The short answer
All Star Chimney Sweep provides chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liners, waterproofing, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning in Chinatown, Manhattan. We work out of our Brooklyn office, about 2 miles away, and handle the older apartment buildings, walk-ups and rowhouses common in the neighborhood.
All Star Chimney Sweep serves Chinatown from our office in Brooklyn, about 2 miles to the south. Chinatown's building stock is dense and mostly older: pre-war apartment buildings, walk-ups, mixed-use buildings with shops at street level, and some rowhouses. Many of these buildings depend on masonry chimneys that vent boilers, water heaters and, in some homes, fireplaces. Our certified technicians sweep, inspect and repair those chimneys. We also clean the dryer vents and air ducts that keep apartments and houses running safely through long New York winters and humid summers.
What Chinatown's Older Buildings Need
Most chimneys in Chinatown are tall masonry stacks on pre-war and walk-up buildings. Some serve a single fireplace. Many carry exhaust from a central boiler or from several appliances. Mortar joints, flue tiles and crowns on these chimneys have been through decades of heating seasons, so cracks, loose bricks and gaps between tiles are common findings.
Mixed-use buildings bring their own concerns. When a building's equipment changes, or when it changes owners, the venting system should be checked again. We look at how the chimney actually serves the building today, rather than assuming it still works the way it did when it was built.
How New York Weather Wears on Chimneys
Lower Manhattan sees cold winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven rain from coastal storms, and humid summers. Water is the main enemy of masonry. It soaks into brick and mortar, freezes, expands and slowly breaks the chimney apart from the top down. Moisture inside a flue can also rust dampers and stain walls and ceilings below.
Several of our services are aimed at keeping water out:
- Chimney caps to keep rain, debris and animals out of the flue
- Chase covers for framed chimneys that sit on top of a building
- Crown repair and chimney waterproofing to slow water absorption in brick
- Masonry repair and, when damage goes too far, partial or full chimney rebuilding
Heat Season, Boilers and Chimney Liners
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 chimney that is blocked, cracked or poorly lined can force a shutdown at the worst possible time. Scheduling an inspection and any repairs before October is the simplest way to avoid that.
Many buildings have converted their boilers from oil to gas. When a New York City building makes that switch, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. We inspect the existing flue and install a properly sized liner when the building needs one.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Chimney Inspections Under NFPA 211
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels:
- Level 1: a routine yearly check when nothing about the system has changed
- Level 2: when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold
- Level 3: when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or building
Dryer Vent and Air Duct Cleaning
In apartments and walk-ups, dryer vents often run long distances through walls before they reach the outside, and lint builds up along the way. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Signs that a vent needs attention include clothes taking longer to dry, a hot laundry area and a burning smell.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense 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. It advises homeowners to research the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers and to be careful with chemical treatments. We will tell you plainly whether your ducts need cleaning.
Services in Chinatown and Nearby
In Chinatown we offer chimney sweeping, chimney inspection, chimney repair, chimney liner installation, chimney caps and chase covers, chimney waterproofing, fireplace and damper repair, chimney rebuilding, dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning. We also serve the nearby Financial District, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Boerum Hill.
