The short answer
Expert Chimney Sweep serves Park Slope homes and buildings from our Clinton Hill office about a mile away. We handle chimney sweeping, inspections, repairs, liners, rebuilding, waterproofing, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning. Booking before the October heat season starts is the easiest way to get your chimney checked before it's in heavy use.
Park Slope's brownstones, rowhouses and pre-war apartment buildings share a lot of history, and a lot of old chimneys. Expert Chimney Sweep works throughout the neighborhood, including ZIP code 11217, from our office in Clinton Hill about a mile away. We sweep and inspect fireplaces and flues, repair and rebuild masonry, install liners, and clean dryer vents and air ducts. Our technicians are certified. We explain what we find in plain language so you can decide what work makes sense for your home and your budget.
What we see in Park Slope homes
Many Park Slope rowhouses and brownstones have several flues running through one chimney stack. Those flues often serve fireplaces on different floors, and some may be shared with or sit right next to a neighbor's. Over the years, fireplaces get sealed, reopened or converted to gas, and old flues may be unlined brick or clay tile that has cracked. Before anyone lights a fire in a fireplace that hasn't been used in a while, the flue should be checked from top to bottom.
In pre-war apartment buildings, the chimney usually serves the boiler. When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the job. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue from the inside. We can inspect the flue and install a properly sized liner when the conversion calls for one.
How Brooklyn weather wears on chimneys
Brooklyn winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water soaks into brick, mortar and chimney crowns, freezes, expands and slowly opens cracks. Wind-driven rain from coastal storms and wet springs pushes more water into those gaps. Over time that can show up as loose bricks, crumbling joints, stained ceilings near the chimney, or rust on a damper.
A good cap keeps out rain, birds and debris. Sound flashing and a breathable waterproofing treatment help the masonry shed water. New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, and building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures during that time. Scheduling chimney work in late summer or early fall means problems can be fixed before boilers and fireplaces are running daily.
Services we offer in Park Slope
We handle everything from routine cleaning to major masonry work:
- Chimney sweep: removing soot, creosote and debris from flues and smoke chambers
- Chimney inspection at the level your situation calls for
- Chimney repair, including repointing, crown repair and flashing
- Chimney liner installation for wood, gas and oil appliances
- Chimney cap and chase cover installation or replacement
- Chimney waterproofing for brick and masonry
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney rebuilding when masonry is too far gone to patch
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
Time for your annual chimney check?
What a chimney inspection covers
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 applies when something changes, such as a new appliance or a switch in fuel, or when the home is being sold. That makes it a sensible step for anyone buying a brownstone. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for cases where a hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building. We'll tell you which level fits and why.
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 through tight spaces, so lint builds up quickly. If your clothes are taking longer to dry, the vent probably needs attention.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems. It also advises caution with chemical treatments and with very cheap advertised offers. We'll look first and tell you honestly whether cleaning is worthwhile.
Nearby neighborhoods we serve
Besides Park Slope, we regularly work in Prospect Heights, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Downtown Brooklyn. These neighborhoods have the same mix of older masonry homes and apartment buildings, so the same concerns about flues, liners and weather damage apply.
ZIP codes we serve
- 11217
Services in Park Slope
- Chimney Sweep in Park Slope
- Chimney Inspection in Park Slope
- Chimney Repair in Park Slope
- Air Duct Cleaning in Park Slope
- Chimney Liner Installation in Park Slope
