The short answer
Nexora Chimney Services provides chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liner installation, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning in Union Square, Manhattan, from our nearby Gramercy office. We work on fireplaces in pre-war apartments and townhouses as well as building boiler flues, including chimneys affected by oil-to-gas conversions.
Nexora Chimney Services works throughout Union Square from our office in Gramercy, about a mile away. The neighborhood's housing is mostly pre-war apartment buildings, walk-ups, converted loft buildings and some older townhouses, so chimneys and vents here take many forms. You might have a wood-burning fireplace in an older unit, a masonry flue serving a building boiler, or a dryer vent routed through a tight wall cavity. Our certified technicians inspect, clean and repair these systems. We explain what we find in plain terms so owners, co-op and condo boards, and residents can decide what to do next.
Chimneys in Union Square's Older Buildings
Many buildings in and around Union Square were built when fireplaces and coal or oil heat were standard. As a result, a lot of units still have fireplaces. Some are in regular use, some are used occasionally, and some were closed off decades ago. Masonry flues in these buildings may have original clay tile liners, or no liner at all. Mortar joints that have been exposed to Manhattan weather for generations can loosen.
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 appropriate when you add a new appliance, switch fuels, or buy or sell a home. That last point matters in a neighborhood where apartments change hands often. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for hidden hazards that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
Timing Work Around New York Weather and Heat Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that time, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. Boiler chimneys need to be working properly before October, so late summer and early fall are the practical windows for inspections, sweeping and repairs.
Winter brings repeated freeze-thaw cycles and wind-driven rain and snow from nor'easters. Water that gets into brick and mortar expands when it freezes, which widens cracks and loosens crowns and caps. Humid summers can carry odors out of a damp flue into the apartment. A sound chimney cap, crown or chase cover, plus waterproofing where it makes sense, helps keep moisture out year-round.
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. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue, so a new liner is often needed. We inspect the existing flue and confirm whether it suits the new appliance. If it does not, we install a properly sized liner, coordinating with the boiler contractor and building management.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Dryer Vents and Air Ducts in Apartments and Lofts
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In-unit laundry in Union Square apartments often vents through long or bent runs, which collect lint quickly. We clean the full length of the vent and check the exterior termination.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning is advised when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, and it urges caution with chemical treatments. We look first and recommend cleaning only when conditions call for it.
Services Available in Union Square
Our crews offer the following services to Union Square residents and buildings:
- Chimney sweep for wood-burning fireplaces and boiler flues
- Chimney inspection at Levels 1, 2 and 3
- Chimney repair, including mortar, crown and flue tile work
- Chimney liner installation, including liners for gas conversions
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
- Chimney cap and chase cover installation
- Chimney waterproofing
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney rebuilding when masonry is beyond repair
Neighborhoods Near Union Square We Also Serve
Our Gramercy base puts us close to the surrounding area. Along with Union Square, we regularly work in Midtown South, Flatiron, Gramercy, Murray Hill and Kips Bay, where buildings face the same mix of pre-war construction, heat-season demands and coastal winter weather.
ZIP codes we serve
- 10119
Services in Union Square
- Chimney Sweep in Union Square
- Chimney Inspection in Union Square
- Chimney Repair in Union Square
- Air Duct Cleaning in Union Square
- Chimney Liner Installation in Union Square
