Chimney Sweep and Chimney Repair in East Flatbush, Brooklyn

East Flatbush is about 3 miles southeast of our Clinton Hill office, so reaching a home in ZIP code 11203 is a short trip across Brooklyn. The neighborhood has attached rowhouses, detached and semi-detached homes, and pre-war apartment buildings. Its chimneys range from older masonry flues serving fireplaces to boiler chimneys that have carried exhaust for decades. Our certified technicians clean, inspect and repair those chimneys. We also clean the dryer vents and air ducts that affect safety and comfort in the rest of the house.

Chimney care for East Flatbush's older homes

Many East Flatbush houses have brick chimneys that have been through many Brooklyn winters. The local climate is hard on masonry. Rain and melting snow soak into brick and mortar, then freeze, expand and loosen the joints a little more each cold snap. Humid summers and heavy rain from coastal storms add more moisture. Over the years this shows up as flaking or spalling brick, cracked chimney crowns, rusted dampers, and water stains on the wall or ceiling near the fireplace.

Catching these problems early usually means a smaller repair. Waiting can lead to loose bricks, a leaning stack, or water damage inside the house. These are the services we provide in East Flatbush:

• Chimney sweep to remove soot, creosote and debris
• Chimney inspection at the level your situation calls for
• Chimney repair, including mortar joints, crowns and flashing
• Chimney cap and chase cover installation to keep out rain, animals and debris
• Chimney waterproofing for brick that absorbs too much water
• Fireplace and damper repair
• Chimney rebuilding when a stack is too far gone to patch

Inspections and the yearly schedule

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is called for when something changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. That makes it worth scheduling if you are buying or selling a house in East Flatbush. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for cases where a hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.

Late summer and early fall are good times to book. That leaves room to make repairs before the cold weather sets in.

Oil-to-gas conversions and chimney liners

Some East Flatbush homes and apartment buildings still heat with oil, and many have already switched to gas. 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 from the inside.

We inspect the flue, explain what we find, and install a properly sized chimney liner when one is needed. City heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, and building owners must keep apartments at the city's minimum temperatures during that time. Planning chimney work around your conversion schedule helps avoid delays once the weather turns cold.

Dryer vents and air ducts

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In rowhouses and apartments, dryer vents often run long distances or bend through tight spaces, and lint builds up quickly in them. If drying takes longer than it used to or the laundry area feels hot, it is time for a dryer vent cleaning.

For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. The EPA advises cleaning when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. It also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. We tell you plainly whether your ducts need cleaning, and we discuss any chemical treatment with you before using it.

Also serving nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods

Besides East Flatbush, our technicians regularly work in Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Park Slope and Clinton Hill, where our office is located. These neighborhoods have many of the same rowhouses, brownstones and pre-war buildings, so the chimney and vent problems tend to be similar.

ZIP codes we serve

• 11203

Nearby areas

• Crown Heights
• Prospect Heights
• Bedford-Stuyvesant
• Park Slope
• Clinton Hill