Chimney sweep in Yonkers, NY

Chimney care in the 914 area

Long heating seasons and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are hard on masonry around Yonkers, New Rochelle and White Plains. Water that soaks into a cracked crown or open mortar joint freezes, expands and breaks brick apart (spalling), and nor'easter rain drives water in at the flashing. An annual inspection before the first cold snap catches crown cracks and creosote build-up from a winter of wood burning.

The Census Bureau counts about 387,200 homes and apartments in the 914 territory. 78% were built before 1980 and 29.1% before 1940, close to the New York figure of 75.4% built before 1980. The median home here dates from the 1950s, and 43.4% of homes are single-family detached houses.

51.3% of occupied homes heat mainly with utility gas and 31.9% with fuel oil or kerosene. Wood is the main heating fuel in 0.2% of homes, lower than the national rate of 1.5%.

With 29.1% of homes built before 1940, many chimneys here are older masonry. Older flues can be unlined or have clay tile liners that have cracked over the years, which a camera inspection of the flue will show.

Under the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, the territory is in climate zone 4A (mixed, humid).

The 914 territory is home to roughly 995,000 people across 80 ZIP codes in Westchester County, Rockland County.

Services in Yonkers

• Chimney inspection in Yonkers: Level 1, 2 and 3 to NFPA 211
• Chimney cleaning in Yonkers: creosote and soot removal
• Dryer vent cleaning in Yonkers: full vent run to the outside hood
• Chimney repairs, chimney relining and wood stove installs: ask your local company whether they offer them

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables B25034, B25040, B25024) for the ZIP codes in this territory; climate zones from PNNL, Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County (2022). Population from our ZIP code data.