Chimney & air duct service in Brookline, MA

Chimneys in Brookline homes

Brookline has some of the oldest housing around Boston: Victorian single-families, brick row houses, two-families, and early apartment buildings, most built between the 1870s and the 1930s. Chimneys here are old and often carry several flues serving more than one unit.

What we see most often here

• Two-family and multi-unit houses. Each unit often has its own heating appliance venting into a shared chimney, and every flue has to be sized and lined for what’s connected to it. See chimney relining.
• Old clay tile liners. Clay flues from the early 1900s through the 1960s crack and shift with age, and a cracked liner can let heat and exhaust reach the framing. A camera inspection shows the condition of every tile, and a stainless steel liner is the usual fix.
• Freeze–thaw damage. New England winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Water that soaks into brick and mortar freezes, expands, and slowly breaks it apart. See crown, flashing, and brick repair.
• Home sales. Older houses change hands often here. A Level 2 chimney inspection before closing shows what a general home inspection can’t see inside the flue.

Air ducts and dryer vents

Brookline homes were built for radiators. Where central air or ducted heat was added later, the ductwork is usually tight and runs through closets and attics.

• Retrofitted ductwork. Many older homes were built for radiators and had central air added later, with ducts squeezed into attics, closets, and knee walls. Long, tight runs collect dust and leak at the joints. See duct repair and sealing.
• Long dryer vents. Laundry in the basement or a second-floor closet often means a long vent run with several bends. Lint builds up fast, and that’s a fire risk. See dryer vent cleaning and replacement.
• Bathroom fans that vent into the attic. In older homes, fans were often added later and simply end in the attic, where the moisture causes mold and rot. See exhaust fan cleaning.

Permits in Brookline

Building permits in Brookline come from the Town of Brookline Building Department. Routine sweeping, inspections, and minor repairs don’t need a permit. Relining, rebuilding a chimney, and installing a new wood stove or insert usually do. If your project needs one, we’ll tell you up front.