Chimney, Dryer Vent and Air Duct Cleaning for Brooklyn Homes
We sweep, inspect and repair chimneys and clean dryer vents and air ducts in Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, DUMBO and nearby neighborhoods, plus the Financial District across the river.
- We inspect and photograph the problem before recommending any work
- You get a written price before any work begins
- We cover floors and furniture and clean up before we leave
Services
Chimney and duct work we do
From a routine sweep to rebuilding a chimney from the roofline up, we handle the full system: flue, liner, crown, cap, damper and firebox, plus the dryer vents and air ducts that keep the rest of the house breathing. Pick a service below to see what the work involves and when it makes sense.
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Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep removes creosote, soot, and debris from your flue and checks the chimney for damage, blockages,… -
Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection is a top-to-bottom check of your fireplace, flue, and chimney exterior for buildup, damage, blockages,… -
Chimney Repair
You need chimney repair when you see water in the firebox, brick or mortar flakes, white staining on… -
Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning removes visible dust, renovation debris, pest material and other buildup from your supply and return… -
Chimney Liner Installation
You need a new chimney liner when the existing flue is cracked, deteriorated, or the wrong size for… -
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning removes the lint that collects inside the duct between your dryer and the outside of…
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 the fireplace is lit
- A strong campfire or musty smell coming from the fireplace
- Clothes need more than one dryer cycle to get dry
- Crumbling mortar or loose bricks near the top of the chimney
- Water stains on a ceiling or wall next to the chimney
- Visible mold, pests or heavy debris inside your air ducts
Straight pricing
No bait prices. No surprises.
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Written price first
Before any work starts, you get a written price that spells out what we will do. Nothing begins until you approve it.
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Photos of what we found
We document the condition of your chimney, vent or ducts with photos so you can see exactly why we recommend a repair, or why you don't need one.
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No surprise add-ons
The price we agree on is the job we do. If we find something new once work is underway, we stop, show you, and let you decide before anything changes.
How it works
Clear steps. Your approval first.
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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.
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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.
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Written price, your call
You see photos of what we found and get the price in writing. Work starts only after you say yes.
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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 Brooklyn's older homes
Brooklyn's chimneys work hard. Many brownstones and rowhouses still rely on their original masonry flues, and plenty of buildings have switched their boilers from oil to gas. That switch often means the chimney needs a new liner, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can eat into masonry. Add years of weather on the crown and shared walls between neighbors, and small problems can stay hidden for a long time. All Star Chimney Sweep cleans, inspects and repairs chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts for homeowners and building owners in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Our certified technicians start by looking, not selling. We inspect the system, take photos, and explain what we found in plain language. If something needs work, you get a written price before we touch it. If it doesn't, we tell you that too. The goal is simple: a fireplace you can use with confidence, a boiler flue that vents properly, and vents and ducts that move air the way they should.
More about how we workInspections
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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 brownstone Brooklyn and nearby neighborhoods, including Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Red Hook, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Park Slope, Fort Greene and Prospect Heights, as well as the Financial District in Manhattan. If your neighborhood isn't listed, ask. We may still be able to help.
- Carroll GardensLocal service & repairs
- Cobble HillLocal service & repairs
- GowanusLocal service & repairs
- Red HookLocal service & repairs
- Brooklyn HeightsLocal service & repairs
- Downtown BrooklynLocal service & repairs
- DUMBOLocal service & repairs
- Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
- Park SlopeLocal service & repairs
- Fort GreeneLocal service & repairs
- Prospect HeightsLocal service & repairs
- Financial DistrictLocal service & repairs
Where we work
Every kind of home in Brooklyn
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Rowhouses and brownstones
Chimneys often share party walls with neighbors and are reached from flat roofs, so we pay close attention to the crown, flashing and any flues that serve more than one fireplace or appliance.
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Detached and semi-detached homes
These chimneys take more weather on every side, so exposed masonry, caps and waterproofing tend to need more attention, and dryer vents can run long distances to an outside wall.
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Co-ops and apartment buildings
Boiler flues serve the whole building, so we plan work around the heat season from October 1 through May 31 and coordinate access with boards, supers and managing agents.
How often should my chimney be inspected?
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. That applies even if you rarely use the fireplace, since animals, water damage and deterioration happen whether or not you light a fire.
What is the difference between Level 1, 2 and 3 inspections?
A Level 1 inspection covers the accessible parts of the chimney when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is called for when something changes, such as a new appliance or a switch in fuel, or when the home is sold. A Level 3 inspection is needed when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
We're converting our 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 an unlined or older masonry flue. We can inspect the flue and tell you what the conversion will require.
Why does dryer vent cleaning matter?
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Lint builds up in the duct and at the outside hood, which also makes the dryer run longer to dry a load.
Do I really need my air ducts cleaned?
Not always. The U.S. EPA advises cleaning air ducts when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. It also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. We will look first and tell you honestly whether cleaning is worth it.
Should I trust very cheap duct cleaning offers?
The EPA warns consumers to research the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers, and to be careful with chemical treatments. Ask any company what equipment they use, what the price covers, and whether they plan to apply any chemicals. We answer those questions in writing before we start.
When is the best time to schedule chimney work?
Late spring and summer are ideal, before New York City's heat season starts on October 1. Scheduling early gives time for any repairs and avoids taking a boiler flue out of service when the heat has to stay on.
Will cleaning make a mess in my home?
We cover the hearth and surrounding floor, use sealed equipment to contain soot and dust, and clean up when we're done. Most homeowners can't tell we were there except for a cleaner fireplace.
Find out what's going on in your chimney
Tell us what you're noticing, whether it's smoke, odors, leaks or a slow dryer, and we'll set up a visit. You'll get photos of what we find and a written price before any work begins.