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Chimney Sweep in SoHo, Manhattan

Serving SoHo and nearby cities. Tell us about the job and we’ll call you back to confirm the details.

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The short answer

EmberGuard Chimney Sweep cleans and inspects chimneys in SoHo and the surrounding neighborhoods from our office on Broome St. Plan on a yearly inspection and a sweep whenever buildup is found, ideally before the heat season begins on October 1.

EmberGuard Chimney Sweep cleans and inspects chimneys for homes in SoHo, and our office is right here at 489 Broome St. Our certified technicians work in the neighborhood's converted loft buildings, rowhouses and pre-war apartment buildings. We also serve nearby Little Italy, Hudson Square, Tribeca, Civic Center and Greenwich Village. Some homeowners light a wood fire on winter weekends, and others have a flue that vents a gas appliance. Either way, a sweep removes the soot, creosote and debris that restrict draft and can feed a chimney fire. It also gives us a clear look at the condition of the flue, so you know whether it is ready for the season.

What a chimney sweep visit includes

A sweep is more than running a brush up the flue. In an apartment or loft, the fireplace usually sits in a finished living space, so we set up carefully and keep soot contained from start to finish. Before we leave, we explain what we cleaned and what we noticed.

  • Covering the floor and furniture near the fireplace before work starts
  • Sweeping the firebox, smoke chamber and flue with brushes and rods sized to your flue
  • Running a vacuum throughout the job to keep soot and dust out of the room
  • Checking the damper, firebox and visible flue for cracks, gaps or missing mortar
  • Looking at the crown, cap and flashing when roof access is available
  • Walking you through our findings, with photos when we use a camera
Chimney Sweep at a home

Chimneys in SoHo's older buildings

Many SoHo homes are in older masonry buildings where a single chimney stack may hold several flues serving different units. Some fireplaces were closed off for years and later reopened. Others have flues that bend or offset on their way to the roof. Older flues can have cracked or missing tile liners, eroded mortar joints, or debris and nesting material that built up while the fireplace sat unused.

Reaching the top of the chimney often means coordinating roof access with a building manager, super or co-op board. When you book, let us know who handles access and whether the building has rules for contractors. That way we can plan the visit around them.

Yearly inspections and the three levels

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, even if you rarely use them. An inspection tells you whether a sweep is needed and whether anything needs repair.

Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. Level 1 is the routine check when nothing about your system has changed. Level 2 applies when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch to a different fuel, or when the home is being sold. It typically includes a camera look inside the flue. Level 3 is reserved for hidden hazards that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building. We will tell you which level fits your situation and why.

Time for your annual chimney check?

Call (472) 287-7082Request Service

Oil-to-gas conversions and flue liners

When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue, so a new liner is often needed.

If your building is planning a conversion, or has completed one recently, we can sweep the old flue and inspect its condition. We will then explain what the evaluation shows so the owner or board can make an informed decision.

When to schedule your sweep

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. Getting chimneys and flues checked before October means any problems can be repaired before the heating system and fireplaces are running daily.

Late spring and summer are also good times to book a sweep. Scheduling is more flexible, and creosote left in a flue over humid months can produce strong odors indoors. If you notice smoke backing into the room, a campfire smell when the fireplace is cold, or debris falling into the firebox, call for a visit rather than waiting for the next annual check.

More services in SoHo

Related

Chimney sweep cleaning a brick chimney on a rowhouse roof

Book Chimney Sweep in SoHo

Serving SoHo and nearby cities.

  • Diagnosis before any repair
  • Photos of what we find
  • Written price before we start
Call (472) 287-7082Request Service

What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Look first, then recommend

    We inspect the system and show you photos before suggesting any repair, so you know why a recommendation is being made.

  2. Clean work inside your home

    We cover floors and furniture, use HEPA vacuums, and leave the room the way we found it.

  3. Coordinated with your building

    In co-ops and apartment buildings, we work with your super or managing agent on roof access, scheduling and building rules.

FAQ

Common questions

Don’t see your question? Call (472) 287-7082 and we’ll talk it through.

How often should I have my chimney swept?

Have the chimney inspected every year, as the NFPA 211 standard recommends, and swept whenever the inspection finds creosote, soot or debris buildup. Fireplaces used often in winter usually need a sweep more often than ones used a few times a season.

Will a chimney sweep make a mess in my apartment?

We cover the area around the fireplace and run a vacuum throughout the job to keep soot contained. Most homeowners can use the room normally once we finish.

Do you need access to the roof?

Many sweeps can be done from inside, but checking the crown, cap and flashing requires roof access. In SoHo this usually means coordinating with your building manager, super or board, and we can plan the visit around their rules.

My fireplace hasn't been used in years. Is it safe to light?

Not until it has been inspected. Unused flues often collect debris, nesting material or cracked liner tiles. A sweep and inspection will show whether the fireplace is ready to use or needs repair first.

Our building is switching from oil to gas. Does the chimney need attention?

Yes. In New York City, the chimney has to be evaluated during an oil-to-gas conversion. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust creates acidic condensate that can damage a masonry flue.

Which neighborhoods near SoHo do you serve?

From our office at 489 Broome St, our certified technicians also serve Little Italy, Hudson Square, Tribeca, Civic Center and Greenwich Village.

Schedule a Chimney or Vent Inspection

Tell us what you're noticing and what kind of building you live in. We'll set up a visit, inspect the system, show you photos, and give you a written price before any work begins.

(472) 287-7082
Call (472) 287-7082 Request Service