The short answer
Nexora Chimney Services handles chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liners, rebuilding, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning throughout Flatiron, Manhattan. Our Gramercy office is about a mile away. We recommend a yearly chimney inspection, ideally scheduled before New York City's heat season begins on October 1.
Nexora Chimney Services works in Flatiron from our office in Gramercy, about a mile to the southeast. Flatiron's housing is mostly pre-war apartment buildings, converted loft buildings and some older rowhouses. Many of them have masonry chimneys, boiler flues, fireplaces and long dryer and duct runs. Our certified technicians sweep, inspect, repair and reline chimneys and clean dryer vents and air ducts for homeowners, co-op and condo residents, and building owners.
Chimneys in Flatiron's Older Buildings
Most chimneys in Flatiron are older masonry. Many lofts and apartment buildings were built for coal or oil heat. Some still have working fireplaces. Others have flues that were capped, abandoned or reused for a newer boiler or water heater. Rowhouses often have several flues in one stack, and each flue can be in different condition.
Because these systems have often been changed many times, we start by finding out what each flue serves today and what condition it is in. Then we recommend work. Our services in the neighborhood include:
- Chimney sweep for wood-burning fireplaces and appliance flues
- Chimney inspection at the level the situation calls for
- Chimney repair, including brick, mortar joints and crowns
- Chimney liner installation for fireplaces, boilers and water heaters
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney cap and chase cover installation
- Chimney waterproofing
- Chimney rebuilding when masonry is beyond repair
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
Yearly Inspections and the Heat Season
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 for when something has changed, such as a new appliance, a switch of fuel, or the sale of the home. A Level 3 inspection is needed only when a hidden hazard can be reached only by opening part of the chimney or building.
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. A boiler flue problem found in January is harder to fix than one found in August. For that reason we encourage Flatiron building owners and residents to book inspections and sweeps in late summer or early fall, before the heating system runs every day.
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
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. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode an unlined or poorly lined masonry flue over time. We inspect the existing flue, explain what we find in plain terms, and install a properly sized liner when one is needed. We also reline fireplace flues where the original clay tile has cracked or gaps have opened between sections.
Time for your annual chimney check?
How New York Weather Wears on Masonry
Manhattan winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water soaks into brick and mortar, freezes, expands and breaks material loose. Wind-driven rain from coastal storms and humid summers add more moisture. On taller buildings, chimneys stand exposed above the roofline and take the worst of it.
A cap keeps rain, debris and birds out of the flue. A chase cover or a sound crown sheds water off the top of the stack. Waterproofing with a breathable sealant lets brick shed water while still letting trapped moisture escape. When joints have eroded or the masonry has spalled badly, we repoint, make the repairs, or rebuild the affected section.
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 Flatiron apartments and lofts, dryer vents often run long distances through walls and ceilings before reaching the outside, so lint builds up quickly. Signs you need a cleaning include longer drying times, a hot laundry room, or a burning smell.
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 says duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. It warns consumers to research the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers, and to be careful with chemical treatments. We will tell you honestly whether your ducts need cleaning, and we do not apply chemical treatments without discussing them with you first.
Serving Flatiron and Nearby Neighborhoods
Because our office is in Gramercy, Flatiron is one of the closest areas we serve. We also work in Midtown South, Union Square, Gramercy, Murray Hill and Kips Bay. For apartment buildings, we can coordinate with supers and management on roof access, elevator use and scheduling, and we give you a written explanation of what we found and what we recommend.
ZIP codes we serve
- 10119
Services in Flatiron
- Chimney Sweep in Flatiron
- Chimney Inspection in Flatiron
- Chimney Repair in Flatiron
- Air Duct Cleaning in Flatiron
- Chimney Liner Installation in Flatiron
