The short answer
Expert Chimney Sweep provides chimney sweeping, chimney inspections, boiler flue work, dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning across Manhattan. Chimneys and vents should be inspected once a year. Scheduling before the city's October 1 heat season start helps avoid disruptions.
Expert Chimney Sweep cleans and inspects chimneys, flues, dryer vents and air ducts throughout Manhattan. We regularly work in the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Two Bridges, the Financial District, Battery Park City and the East Village. Jobs range from walk-up apartments with working fireplaces to high-rise units with long dryer vent runs. Our certified technicians explain what they find in plain terms so you can decide what to do next.
Chimney Sweeping and Annual Inspections
Soot and creosote build up inside a flue every time you burn a fire. Older masonry chimneys can also crack, lose mortar or collect debris from birds and weather. The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, even if you rarely use them.
Inspections come in three levels. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about your system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is used when something does change, such as a new appliance or a switch in fuel, or when the home is being sold. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for hidden hazards that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
Boiler Flues and Oil-to-Gas Conversions
Many Manhattan buildings vent their boilers through masonry chimneys. When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the job, and a new liner is often needed. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue over time.
The city's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that time, building owners must keep apartments at the city's minimum temperatures. Scheduling flue cleaning, inspections and liner work before October helps you avoid shutting down heat when tenants depend on it.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In apartments, vents often run long distances through walls or shared shafts, which gives lint more places to collect. We clear lint from the dryer connection to the exterior termination and check for crushed or disconnected duct. Watch for these signs that your vent needs attention:
- Clothes take more than one cycle to dry
- The dryer or laundry area feels unusually hot
- You notice a burning smell while the dryer runs
- Little air moves at the outside vent flap
Time for your annual chimney check?
Air Duct Cleaning When It Makes Sense
We follow the U.S. EPA's guidance, which recommends cleaning air ducts when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, so we won't promise that it will. We inspect first and tell you honestly whether cleaning is worth it.
The EPA also warns consumers to research the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers, and to be careful with chemical treatments. We explain every step, and we won't apply sanitizers or coatings without discussing them with you first.
Serving Neighborhoods Across Lower Manhattan
Older walk-ups in the Lower East Side, East Village, Chinatown and Two Bridges often have masonry chimneys and aging flues. Many apartments in the Financial District and Battery Park City need dryer vent and duct service more than chimney work. We plan each visit around building access and protect floors and furnishings while we work.
