The short answer
ClearStack provides chimney cleaning and inspection, dryer vent cleaning and air duct cleaning throughout Staten Island, including Rosebank, Stapleton, Clifton and nearby communities. Chimneys should be inspected once a year under the NFPA 211 standard, and dryer vents should be cleaned regularly because lint buildup is the leading factor in home dryer fires.
ClearStack Chimney Service cleans and inspects chimneys, dryer vents and air ducts for homeowners across Staten Island, including Rosebank, Shore Acres, Park Hill, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, Clifton and Fox Hills. Whether you burn wood in a fireplace, heat with an oil or gas boiler, or just want your dryer to dry clothes in one cycle again, our certified technicians show you what they find, explain it in plain terms, and tell you honestly whether anything needs to be done.
Chimney Cleaning and Yearly Inspections
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year, even if you rarely use them. Soot, creosote, debris and animal nests can build up quietly, and small cracks in a flue are easy to miss from the outside.
Inspections come in three levels. A Level 1 inspection fits when nothing about your system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is called for when you add a new appliance, switch fuels, or buy or sell a home. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for cases where a hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or wall.
- Creosote and soot removal from the flue and smoke chamber
- Check of the damper, firebox, crown and cap
- Look for blockages, nests and water entry
- Clear written notes on anything that needs attention
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
When a New York City home or building converts its boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of the job. Gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue over time, so a new liner is often needed. We can inspect your chimney before or during a conversion so you know where it stands.
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 past the trap, inside the duct and at the exterior hood. If drying takes longer than it used to, the dryer feels hot to the touch, or you notice a burning smell, the vent likely needs cleaning. We clear the full run and check that the outside flap opens freely.
Time for your annual chimney check?
Air Duct Cleaning When It Makes Sense
We follow the U.S. EPA's practical guidance. Duct cleaning is worth doing when there is substantial visible mold growth, signs of rodents or insects, or excessive dust and debris coming from your vents. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, so we will not promise that it will. We do not push chemical treatments, and we will tell you if your ducts do not need cleaning.
Planning Around Heat Season
New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31. Booking your chimney cleaning and inspection in late summer or early fall means your boiler or fireplace is ready before you rely on it, and any repairs can be handled without rushing in cold weather.
