The short answer
ClearStack repairs masonry chimneys in Dyker Heights, including mortar, crowns, flashing, caps and flue liners. We inspect first so the repair matches the real problem, and we often install new liners when a home converts its boiler from oil to gas.
Chimneys in Dyker Heights work hard. Many homes here are detached and semi-attached brick houses, two-family homes and rowhouses with masonry chimneys that have been through many New York winters. Some vent a boiler, some serve a working fireplace, and many do both. Over time, mortar washes out, crowns crack, flashing pulls away from the roof, and flues wear down from the inside. ClearStack Chimney Service repairs chimneys across the neighborhood from our office on 13th Avenue. We focus on finding the actual cause of a leak, draft problem or crumbling brick, then fixing it so it stays fixed.
Chimney problems we repair in Dyker Heights homes
Most chimney repair here comes down to water and age. Brick and mortar absorb moisture. When that water freezes and thaws through a Brooklyn winter, joints loosen and the faces of bricks flake off. Once water gets past the crown or flashing, it can stain ceilings, damage framing next to the chimney, and speed up deterioration inside the flue.
Common repairs we handle include:
- Repointing cracked or missing mortar joints
- Rebuilding loose or leaning chimney tops above the roofline
- Replacing or sealing cracked chimney crowns
- Repairing flashing where the chimney meets the roof
- Installing or replacing chimney caps to keep out rain, birds and animals
- Repairing damaged clay tile flues or installing stainless steel liners
- Fixing firebox brick and damper problems in working fireplaces

Oil-to-gas conversions and liner repairs
Many Brooklyn homes that once burned heating oil now run on gas. 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, and that moisture can corrode a masonry flue that handled oil without trouble for years.
If your house has already converted, watch for crumbling mortar or tile pieces at the cleanout, white staining on the outside brick, or damp spots near the chimney. These can mean the flue is breaking down. We inspect the flue, size a liner for the appliances it serves, and install it so your boiler and water heater vent the way they should.
Finding the cause before we fix it
A repair is only as good as the diagnosis. The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, and inspections come in three levels. Level 1 covers a system where nothing has changed. Level 2 applies when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. Level 3 is used when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.
On a repair call, we start with the inspection level that fits your situation. Then we show you what we found, often with photos or camera footage from inside the flue. We explain which repairs are urgent and which can wait, so you can plan the work instead of guessing.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Plan repairs around heat season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. During that time, building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. If you own a two-family or small multi-family home in Dyker Heights and rent out a unit, a chimney problem that shuts down the boiler in January is a serious one.
Late spring and summer are usually the easiest times to schedule masonry and liner work. Mortar cures better in mild weather, and the heating system can be offline without leaving anyone cold. If you notice a problem in winter, call anyway. Some issues need attention right away, and we can tell you which ones.
Local to Dyker Heights and nearby neighborhoods
Our office is at 7421 13th Ave in Dyker Heights, so we're close to homes throughout the 11228 ZIP code. We also repair chimneys in Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Bath Beach and Sunset Park.
Our certified technicians work on the kinds of chimneys common in these neighborhoods, from short rowhouse stacks to taller chimneys on detached homes. Before any work starts, you get a written description of the repairs we recommend and why. That way you know exactly what is being fixed on your home.
More services in Dyker Heights
- Chimney Sweep in Dyker Heights
- Chimney Inspection in Dyker Heights
- Air Duct Cleaning in Dyker Heights
- Chimney Liner Installation in Dyker Heights

