We specialize in the quirks of older homes, brick chimneys, cast-iron liners, and the hidden risks Long Island City’s weather hides. Also serving dryer vent cleaning for homes and laundromats.
Comprehensive chimney sweep & dryer vent cleaning for Long Island City homes and businesses.
The deep clean Long Island City’s older homes need, brick by brick, liner by liner.
Rusted, cracked, or missing liners? We fix them, no full rebuild needed.
The deeper the buildup, the bigger the risk, we remove it all.
Lint fires start in dryer vents, we clear them before they ignite.
Preserve your home’s character while making it safer.
We’re on call for active chimney fires, day or night.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards so you can hire with total confidence.
Sandalwood Chimney and Dryer Vent Cleaning Inc has been helping Long Island City homeowners with the hidden dangers of old brick chimneys and masonry fireplaces for over two decades. Unlike the cookie-cutter crews that treat every chimney the same, we specialize in the quirks of pre-war and early 20th-century homes, the kind of properties where brickwork matters, liners shift over time, and a quick sweep won’t cut it. The Queens neighborhoods around Long Island City are packed with these older homes, and we’ve seen firsthand how a poorly maintained chimney can turn a cozy winter evening into a fire hazard. Our team doesn’t just clean; we inspect, diagnose, and fix what’s wrong before it becomes a problem. That’s why we’re the go-to chimney sweep for homeowners who refuse to cut corners on safety.
Your neighbor’s chimney sweep won’t spot the rusted liner or the mortar crumbling from Queens’ humidity. We do. We’ve worked on homes from the 1910s to the 1980s, where brickwork tells us how the chimney was built, and where it’s failing. We carry tools to fix small issues on the spot, like sealing a cracked crown or patching a loose brick, so you’re not stuck with a $3,000 repair bill later. Other sweeps just clean and leave. We solve problems.
You’ll get a flat-rate estimate before we start, no upselling for ‘extra services.’ If we find a problem, like a liner that needs replacing, we’ll explain why it’s critical and give you options. No one’s ever walked away from us saying, ‘I wish I’d spent more.’ We’ve even turned down jobs where a homeowner’s chimney was beyond repair, because we’d rather you know the truth than waste money on a ‘fix.’ That’s how we’ve stayed in business for years.
This isn’t a side gig. We’re the team that shows up with the right tools for your home’s masonry. We’re a licensed chimney service with full insurance, so if a brick falls or a liner rusts faster than expected, you’re covered. Our work comes with a 10-year warranty on liners and a 30-day guarantee on all repairs. That’s not standard in this industry, and it’s why homeowners in Astoria and Sunnyside trust us over the big chains. Ask any of them: we stand by our work, or we’ll make it right.
Your fireplace isn’t going to wait for a ‘convenient’ time. We schedule same-day appointments for emergencies and block off slots for regular customers. No ‘call back next week’ nonsense. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner and realize your chimney’s never been cleaned, we’ll be there before your guests arrive. Pro tip: Book by 10 AM for afternoon service, and we’ll text you when we’re 15 minutes out. No showing up empty-handed, just a clean chimney and a job well done.
"My 1920s brick home’s chimney had a rusted liner that was a fire waiting to happen. The guy from Sandalwood didn’t just clean it, he showed me how the liner was failing and gave me three options, from patching to full replacement. I went with the patch, and he did it right there. Saved me $2,000. Now I book them every fall before I light a fire. They even texted me when they found a crack in the crown last winter."
"I’ve had my chimney swept three times now, and every time they find something new, last time it was a mouse nest in the flue. They don’t just clean; they inspect like a pro. My wife’s still not over how much they know about old brickwork. And they’re the only ones who’ll show up on a Sunday if you call early. No one else in Queens does that."
"I thought my dryer vent was fine until they pulled out a foot of lint and told me my clothes were taking twice as long to dry. The vent was clogged so bad I could’ve started a fire. They cleaned it, sealed the joints, and gave me a maintenance plan. Now my laundry room doesn’t smell like a swamp. And they answered the phone when I called at 7 AM, no voicemail, no ‘leave a message.’ That’s real service."
"My chimney’s part of a historic home, and I was worried about damaging the brickwork. These guys knew exactly what to do, they even matched the mortar color. They’ve been back twice in three years, and I’ve never had a problem. The best part? They don’t treat you like you’re some rich snob just because you’ve got an old house. They treat you like a neighbor."
"I was scared to light my fireplace after seeing black soot everywhere. They showed up, cleaned it out, and said I could use it right away. But then they found a crack in the liner and told me it needed replacing. I was mad at first, why didn’t they catch that earlier?, but they gave me a fair price and did the work in one day. Now my fireplace works perfectly, and I’ve got a warranty. That’s the kind of honesty you don’t find everywhere."
"I’ve used three different chimney sweeps in Queens, and none of them were as thorough as Sandalwood. They don’t just brush the inside, they check the mortar, the crown, the damper. Last time, they found a loose brick and fixed it before it became a bigger problem. I’ve recommended them to half my block, and they’ve never let me down. Oh, and they’re the only ones who’ll clean my dryer vent and my chimney in the same visit."
No ‘one-size-fits-all’ here. You’ll tell us about your home, how old it is, what kind of fireplace you’ve got, and when you last used it. We’ll check our schedule and let you know if we can fit you in same-day. If it’s an older home, we might ask for photos of the chimney outside. This isn’t a sales pitch; it’s a quick chat to make sure we bring the right tools. Most calls take under 2 minutes, and we’ll text you a confirmation with our arrival time.
We show up on time, ready to work. No ‘we’ll be there between 2 and 4’ nonsense. You’ll see our truck parked out front, and we’ll knock before we start. We’ll set up our equipment, rotary brushes, cameras, and air compressors, right outside your home. If it’s a historic property, we’ll ask to see the blueprints or any past repair records. This isn’t just a sweep; it’s a full inspection, and we’ll point out anything that needs attention before we even touch the chimney.
We’ll climb up, brush out the creosote, and check every inch of your flue, liner, and masonry. If we find rust, cracks, or a liner that’s past its prime, we’ll show you exactly what’s wrong, and why it matters. No ‘trust me, it’s fine’ nonsense. You’ll get a written report with photos, and we’ll walk you through any repairs we recommend. This isn’t just about cleaning; it’s about making sure your chimney’s safe for the next 20 years. Most jobs take 60–90 minutes, but complex liners or heavy buildup can take longer.
No pressure to buy anything you don’t need. We’ll give you a receipt, our warranty info, and a schedule for your next inspection. If we found issues, we’ll email you a detailed report with cost estimates and timelines. You’re not stuck wondering if you missed something, we’ll tell you exactly what to watch for. And if you’re happy with our work, we’ll add you to our seasonal maintenance list so you never forget your next sweep. That’s how we keep chimneys, and homeowners, safe.
Expert local advice for Long Island City homeowners.
Long Island City’s older brick homes hide costly chimney surprises. Get the real chimney sweep cost breakdown, timing, liner types, and how to cut repair bills by 30%, plus when to skip the sweep and save.
Read more →Long Island City’s older brick homes and masonry fireplaces need expert chimney sweep services. Learn what’s required, when to schedule, and how to spot scams, plus cost breakdowns for your specific setup.
Read more →Long Island City’s older brick homes hide creosote buildup and cracked liners, only a licensed chimney sweep can spot them. Learn how to choose a pro who knows masonry, not just sweeping, and why skipping this step risks a chimney fire.
Read more →Proudly serving Long Island City and these nearby communities.
For a standard brick chimney in Long Island City, expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a thorough cleaning, depending on the height and accessibility. If your chimney’s got a liner or you need a full inspection, add another $50-$100. We charge by the job, not by the hour, so you’ll know the cost upfront. Older homes with narrow or crooked flues can take longer, but we’ll give you an honest estimate before we start. And if we find issues like cracked mortar or a failing liner, we’ll explain why repairs are needed, not just sell you a sweep.
Yes, but wait at least 24 hours before lighting a fire. This lets any dust settle and ensures the flue is completely clear. If you’re in a rush, like before a holiday gathering, we can do a ‘quick sweep’ for $50 extra, but it’s not as thorough. Long Island City’s humidity can make creosote stick faster, so if you’ve been burning a lot of wood, give the chimney a full 48 hours to dry out. Pro tip: Burn a few newspaper sheets in the fireplace for 10 minutes before your first real fire to burn off any lingering dust.
If you burn wood more than twice a week, or if your chimney’s older than 30 years, you should schedule sweeps twice a year, once before winter and again in early spring. Long Island City’s damp winters can accelerate creosote buildup, especially in brick flues with cracked mortar. We’ve seen chimneys here go from clean to dangerous in just three months if they’re used heavily. A quick inspection during your first sweep will tell you if you’re at risk, and we’ll adjust our recommendations based on how you use your fireplace, not some generic rulebook.
Absolutely. A sweep cleans the flue, but an inspection checks for structural issues like loose bricks, rusted dampers, or failing liners, problems that can turn a clean chimney into a fire hazard. In Long Island City, where many homes have original brickwork, we often find mortar crumbling or flue tiles shifting. An inspection costs $75-$125 extra, but it’s the only way to catch hidden dangers before they cause a chimney fire. We’ll give you a written report with photos if we find anything wrong, so you know exactly what needs fixing.
For a typical brick chimney in a single-family home, plan for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. If your chimney’s over 30 feet tall or has a tight flue, add another 30 minutes. We work efficiently, but we don’t rush, especially in older homes where we need to check for mortar damage or liner gaps. Long Island City’s narrow streets and older buildings mean we sometimes have to maneuver equipment carefully, but we’ll give you a realistic timeframe upfront. And if we hit unexpected issues, we’ll call you before starting extra work.
Yes, and it’s a smart move, clogged dryer vents are a fire risk, just like dirty chimneys. A standard vent cleaning runs $120-$180, depending on length and access. We’ve found lint buildup in Long Island City homes that could’ve caused a fire if not caught. Unlike chimneys, dryer vents don’t need annual cleaning unless you notice long drying times or lint coming out of the dryer. We’ll inspect yours for free during your first call to see if it’s due for a sweep.
A Level 1 inspection is a basic check of the chimney you use regularly, like the one connected to your living room fireplace. A Level 2 is a full inspection of all chimneys and vents in your home, including ones you don’t use. In Long Island City, where many homes have multiple fireplaces or old coal chutes, a Level 2 makes sense if you’re selling the house or suspect hidden damage. It costs $150-$225 extra, but it’s the only way to catch problems in unused chimneys that could spread to the one you rely on.
That’s usually creosote dust or old soot settling in the flue. It’ll fade in a few hours, but if it lingers, your chimney might have moisture trapped in the masonry, common in Long Island City’s humid summers. We’ve seen this in older brick chimneys where the mortar’s degraded. If the smell stays strong after 24 hours, give us a call, we’ll check for hidden moisture or creosote buildup that needs addressing. A quick inspection can save you from a bigger repair down the line.
Fast response, upfront pricing, and workmanship guaranteed. Get your free estimate today.