The short answer
You need a new chimney liner when the existing one is cracked, missing, or wrong for the fuel you now burn, which is common after an oil-to-gas boiler conversion. GoldenFlue inspects the flue with a camera, sizes a liner to your appliance, and installs it from the roof with your living space covered and protected.
A chimney liner is the protective channel inside your chimney that carries smoke and exhaust gases out of the house. Many older Brooklyn homes have clay tile liners that have cracked or shifted over decades. Some have no liner at all. Others were built for oil heat and now vent a gas boiler. When a liner fails, heat and exhaust can reach the brick and nearby wood framing, and draft suffers. GoldenFlue Chimney Services installs new liners for fireplaces, wood stoves, and oil and gas heating appliances in Brooklyn and nearby cities. Our certified technicians inspect the flue first, explain what they found, and size the liner to the appliance it will serve.
Signs you need a new chimney liner
Liner problems are usually hidden inside the chimney, so homeowners tend to notice the effects first. If you see any of the signs below, schedule an inspection before your next heating season or your next fire.
- A smoke or creosote smell in the house, especially on humid days or when the fireplace is not in use
- Poor draft: smoke rolling into the room, fires that are hard to start, or a heating appliance that backs up
- Pieces of clay tile, mortar, or brick flakes collecting in the firebox or at the base of the flue
- White staining on the outside brick, a sign that moisture or acidic condensate is moving through the masonry
- Water in the firebox or rust on the damper after rain
- A recent or planned switch from oil to gas, or a new boiler, furnace, or stove connected to an old flue
What's included in a liner installation
Every job starts with an evaluation of the existing flue. We confirm the liner is the right repair before recommending one, and we tell you plainly if something else is causing the problem. A standard installation includes:
- Camera inspection of the flue to document cracks, gaps, missing tiles, and obstructions
- Measurement of the flue and review of the appliance it serves, so the liner diameter matches the venting requirements
- Cleaning of the existing flue to remove soot, creosote, and loose debris before the new liner goes in
- Removal of broken clay tile where it blocks the new liner's path
- A liner suited to the fuel, such as a stainless steel liner for gas, oil, or wood
- Insulation for the liner where the chimney and appliance call for it
- Connection at the bottom to the appliance or fireplace with the correct fittings
- A top plate, storm collar, and rain cap at the chimney crown
- A final draft check and a walkthrough of photos showing the before and after
How our crew works in your home and on the roof
Inside, the crew lays drop cloths from the door to the work area and covers the fireplace opening or appliance connection. HEPA vacuums run while we clean the flue so soot stays in the chimney instead of drifting into your rooms. We use rotary brushes to clear creosote and loose material from the flue walls before installing anything.
A camera goes down the flue before the work and again after it, so you can see the condition of the old liner and the finished installation. That footage also helps us spot problems that should be repaired at the same time, such as a damaged smoke chamber or a loose thimble.
On the roof, the crew sets up safe access, checks the crown and flashing, and feeds the liner down from the top. Brooklyn row houses and attached homes often share roofs and walls, so we keep our work area contained and clean up debris before we leave.
The standards we follow
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. A Level 1 inspection is for systems where nothing has changed. A Level 2 inspection is for when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. A Level 3 inspection is for when a hidden hazard has to be reached by opening part of the chimney or building. A liner installation usually follows a Level 2 inspection, because the camera work is what shows whether the old flue can still do its job.
If your building is converting its 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. Planning the liner alongside the boiler swap keeps the project on schedule. It is also worth booking well before the city's heat season, which runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures.
What affects the price
We give you a written quote after the inspection, not before, because every chimney is different. The main factors are:
- Chimney height and how hard the roof is to reach safely
- The fuel and appliance the liner will serve: wood, oil, or gas
- Flue size, shape, and condition, including how much old tile has to be removed
- How much soot or creosote buildup has to be cleaned out first
- Whether a camera inspection, insulation, or masonry and crown repair is needed
How a visit works
First, we schedule an inspection and ask what appliance or fireplace the chimney serves and whether anything has changed recently. The technician inspects the chimney inside and out, runs the camera, and shows you the footage.
Next, you get a written explanation of what we found and what we recommend. If a liner is the right fix, we give you a quote that covers the liner type, insulation, and any related repairs. Nothing is installed until you approve it.
On installation day, the crew protects your floors, cleans the flue, installs and connects the liner, and caps the top. Before we leave, we test the draft, clean the work area, and walk you through the photos. We will also tell you when to book your next yearly inspection.
Chimney Liner Installation by city
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- Chimney Liner Installation in Borough Park
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- Chimney Liner Installation in Shore Acres
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- Chimney Liner Installation in Tompkinsville
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- Chimney Liner Installation in Clifton
