Chimney Sweep in Howells, NY

Chimney sweeping in Howells

A chimney sweep in Howells, NY starts at the flue. We brush it clean, clear out what has collected inside, and tell you plainly what shape the rest of the chimney is in. That is the same job we do anywhere. What changes from one town to the next is what we expect to find.

Howells is about three miles northwest of Middletown, which makes it a short drive from our base at 40 Mulberry St. It is also a hamlet in the Town of Wallkill on the NY 211 corridor. A follow-up question two weeks later is not a scheduling problem.

Two kinds of chimney in one small area

Howells is close enough to Middletown that it shares the city's 10940 postal area. It is one of the shortest drives we make.

What makes it interesting is how mixed it is. There is an older hamlet core near the road, with newer houses filling in the land around it. Two homes a few hundred yards apart can have completely different chimney systems.

So we arrive ready for either. An older house here may have a brick stack, clay tile liners, mortar joints weathering for decades and a firebox that has seen heavy use. A newer one is more likely to have a metal chimney in a framed chase, where the chase cover and flashing are what to check first. The brushes and the approach differ. That is why we ask what you have when you call.

The NY 211 corridor also means many properties sit close to the road with mature trees behind them. Overhanging limbs drop leaves and seeds straight into an uncapped flue every fall. They also shade the masonry, so it stays damp longer after rain. Both are ordinary problems with a cheap fix.

What a visit looks like

Nothing about a Howells address changes the process. We look at the system before touching it. We cover the hearth and floor. We seal the fireplace opening and run a vacuum, so the soot ends up in the machine instead of your room. We brush the full length of the flue, clear what comes down, check what we can reach, then walk you through what we found. The full process is on our chimney sweeping page.

If something needs attention, we show you why. Usually with a photo. Then we explain the options, including leaving it alone for now when that is a fair choice. We do not price repairs we have not looked at.

Chimney services available in Howells

• Chimney Sweeping

  Removing soot, creosote and blockages from the flue so your fireplace or stove drafts the way it should. This is the service most homes need on a regular schedule.

  Read about chimney sweeping

• Chimney Inspection

  A closer look at the flue, the firebox and the visible exterior masonry to find out what condition the system is actually in before anything is recommended.

  More about chimney inspection

• Chimney Repair

  Repointing crumbling mortar joints, rebuilding spalled brick, patching cracked crowns and addressing the water paths behind most masonry damage.

  More about chimney repair

• Chimney Cap Installation

  A properly sized cap keeps rain, leaves, squirrels and nesting birds out of an open flue — the least expensive protection a chimney can have.

  More about chimney cap installation

• Chimney Liner Installation

  When clay tiles crack or an old flue no longer suits the appliance venting into it, a new liner restores a continuous, correctly sized path for exhaust.

  More about chimney liner installation

Booking from Howells

Call (845) 685-9770. Tell us the address, what you burn in, roughly how often you use it, and when it was last swept if you know. That is usually enough for us to say what the visit should cover, what it costs and how long it takes.

Late spring through summer is much easier to book than October. Everyone calls at once after the first cold night. Booking in the quiet season also leaves room to sort out any repair before you actually need the fireplace.