The short answer
Apex Premier Chimney Services has its office at 113 Greene St and serves all of SoHo (10012) plus nearby Little Italy, Hudson Square, Tribeca, Civic Center and Greenwich Village. Our certified technicians handle chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, liners, rebuilding, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning.
Apex Premier Chimney Services works out of 113 Greene St, so SoHo isn't a service area we drive into. It's where our office is. We handle chimney sweeping, inspections, repairs, liners, and dryer vent and air duct cleaning for homes and buildings across the 10012 ZIP code. SoHo's housing is mostly older, with pre-war apartment buildings, loft conversions and walk-ups whose masonry chimneys and shared vents have been through decades of New York winters and changes in heating equipment. Because we're close by, scheduling is easier, follow-up visits are quick, and our certified technicians already know the kinds of buildings they'll be working in.
Chimney Care for SoHo's Older Buildings
Many SoHo buildings went up long before modern venting standards. Their brick flues were built for wood, coal or oil, and some have been altered several times since. Masonry that has gone through many New York winters can develop loose mortar, cracked flue tiles and worn crowns that aren't visible from the street or from inside an apartment.
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces and vents to be inspected once a year. A Level 1 inspection is the right fit when nothing about the system has changed. A Level 2 inspection is used when the system changes, such as a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when a home is sold. A Level 3 inspection is reserved for cases where a hidden hazard can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or building. We'll tell you which level fits your situation and explain why.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney Inspection
- Chimney Repair and Chimney Rebuilding
- Fireplace & Damper Repair
- Chimney Cap & Chase Cover
- Chimney Waterproofing
Oil-to-Gas Conversions and Chimney Liners
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 that can corrode a masonry flue from the inside. Older SoHo buildings that have recently changed fuels, or are planning to, should have the flue checked before the new system runs through a full season.
We inspect the existing flue, explain what we find in plain terms, and install a properly sized liner when one is needed.
Weather, Water and the Heating Season
Lower Manhattan gets cold, wet winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles, plus heavy rain and wind from coastal storms. Water that gets into brick freezes, expands and breaks the masonry apart a little more each year. Humid summers can also bring out damp, musty odors from fireplaces that lack a working cap or damper.
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. Late summer and early fall are the best times to handle inspections, cap replacements and waterproofing so the heating system isn't interrupted once the season starts.
Dryer Vent and Air Duct Cleaning
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in homes. In apartments and lofts, dryer vents often run long, bending paths to an exterior wall, and those paths collect lint quickly. If clothes take longer to dry or the laundry area feels hot, the vent should be checked.
For air ducts, we follow the U.S. EPA's guidance. Cleaning makes sense when there is substantial visible mold growth, vermin, or excessive dust and debris. The EPA also notes that duct cleaning hasn't been shown to prevent health problems, so we won't claim otherwise. We explain our process up front and talk through any chemical treatment with you before using it.
Neighborhoods We Serve Near SoHo
From our Greene Street office we also serve the neighboring parts of Manhattan, where the buildings and heating systems are much like SoHo's.
- Little Italy
- Hudson Square
- Tribeca
- Civic Center
- Greenwich Village
ZIP codes we serve
- 10012
Services in SoHo
- Chimney Sweep in SoHoLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Inspection in SoHoLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Repair in SoHoLocal service & repairs
- Air Duct Cleaning in SoHoLocal service & repairs
- Chimney Liner Installation in SoHoLocal service & repairs
