The short answer
Great Kills homeowners should have their chimney inspected once a year, as the NFPA 211 standard calls for, and again whenever they change heating equipment or fuel or buy or sell the house. A routine Level 1 inspection covers the readily accessible parts of the chimney. A Level 2 or Level 3 inspection goes further when conditions call for it.
Most Great Kills homes are detached or semi-attached houses, many with a masonry chimney serving a fireplace, a boiler, a water heater, or some combination of the three. You use that chimney all winter, but you rarely look at it. EverHearth Chimney Service sends certified technicians from our Staten Island office, about 6 miles away, to inspect chimneys throughout the 10308 ZIP code. We tell you plainly what we found, what it means, and what can wait. This page explains how a chimney inspection works for a Great Kills home and when you should schedule one.
Which Inspection Level Your Great Kills Home Needs
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. The right level depends on what has changed since the last inspection. It does not depend on how much you want to spend.
- Level 1: For a chimney you use the same way every year with no changes. We check the readily accessible parts of the chimney exterior, the interior, and the connections to your appliances.
- Level 2: Required when the system changes, such as a new boiler, a new stove or insert, or a switch from oil to gas. It is also required when the home is sold. It adds a camera scan of the flue and a closer look at accessible attic, basement and crawl spaces.
- Level 3: Used only when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building. We recommend it only when a Level 2 inspection points to a problem we can't otherwise see.
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
Many Staten Island homes have moved from oil heat to gas, and Great Kills is no exception. 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, which can corrode a masonry flue over time.
If you are planning a conversion, schedule the chimney evaluation early so the liner question doesn't stall the project. If your boiler was converted in the past and you aren't sure the flue was ever relined, a Level 2 inspection with a camera scan will show what is actually inside the chimney.
What We Look For During the Inspection
Every chimney is different. Even so, the same problems turn up again and again in the older and newer homes around Great Kills and the nearby South Shore neighborhoods. Our technicians work through the system from the appliance connection to the top of the chimney.
- Creosote and soot buildup in fireplace flues
- Cracked, missing or deteriorated flue tiles and liners
- Loose or eroded mortar joints, spalling brick and crown damage
- Missing or damaged chimney caps that let in rain, birds and animals
- Flashing gaps where the chimney meets the roof
- Rusted or poorly sealed connector pipes from boilers and water heaters
- Damper condition and fireplace firebox damage
- Blockages from nests, debris or fallen masonry
Timing Around the Heating Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. For most Great Kills homeowners, that is when the boiler and fireplace work hardest. The best time to inspect is before October, while there is still time to schedule any cleaning or repairs before you depend on the heat.
If you rent out an apartment in a two-family house, the heat season also brings legal duties to keep the unit heated to the city's minimum temperatures. A chimney problem found in late summer is far easier to handle than one found on a cold night in January.
After the Inspection
Once the inspection is finished, we walk you through the results. Where we can, we show you photos or camera footage, and we separate urgent safety issues from items you can plan for later. If the chimney is in good shape, we'll tell you so.
We also serve homeowners in Eltingville, Arden Heights, Rossville, Annadale and Huguenot. If you have family or neighbors nearby, the same yearly inspection advice applies to them.
More services in Great Kills
- Chimney Sweep in Great Kills
- Chimney Repair in Great Kills
- Air Duct Cleaning in Great Kills
- Chimney Liner Installation in Great Kills