About Apex Premier Chimney Services

Apex Premier Chimney Services cleans and inspects chimneys, fireplaces, dryer vents and air ducts for homes in and around New York. Our approach is simple: look carefully, explain what we see in plain terms, and recommend only the work your home needs. Our technicians are certified, and we treat every visit as a chance to help you understand how your venting system works and how to keep it safe.

We Start With an Inspection, Not a Sales Pitch

The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. We follow that guidance and use the three recognized inspection levels so the depth of the inspection fits your situation.

Before we recommend a cleaning, a repair or a new liner, we show you what we found and explain why it matters. If your system is in good shape, we tell you that too.

• Level 1: a standard yearly check when nothing about the system has changed
• Level 2: when you add a new appliance, switch fuels, or buy or sell a home
• Level 3: when a suspected hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building

Honest Advice on Dryer Vents and Air Ducts

Dryer vents and air ducts are easy to forget, but they deserve attention. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. Clearing lint from the full length of the vent, not just the trap, is one of the most practical safety steps a household can take.

With air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's 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 explain our process up front, we're careful about chemical treatments, and we encourage you to research any offer that seems unusually cheap, including ours.

• Full-length dryer vent cleaning from the dryer to the outside termination
• Air duct cleaning recommended only when there is a clear reason for it
• Straight answers about what cleaning can and can't do

Work Shaped by New York Homes

Many homes and buildings in New York City have older masonry chimneys and heating systems that have changed over time. When a 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 that can corrode a masonry flue. We look at the flue closely during a conversion and explain whether a liner makes sense for your building.

Timing matters here too. New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, when building owners must keep apartments heated to the city's minimum temperatures. Scheduling inspections and cleanings before October helps owners find problems before the heat has to stay on.

• Chimney evaluations for oil-to-gas boiler conversions
• Liner recommendations based on what the inspection shows
• Pre-season scheduling to get ahead of the heat season