The short answer
Yes, All Star Chimney Sweep serves all of Boerum Hill (11201), about a mile from our Brooklyn office. We sweep, inspect, reline, waterproof and repair chimneys, and we clean dryer vents and air ducts in rowhouses, brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings.
Boerum Hill is about a mile northeast of our Brooklyn office, so it's one of the neighborhoods our crews work in most often. The housing is mostly brick and brownstone rowhouses, many with a fireplace on several floors, along with small pre-war apartment buildings and houses converted to multiple units. These buildings tend to share the same problems: old masonry flues, boiler chimneys that have served more than one fuel, and dryer and bathroom vents squeezed through tight spaces. All Star Chimney Sweep handles chimney, fireplace, dryer vent and air duct work throughout ZIP code 11201.
Chimneys in Boerum Hill Rowhouses and Brownstones
Many Boerum Hill rowhouses were built with a fireplace on each floor. Each one usually has its own flue, and all of them run up through a shared brick stack that often sits against the party wall with the house next door. Over the decades, some of those fireplaces have been sealed off, some are only decorative, and some are still used every winter. It's common for an owner not to know which flues are open, which are blocked, and which one the boiler or water heater vents into.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection fits a system that hasn't changed. A Level 2 inspection is the right choice when you buy or sell a house, add a new appliance, or switch fuels. A Level 3 inspection is used when a suspected hidden problem can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or wall. If you've just moved into a brownstone and want to light a fireplace that hasn't been used in years, start with an inspection before the first fire.
- Chimney sweeping for wood-burning fireplaces
- Chimney inspections, including camera checks of each flue
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney liner installation for fireplaces and heating appliances
- Chimney repair and partial or full rebuilding
Brooklyn Weather and Brick Chimneys
Brooklyn winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Brick and mortar absorb rain and melting snow, and when that water freezes it expands and loosens joints, cracks chimney crowns, and pushes off the faces of bricks. Coastal storms and summer downpours drive rain sideways into older masonry. Rooftop chimneys on rowhouses stand fully exposed to all of it.
Most leaks we find start at the top. A cracked crown, a missing cap, or worn mortar lets water into the flue and down into the walls, where it can stain plaster on the top floor or rust a damper several stories below. We fix the source with chimney caps and chase covers, repointing, crown repair, and a breathable waterproofing treatment that keeps liquid water out while still letting the masonry dry.
Boilers, Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Heat Season
Many Boerum Hill buildings heat with a boiler that vents through an old masonry chimney. When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the job. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode an unlined masonry flue from the inside.
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that stretch, building owners have to keep apartments heated to the city's minimums. If you own a multi-family building, schedule chimney inspections and any liner work in late spring or summer so the heating system is ready before October.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Dryer Vent and Air Duct Cleaning
In rowhouses, dryers often sit in a basement, a closet or an upper-floor laundry area. The vent can run a long way to reach the back of the house or the roof, and long runs with several turns collect lint quickly. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that failure to clean is the leading factor in home clothes dryer fires. If your clothes take longer to dry or the laundry room gets hot, the vent is likely restricted.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold, signs of rodents or insects, or heavy dust and debris coming from the vents. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems. We'll tell you what we see, and we use chemical treatments only when there's a clear reason for them.
Neighborhoods Near Boerum Hill We Also Serve
Our crews regularly work in the neighborhoods around Boerum Hill, including Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene and Carroll Gardens. The housing across this part of Brooklyn is similar, with rowhouses, brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings. The same chimney and venting issues come up throughout the area.
ZIP codes we serve
- 11201
Services in Boerum Hill
- Chimney Sweep in Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Inspection in Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Repair in Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
- Air Duct Cleaning in Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Liner Installation in Boerum HillLocal service & repairs
