Chimney Cleaning, Inspection and Repair for Downtown and East Side Homes
We sweep, inspect and repair chimneys and clean dryer vents and air ducts in Gramercy, Stuyvesant Town, the East Village, Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side and nearby Manhattan neighborhoods.
Inspections
Three levels of chimney inspection
The NFPA 211 standard calls for a yearly inspection. Which level you need depends on what has changed since the last one.
-
Level 1
Annual check
For a chimney and appliance that have not changed and will be used the same way: the readily accessible parts of the chimney, the flue and the connection, checked for soundness, blockages and deposits.
-
Level 2
Camera inspection
When something changed — a new stove, insert or boiler, a fuel switch such as oil to gas, the sale of the home, or a chimney fire, storm or quake. Adds a video scan of the whole flue and the accessible attic, roof and crawl spaces.
-
Level 3
Concealed areas
Only when a Level 1 or 2 points to a hidden hazard that cannot be checked any other way: parts of the chimney or building are opened to reach it.
Services
Chimney and duct work we do
Chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts all move air and exhaust out of your home, and each one fails in its own way. Here is the work we do, from a routine sweep to rebuilding a chimney above the roofline.
-
Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep clears creosote, soot and blockages from your flue so smoke and exhaust leave the house… -
Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection checks your flue, firebox, damper, crown, cap, and flashing for damage, blockages, and fire hazards.… -
Chimney Repair
Chimney repair fixes the masonry, crown, flashing, cap, damper and flue liner so your chimney keeps water out… -
Air Duct Cleaning
Clean your air ducts when you see dust blowing from vents, renovation debris, pests, visible mold or persistent… -
Chimney Liner Installation
You need a new chimney liner when the existing one is cracked, deteriorated or missing, or when you… -
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning removes lint and debris from the duct between your dryer and the outside, which restores…
Warning signs
Call us if you notice any of these
Most problems give a warning first. Catching them early keeps a small fix from turning into a big one.
- Smoke drifts into the room when you light a fire
- A campfire smell fills the room on humid or rainy days
- White staining or crumbling mortar on the outside of the chimney
- Clothes need more than one dryer cycle to get dry
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney
- The damper sticks, won't close, or won't stay open
How it works
Clear steps. Your approval first.
-
Book a visit
Call or send a short request: the fireplace, stove, boiler flue or vents you need looked at, and what you have noticed.
-
We inspect first
The crew lays down drop cloths, checks the system top to bottom and runs a camera up the flue where it is needed.
-
Written price, your call
You see photos of what we found and get the price in writing. Work starts only after you say yes.
-
Clean, fix, report
We sweep, repair or reline, vacuum up with HEPA filters and leave you a photo report of the finished work.
About us
Chimney and Vent Work Built Around Manhattan Buildings
Nexora Chimney Services cleans, inspects and repairs chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts for homes and buildings in Manhattan. We focus on the neighborhoods from Midtown South down to the Lower East Side, where one building may have a parlor fireplace, a boiler flue and a water heater vent sharing the same stack. Every visit starts with looking before touching anything. Our certified technicians check the flue, smoke chamber, damper and crown, take photos, and explain what they see in plain terms. If something needs repair, you get a written price before any work begins, and you decide what happens next. We follow the NFPA 211 standard, which calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, and we tell you which inspection level fits your situation and why. We also understand how buildings here run: coordinating with supers and managing agents, planning around the heating season, and evaluating the chimney when a boiler converts from oil to gas.
More about how we workStraight pricing
No bait prices. No surprises.
-
Written price first
Before any work begins, you receive a written price for exactly what we plan to do. Nothing starts until you approve it.
-
Photos of what we found
We show you pictures of the flue, damper, crown or vent so you can see the problem yourself instead of taking our word for it.
-
No surprise add-ons
If we find something new partway through a job, we stop, show you, and price it separately. You decide whether to add it.
Book before the first cold night
Fall is the busiest time for chimney sweeps. Get your sweep and yearly inspection on the calendar before you light the first fire.
Service areas
Where we work
We work throughout lower and midtown Manhattan, including Gramercy, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, the East Village, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Midtown South, Flatiron, Union Square, Greenwich Village, the West Village and the Lower East Side.
Where we work
Every kind of home in New York
-
Brownstones and rowhouses
Older masonry flues often serve several fireplaces on different floors, and many were never lined. Roof access, shared party walls and neighbors' chimneys all affect how we inspect and repair.
-
Co-ops and apartment buildings
Boiler and incinerator flues serve the whole building, so work is scheduled with the super or managing agent. When a boiler converts from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated, and a new liner is often needed because gas exhaust can corrode a masonry flue.
-
Lofts and converted buildings
Fireplaces, dryer vents and duct runs added during conversions can take long or unusual routes. We trace each run to its termination before cleaning or recommending changes.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, whether or not you use them often. An inspection tells you whether a sweep or any repair is actually needed.
What is the difference between Level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
A Level 1 inspection is for a system that hasn't changed. A Level 2 is for when something changes, such as a new appliance or a switch in fuel, or when the home is being sold. A Level 3 is for when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
Our building is converting its boiler from oil to gas. Does the chimney need work?
In New York City, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of an oil-to-gas conversion. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. We inspect the flue and tell you what the conversion requires.
When is the best time to schedule chimney or boiler flue work?
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated. Late spring and summer are the easiest times for work that takes a boiler or fireplace out of service.
Will air duct cleaning improve our health?
The EPA has not found that duct cleaning prevents health problems. It does recommend cleaning when there is substantial visible mold, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. We look inside your ducts first and tell you honestly whether cleaning makes sense, and we are cautious about chemical treatments.
Why does dryer vent cleaning matter?
The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean is the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires. Lint builds up in the duct and at the exterior termination, especially on long runs common in apartments and converted buildings.
Do you need roof access for chimney work?
For most inspections and repairs, yes. In apartment buildings and co-ops we coordinate roof access with the super or managing agent ahead of time.
What happens during a visit?
We protect the area around the fireplace or vent, inspect and photograph the system, and explain what we found. If work is needed, you get a written price before anything starts.
Request service
Tell us what’s going on
Share a few details and we’ll call you to confirm the visit. Prefer to talk? (445) 340-6827
Schedule a Chimney or Vent Inspection
Tell us about your fireplace, boiler flue, dryer vent or ducts and what you've noticed. We'll set up a visit, inspect before recommending anything, and give you a written price before any work begins.