The short answer
A chimney inspection checks whether your fireplace or heating flue is clean, intact and venting safely. The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection once a year. EverFlame inspects chimneys in Carnegie Hill townhouses and apartment buildings from our nearby Lincoln Square office.
Many of Carnegie Hill's townhouses, brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings have chimneys that have outlasted several heating systems and many decades of use. A chimney inspection tells you what condition the flue, liner, damper, smoke chamber and masonry are in before you light a fire or before a boiler runs through another winter. EverFlame Chimney Care is based in Lincoln Square, about a mile west of Carnegie Hill, so getting to your home is a short trip for our certified technicians. We inspect wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplace vents, and the flues that serve boilers and furnaces. Afterward, we explain what we found in plain language.
How Often to Inspect and Which Level You Need
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. That applies even if you rarely use the fireplace. Masonry weathers, mortar loosens, and birds or debris can block a flue that has sat unused. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. The level depends on what has changed with your home or heating system, not on how much you want to spend.
If you aren't sure which level fits your situation, tell us how the chimney is used and whether anything has changed recently. We'll recommend the level that matches.
- Level 1: For a chimney that's in regular use and hasn't changed. We check the accessible parts of the chimney, the firebox, the damper and the visible flue.
- Level 2: For when the system has changed, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is being sold. This level looks more closely at the flue's interior and at the attic, basement and roof areas the chimney passes through.
- Level 3: For when there's reason to suspect a hidden hazard that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
What We Look For in Carnegie Hill Homes
Older Manhattan masonry chimneys tend to have the same set of problems, and we check for each of them. In a townhouse or brownstone, a single chimney stack may hold several flues serving fireplaces on different floors. Each flue needs its own check, because one can be sound while the one next to it is cracked or blocked.
In pre-war apartment buildings, a decorative or working fireplace in a unit may connect to a flue that runs many stories. In these buildings we often work alongside building management, especially when we need roof access.
- Creosote and soot buildup inside the flue and smoke chamber
- Cracked, missing or deteriorated flue tiles and liners
- Damper condition and whether it opens and seals properly
- Crown, cap and flashing condition, plus signs of water entry
- Loose bricks, worn mortar joints and spalling masonry
- Nests, debris or other blockages that restrict draft
- Proper connection and venting for gas appliances and boilers
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
When a New York City building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that work. A new liner is often needed. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate, and that condensate can corrode a masonry flue that was built for a different fuel.
If your building is planning a conversion, or has already finished one without a chimney evaluation, a Level 2 inspection is the right starting point. It shows whether the existing flue is suitable and whether a liner should go in before the new system runs for a full season.
Timing Your Inspection Around Heat Season
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. A boiler flue problem found in midwinter can force hard choices for an owner or co-op board. That's why late spring and summer are practical times to inspect heating flues.
For fireplaces, an inspection before the first cold snap gives you time to schedule any cleaning or repairs before you want to use them. Booking ahead is especially helpful if your building needs to coordinate roof or basement access.
What Happens After the Inspection
When the inspection is done, we walk you through the condition of each part of the chimney we examined. We separate the items that affect safe use from the ones that can wait. If the flue needs cleaning, we'll tell you. If something needs repair or a closer look, we'll explain why and what the options are.
We also serve nearby neighborhoods, including the Upper East Side, Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island and the Upper West Side.
More services in Carnegie Hill
- Chimney Sweep in Carnegie Hill
- Chimney Repair in Carnegie Hill
- Air Duct Cleaning in Carnegie Hill
- Chimney Liner Installation in Carnegie Hill