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

Chimney Sweep Service in Brooklyn and Nearby Cities

Serving Brooklyn and nearby cities.

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The short answer

A chimney sweep removes creosote, soot, and debris from your flue and checks the chimney for damage, blockages, and water entry. NFPA 211 calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year, and most homes should be swept as part of that visit when buildup is found.

A chimney does its job quietly until something goes wrong. Creosote builds up a little with every fire, leaves and nests collect over the off-season, and masonry wears down with each freeze and thaw. A professional sweep removes that buildup and gives you a clear look at the flue's condition before you light the next fire or fire up the boiler for winter. All Star Chimney Sweep cleans wood-burning fireplaces, wood and pellet stoves, and oil and gas appliance flues in Brooklyn homes and in the cities around it. Our certified technicians work cleanly inside your home, check the chimney from the roof, and explain what they find in plain language.

Signs You Need a Chimney Sweep

Many homeowners book a sweep on a yearly schedule. Others call because they notice something off. If you see or smell any of the following, stop using the fireplace or stove until the chimney has been looked at.

  • A smoky or tar-like smell from the fireplace, especially on humid days or when the air conditioning runs
  • Poor draft: smoke rolls into the room, fires are hard to start, or they burn weakly
  • Black flakes, crumbled mortar, or pieces of brick or tile falling into the firebox
  • White, chalky staining on the outside brick, which often points to moisture moving through the masonry
  • Scratching, chirping, or fluttering sounds that suggest birds or animals in the flue
  • Water, rust, or damp debris in the firebox after rain
  • A glossy, hardened black coating on the inside of the flue or damper
Technician lowering an inspection camera into a chimney flue

What's Included in a Chimney Sweep

Every visit covers the full path the smoke or exhaust travels, from the firebox or appliance connection up to the top of the chimney. If we find something that needs more than a sweep, we show you and explain your options before doing any added work.

  • Protecting the floor and furnishings around the fireplace or appliance
  • Brushing the flue from top to bottom to remove soot, creosote, and loose debris
  • Cleaning the smoke chamber, smoke shelf, damper, and firebox
  • Removing nests, leaves, and other blockages
  • Checking the damper for proper opening and sealing
  • Inspecting the firebox, liner, and mortar joints for cracks or gaps
  • Checking the crown, cap, and flashing from the roof where access is safe
  • Camera inspection of the flue where it is needed to see hidden areas
  • A clear summary of what we found, with photos when they help

How Our Crew Works Inside Your Home and on the Roof

Inside, we lay drop cloths from the door to the fireplace and seal off the opening before we start brushing. A HEPA vacuum runs through the cleaning to capture fine soot so it stays out of your living space. We use rotary brushes sized to your flue, which scrub the walls more evenly than a standard brush and help break up stubborn creosote. When the flue has bends, an offset, or areas we can't see with a light, we run a camera up the liner to check the joints and surfaces.

On the roof, we check the chimney crown for cracks, look at the cap and screen, and examine the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, since that joint is a common source of leaks. Many Brooklyn row houses and brownstones have flat roofs with hatch access, while others have steep pitches or shared chimney stacks. We plan the work around what your roof allows and only go up when it is safe to do so.

Time for your annual chimney check?

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The Standard We Follow

We work to the NFPA 211 standard, which calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is called for when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch to a different fuel, or when the home is being sold. A Level 3 inspection is needed when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.

Fuel changes are common in New York City. When a building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work, and a new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. Timing matters, too: the city's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, so booking your sweep before fall keeps your heating system ready when it is needed.

What Affects the Price

We quote after we know the details of your chimney, because no two are quite the same. The main factors are:

  • Chimney height and how easily we can reach the roof
  • Fuel type: wood, pellet, oil, or gas
  • Flue size, shape, and the condition of the liner
  • How much soot and creosote has built up, including hardened glazed creosote
  • Whether a camera inspection is needed to see hidden sections
  • Whether repairs are needed, such as a new cap, crown work, or a liner

How a Visit Works

When you contact us, we ask what type of fireplace or appliance you have, when it was last cleaned, and whether you've noticed any of the warning signs. If you burn wood, please let the fire go out at least a day before your appointment so the firebox is cool.

On the day of service, the technician walks through the job with you, sets up protection, and does the sweep and inspection. Most visits are finished in a single trip. Before leaving, we clean up the work area, review what we found, and show you photos of anything that needs attention. If repairs are recommended, you get a written explanation so you can decide on your own schedule.

Chimney Sweep by city

Chimney sweep cleaning a brick chimney on a rowhouse roof

Book Chimney Sweep 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 my chimney be swept?

NFPA 211 calls for an inspection once a year. Whether it needs sweeping depends on how much buildup is found, which is affected by how often you burn and what fuel you use.

Do gas and oil chimneys need cleaning?

Yes. Oil flues collect soot, and gas flues can collect debris, nests, and corrosion. Both should be inspected yearly, and a chimney should be evaluated when a building converts from oil to gas.

Will a chimney sweep make a mess in my home?

We use drop cloths, seal the fireplace opening, and run a HEPA vacuum during cleaning to keep soot contained. We clean up the work area before we leave.

When do I need a camera inspection?

A camera helps when the flue has bends or offsets, when we suspect cracks in the liner, after a chimney fire, or when a Level 2 inspection is called for, such as after a fuel change or before a home sale.

What is the white staining on my chimney brick?

White, chalky staining usually means water is moving through the masonry and leaving minerals behind. We check the crown, cap, and flashing to find where the water is getting in.

Can you remove animals from my chimney?

We remove nests and debris during the sweep. If an animal is still inside, we'll discuss the safest approach, and a chimney cap with a screen can help keep them out afterward.

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