The short answer
Yes, EmberGuard Chimney Sweep serves Midtown South, Manhattan, including ZIP code 10119, from our office about two miles away. Our certified technicians handle chimney sweeps, inspections, repairs, liners, caps, waterproofing and rebuilding, plus dryer vent and air duct cleaning for apartments, lofts and rowhouses.
EmberGuard Chimney Sweep works throughout Midtown South, Manhattan, including ZIP code 10119. Our office is about two miles away in Manhattan, so getting to your building is a short trip. Midtown South is mostly pre-war apartment buildings, converted loft and commercial buildings with residential floors, and some older rowhouses. Each type has its own mix of fireplaces, boiler flues, dryer vents and ductwork. We handle all of them, from a routine chimney sweep to a full chimney rebuild.
Chimneys and vents in Midtown South buildings
In a pre-war apartment building, the chimney on the roof often serves the boiler. Individual apartments may also have wood-burning or decorative fireplaces tied into separate flues. Converted lofts can have newer prefabricated fireplaces with metal chimneys enclosed in a chase. Rowhouses usually have masonry chimneys that run through several floors. We start by figuring out what you have before we recommend any work.
- Chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote from fireplace flues
- Chimney inspection at the level your situation calls for
- Fireplace & damper repair for dampers that stick, warp or don't seal
- Chimney liner installation for damaged or mismatched flues
- Chimney repair and chimney rebuilding for deteriorated masonry
- Chimney cap & chase cover installation to keep out rain, debris and animals
- Chimney waterproofing for exposed brick
- Dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning
How New York weather wears on a chimney
Manhattan winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water soaks into brick and mortar joints, freezes, expands and slowly pushes the masonry apart. On a tall building, the chimney top is fully exposed to wind-driven rain and snow from winter storms. That is usually where damage shows up first, as cracked crowns, loose bricks and flaking brick faces.
Summers are hot and humid, which can bring out the smell of old creosote in a fireplace that hasn't been swept. A properly fitted cap and a sound crown or chase cover keep most water out. A breathable waterproofing treatment helps brick shed moisture without trapping it. Fixing small mortar and crown problems early is far less disruptive than rebuilding a chimney top later.
Annual inspections and oil-to-gas conversions
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about your system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is the right choice when you add or replace an appliance, switch fuels, or buy or sell a home. A Level 3 inspection is for cases where a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
If your building is converting its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that work. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. Our certified technicians can assess the flue and install a liner suited to the new equipment.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Dryer vents and air ducts in apartments
In apartments and lofts, dryer vents often take long runs with several turns before they reach an exterior wall or shaft. Lint builds up quickly in runs like that. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Warning signs include clothes taking longer to dry, a hot laundry area or a burning smell.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, so we won't claim that it does. We show you what we find and only discuss chemical treatments when there is a clear reason to use them. The EPA also suggests researching the process before you respond to very cheap advertised offers, which is good advice for any service.
Scheduling around heat season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that time, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. For buildings with boiler chimneys, that makes late spring and summer the practical window for liner work, repairs and rebuilding. If you have a fireplace, a sweep and inspection before fall means you're ready for the first cold night.
Besides Midtown South, we also serve nearby Greenwich Village, West Village, East Village, SoHo and Little Italy.
ZIP codes we serve
- 10119
