About CrestFlue Chimney Service

CrestFlue Chimney Service cleans and inspects chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts for homes in and around Staten Island. Our approach is simple: look carefully, explain what we find in plain language, and recommend only the work your home actually needs.

How We Approach Chimney Work

A chimney is easy to forget until something goes wrong. The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, and we build our visits around that. Whether you burn wood every weekend or run an oil or gas boiler, a yearly look catches buildup, damage and blockages before they turn into bigger problems.

Our certified technicians match the inspection to your situation. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about your system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is the right call when you add a new appliance, switch fuels or buy or sell a home. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building. We'll explain which level applies to you and why.

Many Staten Island homes heat with boilers that have been converted, or are being converted, from oil to gas. In New York City, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that conversion, and a new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. If you're planning a conversion, we can look at your flue and tell you what we see.

• Yearly inspections in line with NFPA 211
• The right inspection level for your situation
• Chimney evaluations for oil-to-gas boiler conversions
• Plain explanations of what we find, with photos when they help

Dryer Vents and Air Ducts, Handled Honestly

Dryer vents deserve the same attention as chimneys. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Lint builds up along the vent run and at the exterior hood, and long or crowded runs in tight spaces tend to clog faster. We clean the full length of the vent, not just the part you can reach behind the dryer.

With air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's practical guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of vermin, 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 don't push chemical treatments, and if your ducts don't need cleaning, we'll tell you so.

• Full-length dryer vent cleaning, including the exterior termination
• Duct cleaning recommended only when there's a clear reason for it
• No pressure to add chemical treatments
• Straight answers about what cleaning can and can't do

Working Around Your Home and Your Schedule

Most of our customers want their chimney and heating vents ready before the cold sets in. New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, and fall gets busy, so scheduling an inspection in late summer or early fall gives you time to handle any repairs before you need steady heat.

When we're in your home, we protect floors and furnishings, keep the work area contained, and clean up before we leave. At the end of each visit, we walk you through what we found and what, if anything, should happen next. You decide what to do with that information. Our job is to give you an accurate picture of your system.

• Pre-season scheduling ahead of heat season
• Drop cloths and containment to keep your home clean
• A clear walkthrough of findings at the end of every visit