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Serving New York and nearby cities Mon–Fri: 8 AM–8 PM · Requests accepted 24/7 · (815) 612-2471

Chimney Sweep Service in New York

Serving New York and nearby cities.

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The short answer

A chimney sweep removes the creosote, soot and debris that build up in your flue and can cause chimney fires or poor draft. The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys to be inspected once a year, and a yearly sweep and inspection is the simplest way to keep a fireplace safe to use. AshVanta's certified crew cleans from the firebox to the cap, keeps your room clean, and explains what we found.

A chimney sweep removes the soot and creosote that build up inside a flue each time you burn wood. It also clears the debris, nests and loose material that keep a chimney from venting smoke safely. AshVanta Chimney Services sweeps fireplace and wood stove chimneys for homeowners in New York City and nearby cities, in brownstones, row houses and detached homes. Our certified technicians clean the flue, smoke chamber and firebox, inspect the system as they work, and tell you plainly what they found, including anything that should be fixed before your next fire.

Signs you need a chimney sweep

Most homeowners call us because something about the fireplace has changed. It smells, smokes, draws poorly, or something is falling into the firebox. Any of these is worth a look before you light another fire.

If the chimney hasn't been swept or inspected in more than a year, that alone is reason to schedule, even if nothing seems wrong.

  • A smoky or tar-like creosote smell, often stronger on humid days or when the air conditioning is running
  • Poor draft: smoke rolling into the room, or fires that are hard to start and keep going
  • Soot, debris, or flakes of brick and mortar collecting in the firebox
  • White staining on the chimney brick, inside or outside, a sign that moisture is moving through the masonry
  • Scratching, chirping or flapping sounds from birds, squirrels or raccoons in the chimney
  • Water dripping or pooling in the firebox after rain
  • Black, flaky, crusty or shiny deposits on the damper or the flue walls
Technician lowering an inspection camera into a chimney flue

What's included in every chimney sweep

A sweep covers the whole path smoke travels, not just the part you can see from the hearth. Here is what we do on a standard visit.

Some creosote hardens into a glazed, tar-like coating that brushing alone won't remove. If we find it, we'll show you, explain what it means, and describe the options for removing it.

  • Protect the hearth, nearby floors and furniture before any work starts
  • Sweep the flue from top to bottom with rotary brushes sized to your flue
  • Clean the smoke chamber and smoke shelf
  • Clean the damper and check that it opens, closes and seals
  • Remove soot, creosote and debris from the firebox
  • Clear nesting material and other blockages that can be safely reached
  • Perform a Level 1 inspection of the readily accessible parts of the chimney
  • Check the cap, crown, flashing and visible masonry from the roof when access is safe
  • Use a camera to view the flue interior where the job calls for it
  • Give you a plain-language summary of findings, with photos when helpful

How our crew works in your home and on the roof

Inside, we start by laying drop cloths from the door to the fireplace and around the hearth. We seal the fireplace opening and run a HEPA vacuum during the sweep, which pulls air into the chimney so soot stays in the flue instead of drifting into your room. Rotary brushes on flexible rods scrub the flue walls, and the loosened material is vacuumed out of the firebox and smoke chamber. When a closer look is needed, we run a camera up the flue to check for cracks, gaps between liner tiles, and deposits we can't see from below.

On the roof, a technician checks the chimney cap and screen, the crown, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, and the top of the flue. In attached New York buildings, roof access is often through a hatch or a neighboring roof, so we'll ask about access when you book. If the roof isn't safe to reach, we sweep from below and tell you which parts we couldn't see.

Before we leave, we vacuum the work area, fold up the drop cloths, and walk you through what we found.

Time for your annual chimney check?

Call (815) 612-2471Request Service

The standard we follow: NFPA 211 and the three inspection levels

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. We pair your sweep with that yearly inspection so cleaning and checking happen in one visit.

Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. Level 1 applies when nothing about the system has changed, and it is part of every standard sweep. Level 2 applies when something changes, such as a new appliance, a switch of fuel, or the sale of the home, and it typically includes a camera inspection of the flue. Level 3 applies only when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.

Fuel changes deserve special attention in New York. When a building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the work, and a new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue.

What affects the price of a chimney sweep

Every chimney is different, so we quote after we know a few details about yours. These are the main factors:

  • Chimney height and how hard the roof is to reach
  • Fuel type: wood fireplace, wood stove, or a flue serving another appliance
  • Flue size, shape and condition, including whether it is lined
  • How much soot and creosote has built up, and whether any of it is glazed
  • Whether a camera inspection is needed, such as a Level 2 inspection
  • Whether repairs are needed, like a new cap, crown work or damper replacement

How a chimney sweep visit works

We keep the process simple and tell you what to expect at each step.

  • Book a visit and tell us about your fireplace, your building type, and any problems you've noticed
  • Let the fireplace cool completely, ideally without a fire for at least a day before the visit
  • Our certified technicians arrive, protect the work area, and confirm what you're seeing
  • We sweep, inspect, and check the roof side when it's safe to do so
  • We clean up and review findings with you, with photos when useful
  • If repairs are needed, we explain them and give you a separate quote. Nothing extra is done without your approval

Chimney Sweep by city

Chimney sweep cleaning a brick chimney on a rowhouse roof

Book Chimney Sweep in New York

Serving New York and nearby cities.

  • Diagnosis before any repair
  • Photos of every finding
  • Written price before we start
Call (815) 612-2471Request Service

What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. We show you the problem

    You get photos from inside the flue, vent or duct, along with a plain explanation of what each one shows. You see what we see before you decide anything.

  2. We fix what is needed

    We separate urgent safety issues from things that can be planned for later. If a sweep is all your chimney needs, a sweep is all we recommend.

  3. We respect your home and building

    We cover work areas, contain soot and dust, and coordinate with your super or managing agent when a building requires it.

FAQ

Common questions

Don’t see your question? Call (815) 612-2471 and we’ll talk it through.

How often should my chimney be swept?

The NFPA 211 standard calls for an inspection once a year. Whether the chimney needs sweeping depends on how much buildup the inspection finds. Homeowners who burn wood regularly usually need a sweep every year.

Will a chimney sweep make a mess in my home?

We lay drop cloths, seal the fireplace opening, and run a HEPA vacuum throughout the sweep so soot stays in the chimney. We clean the work area before we leave.

What's the difference between a sweep and an inspection?

A sweep removes soot, creosote and debris. An inspection checks the condition of the chimney. Every standard sweep includes a Level 1 inspection, and a Level 2 inspection with a camera is recommended after a fuel or appliance change or when a home is sold.

Do I need to be home during the visit?

Yes, or another adult needs to be there. We need access to the fireplace, and we'd like to walk you through what we found before we leave.

What happens if you find damage?

We show you what we found, explain why it matters, and give you a separate quote for the repair. No repair work starts until you approve it.

I'm switching my boiler from oil to gas. Does my chimney need attention?

Yes. In New York City, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of an oil-to-gas conversion. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue.

Find out what your chimney or vents need

Tell us about your home, what you have noticed, and when you are available. We will set up an inspection, show you what we find, and give you a written price before any work begins.

Request Service Call (815) 612-2471
Call (815) 612-2471 Request Service