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Serving Brooklyn and nearby cities Mon–Fri: 8 AM–8 PM · Requests accepted 24/7 · (804) 963-6010

Chimney Inspection in Brooklyn and Nearby Cities

Serving Brooklyn and nearby cities.

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The short answer

A chimney inspection is a top-to-bottom check of your fireplace, flue, and chimney exterior for buildup, damage, blockages, and water entry. The NFPA 211 standard calls for one every year, and a deeper inspection when you change appliances or fuel, buy or sell a home, or suspect a hidden problem.

A chimney can look fine from the living room and still have cracked flue tiles, heavy creosote, or loose mortar higher up. A chimney inspection tells you what condition the whole system is in, from the firebox and damper to the crown and cap on the roof, so you can use your fireplace, stove, or heating appliance with confidence. All Star Chimney Sweep inspects chimneys for homeowners in Brooklyn and nearby cities. Our certified technicians check each part of the system, explain what they find in plain terms, and show you photos. Nothing gets added to the job without your approval.

Signs you need it

Even if your chimney is due for its yearly inspection anyway, some signs mean you should not wait. If you notice any of these, hold off on lighting a fire until the chimney has been checked.

  • A smoky or campfire-like smell, or a strong creosote odor, especially on humid days or when the air conditioning is running
  • Poor draft: smoke rolls into the room, fires are hard to start, or the fire dies down quickly
  • Flakes of tile, bits of brick, or mortar crumbs collecting in the firebox
  • White, chalky staining on the outside brick, which usually means water is moving through the masonry
  • Scratching, chirping, or fluttering sounds from inside the chimney
  • Water dripping or pooling in the firebox after rain
  • A recent chimney fire, a storm, or work on the roof near the chimney
Work van with chimney rods, brushes and a HEPA vacuum

What's included in the inspection

Every inspection covers the readily accessible parts of the system inside and outside your home. If something can't be reached or seen clearly, we tell you, and we explain whether a camera inspection or a deeper look is worth it.

  • Firebox: brick, mortar joints, and firebrick for cracks, gaps, and heat damage
  • Smoke chamber and smoke shelf: buildup, debris, and rough or damaged surfaces
  • Damper: opens, closes, and seals properly
  • Flue liner: cracks, missing mortar, spalling, and creosote level
  • Clearance from combustible materials where visible
  • Connections for stoves, inserts, and heating appliance vents
  • Chimney exterior: brick, mortar, and signs of leaning or water damage
  • Crown, cap, and spark screen: cracks, rust, gaps, and animal entry points
  • Flashing where the chimney meets the roof
  • Written findings with photos and clear recommendations

How our crew works in your home and on the roof

Inside, the technician lays drop cloths from the door to the fireplace and covers the hearth before opening anything. We run HEPA vacuums while working so soot and dust stay in the firebox instead of drifting into your rooms. Then we inspect the firebox, damper, and smoke chamber with bright lights and mirrors. If heavy creosote is hiding the liner, we will recommend a sweep with rotary brushes first, because an inspector can't judge a surface they can't see.

When the flue needs a closer look, we feed a camera up the chimney to record the full length of the liner. That footage shows cracks, gaps between tiles, and deposits that aren't visible from the bottom or top. We review it with you.

On the roof, the technician checks the crown, cap, flashing, and masonry, and looks down the flue from the top when access is safe. Many homes in Brooklyn and nearby cities share walls and rooflines, so we confirm roof access with you ahead of time. Before we leave, we clean the work area and take up the drop cloths.

Time for your annual chimney check?

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The standard we follow: NFPA 211 and the three inspection levels

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three levels of inspection depending on the situation.

A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about your system has changed and you plan to keep using it the same way. A Level 2 inspection is called for when the system changes, such as a new stove or insert or a switch from one fuel to another, and when a home is sold. It usually includes a camera inspection of the flue. A Level 3 inspection is for when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building. It is not routine and is only recommended when the earlier levels point to a problem.

Fuel changes deserve special attention here. When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, 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 wear away a masonry flue. With the city's heat season running from October 1 through May 31, the best time to inspect is before the cold sets in, so any repairs are done before you need steady heat.

What affects the price

We quote after learning about your chimney, since every system is different. The main factors are:

  • Chimney height and how easy it is to get onto the roof
  • Fuel type: wood, gas, or oil, and whether the chimney serves more than one appliance
  • Flue size, number of flues, and the condition of the liner
  • How much creosote or debris has built up, and whether a sweep is needed first
  • Whether a camera inspection is needed, such as for a Level 2 inspection
  • Any repairs you choose to have done after seeing the findings

How a visit works

When you contact us, we ask what kind of fireplace or appliance you have, when it was last inspected, and whether you've noticed any warning signs. That tells us which inspection level fits and what to bring. We schedule a time that works for you and arrive ready to protect your floors.

The technician inspects inside, then on the roof, then walks you through the findings with photos or camera footage. You get a written summary of what's in good shape, what needs attention, and how urgent each item is. If repairs or cleaning make sense, we explain the options and quote them separately. You decide what to do and when.

Chimney Inspection by city

Chimney sweep cleaning a brick chimney on a rowhouse roof

Book Chimney Inspection in Brooklyn

Serving Brooklyn and nearby cities.

  • Diagnosis before any repair
  • Written price up front
  • Written price before we start
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What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. We show you what we see

    Every inspection comes with photos of the flue, crown, damper or vent, so you can see the condition for yourself instead of taking our word for it.

  2. We explain your options

    When there is more than one reasonable fix, we lay out each option, what it addresses, and what happens if you wait, so you can decide what fits your home.

  3. We respect your home

    We lay down drop cloths, use sealed equipment to contain soot and dust, and leave the work area as clean as we found it.

FAQ

Common questions

Don’t see your question? Call (804) 963-6010 and we’ll talk it through.

How often should a chimney be inspected?

The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection once a year, even if you rarely use the fireplace. Animals, weather, and settling can cause problems whether or not you burn fires.

What's the difference between an inspection and a cleaning?

An inspection looks at the condition of the whole system. A cleaning, or sweep, removes creosote and debris from the flue. They're often done on the same visit, and a sweep may be needed first if buildup hides the liner.

Do I need a Level 2 inspection when buying or selling a home?

Yes. A home sale is one of the situations where a Level 2 inspection is called for. It usually includes a camera inspection of the flue so the buyer and seller both know its condition.

I'm switching my boiler from oil to gas. Does the chimney need to be checked?

Yes. 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 creates acidic condensate that can damage a masonry flue.

Will the inspection make a mess in my home?

We lay drop cloths, cover the hearth, and run HEPA vacuums while we work so soot stays contained. We clean up the work area before we leave.

How long does a chimney inspection take?

It depends on the chimney's height, roof access, the number of flues, and whether a camera inspection is part of the visit. We'll give you an expected time window when we schedule.

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.

Request Service Call (804) 963-6010
Call (804) 963-6010 Request Service