The short answer
A chimney sweep removes creosote, soot and debris from your flue so smoke and gases can exit safely and fires are less likely to start inside the chimney. In Murray Hill's brownstones, rowhouses and pre-war buildings, plan on a yearly inspection, with a sweep whenever buildup or blockages are found. The best time to book is late summer or early fall, before you start using the fireplace.
Murray Hill has many working fireplaces in its brownstones, rowhouses and pre-war apartment buildings, and plenty of those flues have been in use for generations. Nexora Chimney Services sweeps chimneys throughout Murray Hill, in ZIP codes 10016 and 10168, from our office in Gramercy about a mile to the southwest. Our certified technicians clean the flue, look over the parts of the system they can see, and tell you plainly what shape your chimney is in before you light the next fire. The goal is simple: a clean, open flue and a clear picture of anything that needs attention.
Why Murray Hill chimneys need regular sweeping
Most fireplaces in the neighborhood sit in older masonry buildings. Their flues are often narrow and tall, and some bend partway up. Each wood fire leaves creosote on the flue walls, a tarry residue that can harden into a glaze. Creosote burns easily. A thick layer can ignite inside the chimney and damage the flue, even if the fire in the room below looks normal.
Rowhouses and brownstones often have several flues running side by side in one shared stack. Soot, fallen mortar, leaves and the occasional bird's nest can partly block a flue. Smoke then backs up into the room instead of going out the top. A fireplace that has sat unused for years needs a careful look before anyone lights it again.
What happens during a sweep visit
We work cleanly and keep the visit focused on your fireplace and flue. Here is what to expect:
- We protect floors and furniture around the hearth with drop cloths and run a vacuum to control dust while we work.
- We check the firebox, damper and smoke chamber before we start brushing.
- We clean the flue with brushes and rods sized to fit it, working through any bends we can reach.
- We remove the soot and debris that fall into the firebox and smoke chamber.
- We look for cracked flue tiles, gaps in mortar, a damaged damper, and the condition of the cap or crown where they can be seen.
- We walk you through what we found and point out anything that should be inspected more closely or repaired.
Sweeping and the yearly inspection
Sweeping and inspection go together, but they are not the same thing. The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A sweep then clears out whatever buildup the inspection turns up.
Chimney professionals use three levels of inspection. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is used when something does change, such as a new appliance or a switch to a different fuel, and also when the home is being sold. A Level 3 inspection is needed only when a hidden hazard can be reached only by opening part of the chimney or the building. If you are buying or selling a brownstone or co-op unit with a fireplace, ask us about a Level 2 inspection along with the sweep.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Older buildings, boilers and liners
Many pre-war buildings in Murray Hill 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 that work. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue.
If your building has been through a conversion, or one is planned, mention it when you book. The sweep is a good time to check how the flue is holding up and whether liner work should be discussed.
When to schedule in Murray Hill and nearby
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. Fireplaces and heating systems get the most use during those months, and service calendars fill up in the fall. Booking a sweep in late summer or early fall gives time to handle any repairs before cold weather sets in.
Besides Murray Hill, we sweep chimneys in nearby Kips Bay, Gramercy, Midtown South, Flatiron and Union Square. If you manage a building, we can talk through scheduling for several units or flues so the work fits around residents.
More services in Murray Hill
- Chimney Inspection in Murray Hill
- Chimney Repair in Murray Hill
- Air Duct Cleaning in Murray Hill
- Chimney Liner Installation in Murray Hill
