Chimney & air duct service in Hicksville, NY

Chimneys in Hicksville homes

Hicksville grew quickly in the years after World War II, and much of the housing dates from that boom: Cape Cods, ranches, and later split-levels, many with a single masonry chimney serving a fireplace, the heating system, or both. Those chimneys are now 60 to 70 years old. Clay tile liners from that era crack and shift over time, and crowns that were poured flat with no overhang are a common source of leaks.

What we see most often here

• Oil-to-gas conversions. Many homes in the area have switched from oil heat to natural gas. The old flue was sized for oil, and gas exhaust can condense inside an oversized or cracked clay liner. A stainless steel liner sized to the new boiler or furnace is often the fix.
• Freeze–thaw damage. Long Island winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Water that soaks into brick and mortar freezes, expands, and slowly breaks the masonry apart. See crown, flashing, and brick repair.
• Wind-driven rain. Storms off the Sound and the Atlantic push rain sideways into flashing and crowns. Leaks next to the chimney after a nor’easter are usually a flashing or crown problem, not a roof problem.
• Home sales. If you’re buying or selling a house with a 1950s chimney, a Level 2 chimney inspection before closing shows what a general home inspection can’t see.

Air ducts and dryer vents in older homes

Many Hicksville homes have forced-air heating or central air added over the decades, with ductwork running through basements and attics. Additions and renovations often left disconnected or crushed runs behind. Dryer vents in these houses tend to be long, with several bends, or were installed with foil or vinyl hose that has since crushed.

• Oil burner puffbacks. Homes still on oil heat can have a puffback, a small burst inside the burner that sends soot through the house. In a forced-air system, it spreads through the ducts. After your heating company fixes the burner, the ducts, blower, and registers need cleaning too.
• Attic duct runs in capes. Ducts in the attics of Cape Cods and expanded capes are easily crushed or knocked loose during other work. That’s a common reason one upstairs room never gets enough air. See duct repair and sealing.
• Dryer vents. If clothes take longer to dry than they used to, the vent is the first thing to check. See dryer vent cleaning and replacement.

Permits and the Town of Oyster Bay

Hicksville isn’t an incorporated village, so building permits for work like relining or installing a new stove are handled by the Town of Oyster Bay. Routine sweeping, inspections, and minor repairs don’t require one. If your project does, we’ll tell you up front.