The short answer
All Star Chimney Sweep serves Hudson Square (ZIP 10012) with chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liners, waterproofing, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning. Our technicians handle the masonry chimneys, boiler flues and long vent runs common in the neighborhood's loft and pre-war buildings.
All Star Chimney Sweep works in Hudson Square from our Brooklyn office, about 3 miles to the south. The neighborhood, in ZIP code 10012, mixes converted loft buildings, pre-war apartment buildings, older walk-ups and newer residential towers. Many of these homes have a working or decorative fireplace, a shared boiler flue, or a dryer vent that runs a long way before it reaches outside air. Our certified technicians sweep, inspect and repair chimneys and clean dryer vents and air ducts for owners, co-op boards and renters who need clear venting and safe heat through a long New York winter.
What we do in Hudson Square
Hudson Square buildings vary widely, so we start by looking at how your chimney, flue or vent actually runs. From there, we handle the full range of chimney and venting work:
- Chimney sweeping to remove soot and creosote before and during the burning season
- Chimney inspections at the level your situation calls for
- Chimney repair, including mortar joints, crowns and damaged brick
- Chimney liner installation for gas conversions and deteriorated flues
- Chimney caps and chase covers to keep out rain, debris and animals
- Chimney waterproofing for exposed masonry
- Fireplace and damper repair
- Chimney rebuilding when the masonry is too far gone to patch
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
How Manhattan weather wears on chimneys
New York winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water soaks into brick and mortar, freezes, expands, and slowly opens cracks. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into crowns and flashing, and humid summers keep masonry damp. On a tall building, a chimney top takes the full force of wind and weather, and the damage often goes unseen until a stain or a loose brick turns up.
A sound cap, a tight crown and a breathable waterproofing treatment slow this damage down. We check those parts on every inspection and tell you plainly what needs work now and what can wait.
Inspections and the yearly standard
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 called for when something does change, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for a hidden hazard that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
If you are buying or selling a loft or apartment with a fireplace in Hudson Square, a Level 2 inspection gives both sides a clear record of the flue's condition.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Oil-to-gas conversions and liners
Many older Manhattan buildings have moved their boilers from oil to gas. When a New York City building makes that conversion, 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 from the inside.
We inspect the existing flue, explain whether a liner is needed, and install one sized to the new appliance. Planning the work ahead of the city's heat season, which runs from October 1 through May 31, helps keep tenants warm without a gap in service.
Dryer vents and air ducts in apartment buildings
Dryer vents in converted and pre-war buildings often run through long, bending paths to reach an exterior wall. Lint builds up quickly in those runs. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. If clothes take longer to dry or the laundry area feels hot, the vent is a good place to look.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. It also advises caution with chemical treatments and with very cheap advertised offers, so we explain our process before we start.
ZIP codes we serve
- 10012
