The short answer
PrimeFlue inspects and sweeps chimneys, evaluates and lines flues for oil-to-gas conversions, and cleans dryer vents and air ducts throughout Manhattan. Chimneys and vents should be inspected once a year, and work is easiest to schedule outside the city's October-to-May heat season.
PrimeFlue Chimney Services cleans and inspects chimneys, dryer vents and air ducts across Manhattan, from Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side to Hell's Kitchen, Murray Hill and Manhattan Valley. Manhattan homes range from brownstones with working fireplaces to co-op and condo apartments with shared flues and long dryer vent runs. Our certified technicians plan around building rules, elevators and tight access so the work gets done cleanly.
Chimney Inspection and Sweeping
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. We use the three standard inspection levels so the depth of each inspection matches your situation.
Sweeping removes soot and creosote buildup so the flue drafts properly and carries smoke and exhaust out of your home.
- Level 1: a yearly check when nothing about the system has changed
- Level 2: when you add a new appliance, switch fuels, or buy or sell the home
- Level 3: when a suspected hidden hazard means part of the chimney or building has to be opened
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. We inspect the flue, explain what we find, and install a liner when one is called for.
Heat season in the city runs from October 1 through May 31, and building owners must keep apartments at the city's minimum temperatures during that time. Scheduling chimney and boiler flue work in late spring or summer helps avoid interruptions once the heat has to stay on.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In Manhattan apartments, dryer vents often travel long distances through walls and ceilings before reaching the outside, which gives lint more places to collect. Watch for these signs:
- Clothes take longer than usual to dry
- The dryer or laundry area feels unusually hot
- You notice a burning smell or see lint around the vent opening
Time for your annual chimney check?
Air Duct Cleaning, When It Makes Sense
We follow the U.S. EPA's guidance: duct cleaning makes sense 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 won't promise that it will. It also advises researching the process before responding to very cheap advertised offers and being careful with chemical treatments. We'll tell you plainly whether your ducts actually need cleaning.
Manhattan Neighborhoods We Serve
We work throughout Manhattan, including Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side, Yorkville, Carnegie Hill, East Midtown, Turtle Bay, Midtown, Times Square, Lincoln Square, the Upper West Side, East Harlem, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan Valley and Midtown South.
If your building has rules about work hours, elevator reservations or floor protection, tell us when you book and we'll plan around them.
