The short answer
EverFlame Chimney Care provides chimney inspections and sweeping, dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning throughout Manhattan. The NFPA 211 standard calls for a chimney inspection once a year, and buildings converting from oil to gas need a chimney evaluation and often a new liner.
EverFlame Chimney Care cleans and inspects chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts in homes across Manhattan, from Morningside Heights and East Harlem down through Midtown to Gramercy and Union Square. Manhattan housing ranges from townhouses with wood-burning fireplaces to large apartment buildings with shared boiler flues, and each one calls for a different approach. Below is what we do, what to expect during a visit, and when cleaning makes sense.
Chimney Inspections and Sweeping
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. Our certified technicians use the three inspection levels that chimney professionals rely on, and we will tell you which one fits your situation before we start.
If you burn wood, we sweep creosote and soot from the flue, check the damper, firebox and smoke chamber, and explain what we found in plain terms, with photos when they help.
- Level 1: a routine yearly inspection when nothing about the system has changed.
- Level 2: needed when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold.
- Level 3: used when a suspected hazard is hidden and part of the chimney or building has to be opened to reach it.
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 the work. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue over time.
Timing matters. The city's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated to minimum temperatures. Planning chimney and liner work outside that window helps avoid interrupting heat for residents.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Apartment dryers often vent through long or bent runs, which trap lint faster than a short, straight duct. Call us if you notice any of these signs:
- Clothes need more than one cycle to dry.
- The dryer or laundry area feels unusually hot.
- You smell something burning or musty while it runs.
- Little or no air comes out of the exterior vent.
Air Duct Cleaning, Done Honestly
We follow the U.S. EPA's guidance: clean air ducts when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, so we will not promise that it will. It also advises researching the process before answering very cheap advertised offers and being careful with chemical treatments. We will explain exactly what we plan to do and ask before using any product.
Manhattan Neighborhoods We Serve
We work throughout the borough, including Lincoln Square, Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, East Harlem, Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, Upper East Side, Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island, Midtown, East Midtown, Turtle Bay, Times Square, Hell's Kitchen, Hudson Yards, Midtown South, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Chelsea, Flatiron, Gramercy and Union Square. If your building has access rules or requires a certificate before contractors arrive, let us know when you book so we can plan around it.