A boiler that keeps shutting off, soot collecting around the burner, or a strange smell in the basement usually points to one place: the chimney the boiler breathes through. Sweeps Chimney Services inspects boiler chimneys across Crown Heights for the problems that actually stop boilers — blockage, soot buildup, cracked flue liners, deterioration, backdrafting and flue sizing issues.
Crown Heights runs on basement boilers. Six-story pre-war buildings along Eastern Parkway, walk-up apartment houses on Nostrand and Kingston Avenues, and brownstone rows on President and Carroll Streets all vent their heating systems through masonry chimneys that are often decades older than the boiler connected to them. When a boiler is replaced and the old chimney stays, the mismatch in size and draft is where trouble starts — condensation rots terra cotta liners, and a flue sized for an old oil burner rarely drafts right for a modern gas unit.
Our boiler chimney inspection covers seven points — tuned to Crown Heights’ pre-war flues: flue blockage, soot and creosote buildup, cracked or missing liner tiles, masonry deterioration, backdrafting and spillage at the draft hood, flue sizing against the connected boiler, and carbon monoxide safety. You get photos of what the camera finds and a written report in plain language — what is safe, what needs watching, and what should be fixed before the next cold snap.
Carbon monoxide safety: CO has no smell and no color. If your CO alarm sounds, or anyone in the building has headaches, dizziness or nausea near the boiler room — get everyone out of the building, call 911, and do not go back inside until emergency responders say it is safe.
Before installing a new boiler in Crown Heights
Have the chimney inspected before the new boiler goes in, not after. A camera inspection tells the installer the true flue size and condition, so the liner is sized to the boiler and the warranty is not voided by a venting problem that was there all along. It is the best insurance a boiler replacement can have.
Pricing
Boiler chimney inspections follow our Level 2 pricing: starts at $199 in Brooklyn. If the inspection finds the flue needs relining, stainless-steel liner installation starts at $3,000 including labor and materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New York City's required annual boiler inspection cover the chimney?
No. The city’s boiler inspection focuses on the boiler equipment itself — burners, controls and safety devices. It does not put a camera up the flue, so blocked, cracked or wrongly sized flues go unnoticed. A chimney inspection is the separate check that covers the venting.
How do I know if my boiler flue is blocked?
Common signs: the boiler shuts off unexpectedly, soot around the boiler or on the basement walls, a smoky or oily smell, or the CO alarm going off. Any of these means stop using the boiler and call for an inspection.
What is the best time of year to schedule a boiler chimney inspection?
Late summer or early fall, before heating season starts. Inspection is recommended once a year per NFPA 211, and booking early means any liner or draft problems are fixed before the boiler has to work hard.
What should I do if the CO alarm goes off in my building?
Get everyone out of the building, call 911, and do not re-enter until emergency responders say it is safe. Do not try to find the source of the CO yourself — a blocked boiler flue is a common cause, and it needs a professional inspection after the emergency is over.
Call (347) 297-9646 or message us on WhatsApp — we answer 24/7, calmly and without pressure. Heating season is here — slots fill fast, book before the rush.
Sweeps Chimney Services INC, 68 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (347) 297-9646.
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