Chimney Repair in Clinton Hill
- Air Duct Cleaning in Clinton Hill
