Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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AfterTrusted Fireplace Services for Brooklyn Homeowners
A fireplace in Brooklyn isn’t just decoration. It’s a working system that has to draft correctly, burn cleanly, and stay sealed against a century of brownstone settling, salt air, and the particular soot load that comes from burning seasoned oak in a four-story row house. We’re Top Hat Chimney, and Wendell Pike has been inside Brooklyn flues since 1999, often finding problems a previous sweep missed or a handyman patched over.
When your fireplace won’t draw, your gas logs won’t light, or your firebox has a crack running through the back wall like a roadmap of Red Hook, you call (516) 289-9316 and talk to a live person. Not a call center. Not a voicemail box. Someone who knows the difference between a damper issue in a Park Slope pre-war and a liner problem in a Bed-Stuy walk-up. We come when we say we’ll come, we quote before a single tool comes off the truck, and every job carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
What Our Fireplace Services Service Includes
Here’s what we actually do when we come to your Brooklyn home. Not a vague list. The specific work, the specific problems, and what it looks like when we’re finished.
Gas Fireplace Service
Gas fireplaces in Brooklyn see heavy use from November through March, and the burners, pilot assemblies, and venting need attention before the first cold snap, not after. A gas fireplace that hasn’t been serviced often shows delayed ignition, yellow flame instead of blue, or a smell of gas at startup. Wendell and his crew pull the logs, clean the burner ports, check the gas pressure, test the thermocouple and thermopile, and verify that the venting is clear. We service gas inserts and gas logs alike, and we’ll tell you plainly if the unit has years left or if you’re nursing it along.
Wood Burning Fireplace
A wood-burning fireplace is the heart of a Brooklyn brownstone, but it’s also the system most likely to hide problems behind a pretty fire. We inspect the firebox, throat, damper, and flue for cracks, gaps, and creosote buildup that can become a chimney fire. The sweep who shows up at your door will show you camera footage of your flue so you can see what we see, and then give you a plain-English verdict. No scare tactics. If it’s a brush job, we say so. If it needs repair, we show you the pictures.
Fireplace Insert
Fireplace inserts, whether gas, wood, or pellet, are efficient but unforgiving when installed wrong or neglected. We service existing inserts, diagnose draft complaints, replace gaskets and door seals, and clean the interior and vent system. If you’re considering an insert for a drafty old masonry fireplace, we’ll tell you honestly whether it makes sense for your setup and your heating bills. Some inserts in Brooklyn are installed too small for the firebox, and Wendell catches that because he measures, not guesses.
Damper Repair
A damper that won’t open or won’t close all the way costs you money every month, heat and cooled air escape up the flue during the summer, and smoke backs up into the living room during the winter. Dampers get warped by heat, rusted by moisture, or simply break at the hinge after forty years of use, which is a common story in pre-war Brooklyn homes. We repair, replace, or install a top-sealing damper that actually fits, and you feel the difference in the draft the first time you light a fire.
Firebox Repair
The firebox takes the direct heat of every fire, and over decades, the brick and mortar crack from thermal stress. Small cracks can often be sealed or pointed. Large ones let heat reach combustible framing behind the firebox, and that’s a different conversation, one we have with camera photos and a straight answer. Wendell has rebuilt fireboxes in Brooklyn homes where the mortar had turned to dust behind the face brick. We use refractory materials rated for direct flame contact, not whatever masonry mix is on sale at the hardware store.
Fireplace Conversion
Converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas is popular in Brooklyn co-ops and condos where wood is banned or where the owners want the look of fire without the hauling and cleaning. We handle the conversion properly: correct gas line sizing, a properly rated insert or log set, venting that meets code, and a finished result that looks like it belongs in the room. We also handle the reverse, removing a failed gas system and restoring a working wood-burning fireplace where the masonry is sound. No conversion gets started until we’ve inspected the existing flue and told you exactly what it will cost.
Brands We Service for Fireplace Services
We stock parts and have deep experience with Gelco and Olympia Chimney products. Gelco is common in Brooklyn gas log installations, and we’ve serviced hundreds of their valve and pilot assemblies over the years. When a Gelco unit is misbehaving, the problem is usually the pilot or the gas pressure, not the unit itself, and Wendell can usually diagnose it in the first visit. Olympia Chimney products show up in a lot of Brooklyn chimney caps and chase covers, and we install and service them regularly.
We also work with Copperfield and Famco components, particularly dampers and chimney systems. Whether you have one of those brands or a fireplace that predates brand names altogether, we can service it. The fire doesn’t care what label is on the damper. We service whatever is in your home and stock replacement parts for the most common units in the borough.
Signs You Need Fireplace Services Right Now
- You smell smoke long after the fire is out. A properly vented fireplace clears smoke up the flue. If the smell lingers in the room for hours or days, you likely have a draft problem, a dirty flue, or a damper that’s not seating. Your flue doesn’t care how the fire looks. It cares how it breathes.
- The damper is stuck open or stuck closed. A damper stuck open lets heat out all winter and invites birds, squirrels, and rain inside. Stuck closed, and you can’t start a fire without filling the living room with smoke. Either way, it’s a repair that usually takes less than an hour once we’re on site.
- You see black flakes or shiny tar in the flue. That’s creosote, and there’s a big difference between first-degree and third-degree. First-degree creosote is a brush job. Third-degree is a glaze, hard as glass and flammable, and it builds up when fires burn cool and air-starved. A Brooklyn flue with years of occasional weekend fires can surprise you. We camera-inspect every flue before and after cleaning so you never have to wonder.
- The fire burns low and lazy even with dry wood. A weak draft in a Brooklyn row house can come from a cold flue, a clogged cap, a tight house that won’t supply enough combustion air, or negative pressure from exhaust fans and the boiler. Wendell finds the actual cause instead of just telling you to crack a window, though sometimes the window is exactly the answer.
- You see cracks in the firebox brick or mortar. Cracks mean the firebox’s ability to contain heat is compromised. Some cracks are cosmetic. Some go all the way through to the framing. The only way to tell is a close physical inspection, and we do it every time. Ask anyone on your street: a fireplace problem that’s small on the outside is often larger behind the brick.
Our Fireplace Services Process - Step by Step
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You call, and a person answers. (516) 289-9316. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You tell us what’s happening with your fireplace, and we give you a straight answer about what to expect, including an arrival window that we actually honor. If anything changes, we call you. That’s the whole system.
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We arrive, look, and listen. Wendell or a member of his crew shows up in uniform, background-checked, and ready to hear the whole story. What have you noticed? When did it start? What did the last company say? We don’t rush this part, because the history usually points to the problem faster than any tool.
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We diagnose with cameras and meters. Before we recommend anything, we run a camera up the flue and a draft test at the fireplace opening. You’ll see the footage on our screen, live. You’ll hear the verdict in plain English: what’s fine, what needs attention now, what can wait. Nothing is recommended without visual evidence you can see for yourself.
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We quote a fixed price in writing. The number you hear before we start is the number on the invoice when we finish. No add-ons, no “while we’re here” discoveries that change the total. If we find something during repair that genuinely changes scope, we stop, show you, and get your approval before proceeding. That’s not a policy. That’s how Wendell has worked for over 29 years.
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We do the work and stand behind it. Every job, from a basic cleaning to a full firebox rebuild, ends the same way: the work area left clean, the fireplace tested, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise in your hand. If it’s not right, one call brings us back at no cost to you. That’s what the promise says, and we put it in writing on every single job.
How Much Does Fireplace Services Cost in Brooklyn?
What affects the price? The height of your flue and whether it’s easy to access from the roof, the age and condition of the fireplace, whether there’s creosote glaze that requires chemical treatment rather than standard brushing, and the specific parts your unit needs. You avoid overpaying by hiring someone who shows you the camera footage and gives you a fixed price before starting. Our estimate is free, is based on what we actually see, and is guaranteed in writing. We don’t charge a trip fee for calls inside our service county, and we’ll give you $40 off any repair over $200.
Fireplace Services Near Brooklyn - Our Service Area
We work throughout Brooklyn, with regular calls in Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flatbush, Bensonhurst, Canarsie, Red Hook, Sunset Park, and Glendale. Each neighborhood has its own housing stock and its own fireplace problems: brownstone flues in Brooklyn Heights run different from row house flues in Ridgewood, and Wendell knows both because he’s been climbing roofs in this borough since 1999. If you’re in Brooklyn and you need fireplace service, you’re in our county, and that means no trip charge. See our pages for Fireplace Services in Brooklyn Heights and Fireplace Services in Ridgewood for neighborhood-specific details, or start at the home page for the full range of chimney and Fireplace Services in Brooklyn.
Serving Brooklyn, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Brooklyn area and offer Fireplace Services - Brooklyn residents trust. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Fireplace Services in Brooklyn
What is fireplace service?
Fireplace service is the inspection, cleaning, repair, and maintenance of your fireplace system, including the firebox, damper, flue, and chimney. It covers gas, wood, and pellet units, as well as the surrounding masonry. The goal is a fireplace that drafts correctly, burns safely, and doesn’t leak heat or fumes into your living space.
How long does a fireplace service appointment take?
A standard cleaning and inspection for a wood-burning fireplace in Brooklyn takes 60 to 90 minutes from setup to cleanup. Gas fireplace service is similar at 45 to 75 minutes depending on the unit. Repairs add time based on scope; a damper replacement might add an hour, while a full firebox rebuild can take a half day or more. We’ll tell you the expected duration when we arrive, and we don’t rush the work to get to the next job.
How much does fireplace service cost in Brooklyn?
A standard fireplace cleaning and inspection in Brooklyn runs $215 to $285, gas service runs $175 to $265, and repairs like damper work run $175 to $395 for common cases. Larger repairs and conversions are quoted after inspection. Every quote is fixed before work begins, and we give $40 off any repair over $200 plus 10% off for seniors and veterans, every time.
Do you service Gelco and Olympia Chimney fireplaces?
Yes. We stock common Gelco and Olympia Chimney parts and have serviced hundreds of units from both brands across Brooklyn. We also work with Copperfield and Famco components. If your fireplace is from a brand we haven’t named here, call (516) 289-9316 and ask. Chances are Wendell has worked on one this month.
Are you available for fireplace emergencies?
Phones are answered by a live person twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. That said, most fireplace problems are urgent but not same-hour emergencies. Smoke backing into the room, a gas smell, or water pouring through the chimney call for immediate attention, and we’ll tell you honestly over the phone what to do first. A stuck damper can usually wait a day or two. We’ll never rush you into a panic and never invent a hazard that isn’t there.
What does your warranty cover?
Every job we complete carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the repair or service isn’t right, one call brings us back at no additional cost. That’s the warranty in full. Not a 90-day parts warranty with labor excluded. Not a “some exclusions apply” document. Wendell puts his name on the work, and he backs it.
How do I prepare for my fireplace service appointment?
Clear the area directly in front of the fireplace so the sweep can lay down drop cloths and set up tools. Remove any breakable items from the mantel if they’re close to the edges. Move pets to another room if they’re nervous around strangers. If you have a gas fireplace, know where the gas shutoff valve is, though we’ll locate it if you’re not sure. That’s the whole list, everything else is our job.
Schedule Your Fireplace Services Service in Brooklyn Today
If your fireplace hasn’t been serviced in over a year, or if you’ve noticed any of the signs above, call (516) 289-9316 today. Your estimate is free, the price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the work in writing. Wendell has served Brooklyn fireplaces since 1999, and he’d rather tell you the job doesn’t need doing than sell you one you don’t need. Call now, and a live person will pick up.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Brooklyn since 1999.