About PrimeFlue Chimney Services

PrimeFlue Chimney Services cleans and inspects chimneys, dryer vents and air ducts for homes in and around New York. Our approach is simple: look carefully, explain what we find in plain language, and recommend only the work your home actually needs. This page explains how we do that.

How we approach chimney work

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, and we build our chimney visits around that. A yearly check catches soot and creosote buildup, blockages, and wear on the flue before they become a bigger problem.

We match the inspection to your situation. If nothing has changed with your system, a basic Level 1 inspection is usually enough. If you've added a new appliance, switched fuels, or are buying or selling the home, a more detailed Level 2 inspection is the right call. A Level 3 inspection, which means opening part of the chimney or building, is reserved for cases where a suspected hazard can't be reached any other way.

Fuel conversions deserve special attention in New York City. When a building switches its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that work. A new liner is often needed, because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. We'll look at your flue and tell you clearly whether a liner makes sense.

• Annual inspection matched to the right level for your home
• Cleaning that removes soot and creosote from the flue and firebox
• Written-up findings you can understand and keep
• Chimney evaluation for oil-to-gas boiler conversions

Dryer vents and air ducts, handled honestly

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Lint collects along the entire vent run, not just in the lint trap, so we clean the full path from the dryer to the outside exhaust.

Air duct cleaning is different, and we're upfront about that. The U.S. EPA advises cleaning ducts when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, or excessive dust and debris. It also notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems. So we inspect first, show you what's in your ducts, and recommend cleaning only when one of those conditions is present. We're careful about chemical treatments and will explain any product before using it, so you can decide.

The EPA also suggests researching the process before responding to very cheap advertised duct cleaning offers. We encourage that. Ask us what we'll clean, how we'll do it, and what you can expect to see when we're done.

Working around New York homes and schedules

New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimums. That makes late spring and summer a practical time to schedule chimney and flue work, so heating systems are ready before the cold arrives and repairs don't interrupt heat when tenants need it.

Our certified technicians work in houses, townhouses and multi-family buildings, and we treat each home with care. We protect floors and furnishings, keep the work area contained, and clean up before we leave. When the job is done, we walk you through what we found and what, if anything, should come next.

• Scheduling that works around heat season
• Drop cloths and containment to keep dust out of living spaces
• A clear walkthrough of findings at the end of every visit