The short answer
Yes, EverFlame Chimney Care serves Old Astoria, about 2 miles east of our Lincoln Square office. We sweep, inspect, repair and reline chimneys, and we clean air ducts and dryer vents in the neighborhood's rowhouses, detached homes and pre-war apartment buildings.
EverFlame Chimney Care works in Old Astoria, the Queens neighborhood about 2 miles east of our office in Lincoln Square, Manhattan. The area mixes older rowhouses, two-family homes, detached houses and pre-war apartment buildings. Many of them still rely on masonry chimneys for fireplaces, boilers and water heaters. Our certified technicians sweep, inspect and repair those chimneys and install liners. We also clean air ducts and dryer vents for homeowners and building owners across the neighborhood.
What Old Astoria Homes Ask of Their Chimneys
Much of the housing here was built when masonry flues were the norm. Over decades, mortar joints wear, flue tiles crack and crowns open up. Many of these chimneys now vent a gas boiler or water heater rather than a wood fire, and that changes how they wear. A chimney serving a fireplace builds up creosote. A chimney serving a gas appliance is more likely to suffer from moisture and corrosion inside the flue.
New York's climate adds to the strain. Winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water that soaks into brick and mortar freezes, expands and pushes the masonry apart. Wet springs, humid summers and wind-driven rain from coastal storms all find their way into an unprotected chimney. A cap, a sound crown and breathable waterproofing do most of the work of keeping that water out.
Services We Offer in Old Astoria
Below are the services we provide in Old Astoria. We also serve Roosevelt Island, Yorkville, the Upper East Side, Lenox Hill and Carnegie Hill.
- Chimney Sweep: removing creosote, soot and debris from fireplace and appliance flues.
- Chimney Inspection: yearly checks at the level your situation calls for.
- Chimney Repair: repointing, crown repair and replacing damaged brick.
- Chimney Liner Installation: new liners for cracked flues and converted boilers.
- Chimney Cap & Chase Cover: keeping out rain, debris and animals.
- Chimney Waterproofing: breathable sealant that keeps rain out while letting masonry dry.
- Fireplace & Damper Repair: dampers that seal properly and fireboxes in safe condition.
- Chimney Rebuilding: partial or full rebuilds when masonry is beyond repair.
- Air Duct Cleaning: for mold, pests, or heavy dust and debris in the ductwork.
- Dryer Vent Cleaning: clearing lint from the dryer all the way to the outside vent.
Heat Season and Oil-to-Gas Conversions
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that period, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. If a boiler chimney fails in January, the boiler may have to be shut down until the chimney is fixed. We recommend scheduling inspections and repairs in late spring or summer so any problems are dealt with before October.
Many buildings in the area have switched or are planning to switch from oil to gas. 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. We can evaluate the chimney and install a liner suited to the new appliance.
How Often to Inspect, and at What Level
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. That applies whether you burn wood every weekend or only run a gas boiler. Chimney professionals use three levels of inspection:
- Level 1: a standard inspection when nothing about the system has changed.
- Level 2: when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold.
- Level 3: when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.
Dryer Vents and Air Ducts
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In rowhouses and apartments, dryer vents often run long distances or take tight turns before they reach the outside. That gives lint more places to collect. Clothes that take longer to dry, a hot laundry room or a burning smell are all signs that a vent needs cleaning.
For air ducts, we follow the guidance the U.S. EPA gives consumers. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris in the ducts. 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 the condition of your ducts and explain what we find. Because the EPA advises caution with chemical treatments, we discuss any treatment with you before using it.