The short answer
Expert Chimney Sweep serves Two Bridges, Manhattan, about 2 miles from our Clinton Hill, Brooklyn office. We sweep, inspect, repair, reline and rebuild chimneys, and we clean dryer vents and air ducts. We recommend scheduling chimney work in the off-season, before New York City's heat season starts on October 1.
Two Bridges is a Manhattan neighborhood about 2 miles northwest of our office in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, so it's a short trip for our crews. Most of the housing here is older multi-family buildings: pre-war walk-ups, larger apartment buildings, and some smaller rowhouse-style buildings. Because of that, much of the chimney work we do in the neighborhood involves boilers and building heating systems rather than backyard fireplaces. We also clean dryer vents and ductwork in individual units. Our certified technicians handle all of it, from routine sweeping to liner installation and full rebuilding.
Boiler Chimneys and NYC Heat Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During those months, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. In a pre-war building, that means the boiler and its chimney work for eight months of the year. A blocked or deteriorating flue can force a shutdown in the middle of winter, which is the worst time to find a problem.
The best time for chimney sweeping, inspection and repair is the off-season, from June through September. Scheduling then gives you time to fix whatever we find before the boiler has to run again.
If your building is converting its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that work. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode an old masonry flue from the inside. We inspect the flue, install a liner sized for the new appliance, and check that the cap and termination suit it.
How Often to Inspect, and Which Level You Need
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three levels of inspection:
We'll tell you which level fits your situation and explain what we found in plain terms, with photos where they help.
- Level 1: a yearly check when nothing about the system has changed.
- Level 2: needed when the system changes, such as a new boiler or a switch from oil to gas, or when the property is sold.
- Level 3: used when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
Weather Wear on Older Masonry
Lower Manhattan winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Water soaks into brick and mortar, then freezes and expands, which slowly pushes the masonry apart. Wind-driven rain in spring and fall storms and humid summers add to the damage, so the top of a chimney on an exposed roof takes a lot of wear. Common results are cracked crowns, loose or missing mortar, spalling brick, and water stains on interior walls near the chimney.
Our repair work starts with the least invasive fix that will actually hold. A cap or chase cover keeps rain, debris and animals out of the flue. Waterproofing with a breathable sealant helps brick shed water while still letting moisture escape. Repointing and crown repair handle damage in one area. When a stack is leaning or the brick has failed, rebuilding the chimney from the roofline up is the lasting fix. For units with a working fireplace, we also repair dampers, fireboxes and smoke chambers.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Dryer Vents and Air Ducts in Apartments
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In apartments, dryer vents often run long, bend several times, or exit through tight spaces, so lint builds up faster. If clothes take longer to dry or the laundry area feels unusually hot, have the vent cleaned.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems, so we won't claim that it does. The EPA advises researching the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers. We explain our process up front and use chemical treatments only when there's a clear reason and you agree to it.
Services We Offer in Two Bridges and Nearby
Our technicians handle the following work in Two Bridges:
We also serve nearby neighborhoods on the Brooklyn side, including Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Fort Greene.
- Chimney sweep for boiler flues and fireplaces
- Chimney inspection at Levels 1, 2 and 3
- Chimney repair, including crowns and repointing
- Chimney liner installation, including for oil-to-gas conversions
- Chimney cap and chase cover installation
- Chimney waterproofing
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney rebuilding
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
