The short answer
EverHearth Chimney Service handles chimney inspections and sweeping, liners for oil-to-gas conversions, dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning across Staten Island. The NFPA 211 standard calls for a chimney inspection once a year, and late summer or early fall is a practical time to schedule one before heating season.
EverHearth Chimney Service cleans and inspects chimneys, dryer vents and air ducts for homeowners throughout Staten Island. We regularly work in Tottenville, Charleston, Annadale, Huguenot, Prince's Bay, Woodrow, Arden Heights, Rossville, Great Kills and Eltingville, as well as neighboring communities in the borough. Whether you burn wood in a fireplace, heat with an oil or gas boiler, or just want your dryer to work properly again, our certified technicians look at the whole venting system and explain what they find in plain terms.
Chimney Inspections and Sweeping
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. That includes the flue serving your boiler or furnace, not only a wood-burning fireplace. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels:
- Level 1: a check of the readily accessible parts of the chimney when nothing about your system has changed.
- Level 2: needed when you add a new appliance, switch fuels, or sell the home. It takes a closer look at the system.
- Level 3: used when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
If you are converting your boiler from oil to gas, New York City requires the chimney 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 whether a liner is needed, and walk you through the options so the conversion doesn't stall at the chimney.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Lint collects in the duct and at the exterior hood, where you can't see it. Call us if you notice:
- Clothes that take more than one cycle to dry
- A dryer or laundry room that gets unusually hot
- A burning or musty smell when the dryer runs
- A flap on the outside vent hood that barely opens
Air Duct Cleaning, Without the Oversell
We follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning air ducts makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of rodents or insects, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, so we won't promise that it will. We look first and tell you honestly whether cleaning is worth doing. We also don't apply chemical treatments without explaining them. If you see an unusually cheap duct cleaning offer, the EPA suggests learning how the process works before you respond.
Plan Ahead for Heating Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. If you rent out part of your house, you are required to keep the unit heated to the city's minimum temperatures during that period, and a blocked or damaged flue can shut a boiler down. Scheduling your inspection in late summer or early fall leaves time for any repairs before you need the heat.