The short answer
Yes, EverFlame Chimney Care serves Queensbridge, Queens (ZIP 11106) from our Lincoln Square office about 2 miles away. We handle chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liners, caps, waterproofing, fireplace and damper work, rebuilding, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning.
EverFlame Chimney Care works with homeowners and building owners in Queensbridge, Queens, ZIP code 11106. Our office in Lincoln Square, Manhattan, is about 2 miles away, so getting a crew to your building is a short trip. We sweep, inspect and repair chimneys, install liners, fit caps and chase covers, waterproof masonry, fix fireplaces and dampers, rebuild failing chimneys, and clean dryer vents and air ducts. Our technicians are certified. This page covers what we see most often in Queensbridge and how we approach it.
Housing in Queensbridge and What It Means for Your Chimney
Queensbridge is mostly multi-family housing. You'll find large apartment buildings, pre-war walk-ups, rowhouses and some newer construction. Each type has its own venting setup. Older masonry buildings often have tall brick flues that serve a central boiler. Rowhouses may have a working fireplace, a flue shared with a furnace or water heater, or both. Newer buildings depend more on metal vents and ductwork.
Before we recommend anything, we look at the system you actually have. A brick flue serving a boiler, a wood-burning fireplace and a sealed metal vent each wear out differently and need different care.
Yearly Inspections and Chimney Sweeping
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. Inspections come in three levels. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection applies when something changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. A Level 3 inspection is used when a hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building.
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. That makes late summer and early fall a practical time to schedule an inspection and sweep, so any problem gets fixed before the boiler has to run every day.
- Chimney sweep to remove soot, creosote and debris
- Chimney inspection at the level that fits your situation
- Fireplace and damper repair so the damper seals and opens properly
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
Many older city buildings have converted, or plan to convert, from oil heat 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. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate, and that condensate can corrode a masonry flue over time.
We evaluate the existing flue and tell you plainly whether a liner is needed. If it is, we size and install one to suit the new appliance. Because a fuel switch is a system change, it also calls for a Level 2 inspection.
Weather, Water and Masonry
Queens winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Water soaks into brick and mortar, freezes, expands and slowly pushes the masonry apart. Summer storms and wind-driven rain add more water. Over the years this shows up as cracked crowns, loose bricks, spalling faces and leaks into the walls next to the chimney.
Keeping water out is the best way to protect your chimney. A cap keeps rain, debris and animals out of the flue. A chase cover protects framed chimneys. Breathable waterproofing slows water from getting into the brick. When damage has gone too far, we repair or rebuild the affected section.
- Chimney cap and chase cover installation
- Chimney waterproofing for brick and masonry
- Chimney repair, including crowns and mortar joints
- Chimney rebuilding when the masonry is no longer sound
Dryer Vent and Air Duct Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In apartments and rowhouses, dryer vents often run long distances or bend through walls, which lets lint build up. We clean the full run, not just the part you can see.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. The EPA advises cleaning when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. It also says duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. We will tell you honestly whether your ducts need cleaning, and we use chemical treatments only with care.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
Besides Queensbridge, we work in Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side, Yorkville and East Midtown. If you own property in more than one of these areas, we can coordinate visits.
ZIP codes we serve
- 11106