Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Trusted Chimney Sweep for Cicero Homeowners
Creosote builds up inside your flue every time you burn a fire. It’s flammable, it’s stubborn, and it’s the leading cause of chimney fires in Cicero homes. At Wexford Chimney Sweep, we remove it, inspect the entire system top to bottom, and tell you plainly what needs attention now and what can wait. Norm Sulecki leads a Cicero Chimney Sweep team built for this work: professional-grade equipment, deep familiarity with the flue systems in two-flats and bungalows across Cicero, and repair capability most sweep crews don’t have. If you’re seeing soot puffs in the room, smelling campfire when the damper’s closed, or can’t remember the last cleaning, call (866) 361-2607 for a free inspection and quote.
Chimney Sweep Services
Chimney Sweep Services cover the full removal of creosote, soot, and debris from the interior of your flue system, plus a visual inspection of every accessible component. You need this annually if you burn wood more than a few times a season, and even gas logs benefit from periodic inspection since venting problems aren’t always visible from the living room. Wexford Chimney Sweep handles everything from straightforward sweep-and-check visits on single-story ranches near Austin Boulevard to multi-flue row homes that haven’t been touched in decades, following a thorough Chimney Sweep Maintenance Checklist for Cicero Homeowners on every job. A sweep removes the fire hazard. The inspection finds whatever else needs attention, and because we’re also a repair company, we can schedule that fix while we’re still standing in your living room.
Creosote Removal and Flue Sweeping
Creosote comes in three stages: flaky, tar-like, and glazed. The third is the most dangerous and the most difficult to remove. We match our rods, brushes, and rotary heads to the stage present in your flue, never a one-size-fits-all sweep.
Full System Inspection With Every Visit
A chimney sweep without an inspection is half a job. We check the crown, cap, flashing, firebox, damper, smoke chamber, and flue liner on every visit, giving you a written summary with photos where the camera can reach.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Styles & brands we work with
Chimney Cleaning
Chimney Cleaning is the physical removal of combustion byproducts from the interior walls of your chimney. In Cicero’s older housing stock, many flues are unlined or have terra cotta liners with cracks that catch and hold creosote more aggressively. A cleaning restores proper draft, reduces your chimney fire risk, and uncovers hidden damage before it becomes a structural problem. Wexford Chimney Sweep uses the appropriate brushes and rods for your flue dimensions, and we lay drop cloths and use HEPA-filtration vacuums to keep soot out of your carpets and furniture. Most standard cleanings in a single-flue home take 45 to 90 minutes once we’re set up.
Creosote and Soot Removal
Wood-burning fireplaces produce creosote at a rate driven by burn temperature, wood moisture, and flue size. We remove what’s there and identify the conditions that built it up in the first place.
Draft and Ventilation Checks
A weak draft means smoke and carbon monoxide can back up into the home. We verify that air moves correctly through your flue at the end of every cleaning and flag any restriction that might be limiting flow.
Fireplace Cleaning
Fireplace Cleaning addresses the firebox itself: ash removal, brick and refractory panel cleaning, grate condition, and andirons. It’s often paired with a flue sweep but stands on its own when homeowners want the visible portion of their hearth restored before hosting or after a season of heavy use. Wexford Chimney Sweep pays attention to cracks in the firebrick and deteriorating mortar joints, both common in Cicero’s pre-war bungalows, because those defects let heat reach combustible framing. We leave the firebox clean, the refractory surfaces intact, and the area around your hearth as tidy as we found it.
Ash Disposal and Firebox Debris Removal
We vacuum out ash, soot, and small debris from the firebox floor and walls, leaving nothing behind that could mask damage or produce odor during humid Cicero summers.
Refractory Panel and Firebrick Checks
Heat-cracked firebrick is a fire risk you can see if you look. We inspect every visible surface and tell you which panels need replacement and which are still sound.
Chimney Services
Chimney Services mean the broader category of work that keeps a chimney safe and functional beyond the sweep itself. That includes cap and crown assessment, flashing inspection, damper adjustment, and liner evaluation. When a sweep uncovers something, we don’t hand you a referral card and leave. Wexford Chimney Sweep carries repair capability in-house, which means we can source professional-grade materials and schedule the fix before the next burn season. In Cicero, storm-driven mortar erosion around the crown is common, especially on taller stacks along Ogden Avenue and the residential side streets near Morton College.
Chimney Cap and Crown Assessment
A missing or rusted cap lets rain, birds, and raccoons into the flue. A cracked crown lets water into the masonry itself. We identify both during the service visit and can supply replacement caps through Olympia Chimney and Famco product lines.
Damper and Flue Component Checks
A damper that won’t seal lets conditioned air escape all winter. We check operation, fit, and linkage, then let you know whether a repair or replacement is the right call for your fireplace.
Chimney Sweep Certified
Chimney Sweep Certified means the person working on your flue has been trained to recognized industry standards, not just handed a brush and told to get going. It matters because the difference between a clean flue and a chimney fire is often a matter of inches and materials. A certified sweep checks the right things in the right order, reports findings clearly, and knows when a repair is beyond the scope of cleaning—skills covered in our Chimney Sweep Troubleshooting: Common Problems and How to Fix Them. Wexford Chimney Sweep holds itself to those standards on every visit. The certification-backed approach is why we document what we find, use proper rotary equipment for glazed creosote, and never send a rookie into a situation they haven’t been trained to handle.
Why Certification Matters for Your Flue
Uncertified cleaning can miss third-stage creosote, damage terra cotta liners, or leave debris that blocks your flue. A certified sweep knows how to avoid all three and tells you plainly what was found.
Standards We Work To
Our process follows the field practices established by national chimney organizations, from tarping and dust control to inspection checklists and written summaries after every visit.
Gas Fireplace Cleaning
Gas Fireplace Cleaning isn’t about creosote. Gas logs produce a fine silica dust and, over time, that dust coats the logs, the burner, and the glass, reducing efficiency and making the flame look weak. More importantly, blocked vents leak carbon monoxide, which is a silent hazard no Cicero homeowner should tolerate. Wexford Chimney Sweep cleans gas log sets, checks burner ports for even flame distribution, and verifies that the flue is clear and drafting properly. If you’ve noticed a dusty film on your fire glass or the pilot light fluttering unexpectedly, give us a call before heating season kicks in hard.
Burner and Log Set Cleaning
We remove the log set carefully, brush the burner ports, and clear any spider webs or dust that can cause delayed ignition or flame lift. Then we reassemble and check the flame pattern.
Venting and Carbon Monoxide Checks
A properly vented gas fireplace pulls combustion gases up and out. We confirm that’s happening, and when it isn’t, we identify whether the problem is the damper, the vent run, or the fireplace itself.
Chimney Maintenance
Chimney Maintenance is the set of routine checks and minor fixes that keep a flue safe between full inspections. Water is the great enemy of masonry in Cicero, where freeze-thaw cycles work their way into every crack and chip. Catching a hairline crack in the crown before January means a caulk repair instead of a masonry rebuild. Wexford Chimney Sweep recommends maintenance-minded homeowners watch for spalling brick, missing mortar in visible joints, and any rust staining around the cap or flashing. These are early indicators that water has gotten where it shouldn’t be. When you see them, we can usually address the issue in a single visit.
Seasonal Readiness Checks
Before your first fire of the season, we check the flue for obstructions, test the damper, and confirm the cap is secure. It’s the same checklist we’d run on our own chimneys.
Water and Masonry Monitoring
We note the condition of your crown, flashing, and mortar joints on every visit so that a small issue one year doesn’t become a liner replacement three years later.
Brands We Service
We work with DuraFlex liner systems on a regular basis, most often in Cicero homes where an original terra cotta liner has cracked and the owner wants a reline that will last. DuraFlex is the retrofit standard for a reason: it’s flexible enough to follow existing offsets while maintaining a smooth, insulated path for exhaust. Our team is trained in proper sizing, insulation, and termination, and we don’t cut corners on the install.
We also stock and install caps and covers from Olympia Chimney and Famco, which means a rusted or missing chimney cap doesn’t require a second contractor or a six-week wait for parts. Those product lines cover everything from multi-flue caps to specialty draft-inducing models for stubborn smoking chimneys. Whether you have a system built around Copperfield components, a HeatShield-qualifying liner in need of restoration, or any other make, we can service it and tell you honestly what it needs.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke drifting into the room instead of up the flue. This means your draft has failed, and you’re breathing whatever the fire is producing. It could be a blocked flue, a closed damper, or a cold chimney that can’t establish flow – all of which we identify during the visit.
- A strong, acrid smell after the fire is out. Creosote has a distinct odor that lingers when it’s built up in meaningful amounts. That smell is a fire waiting to happen, especially in taller Victorian-era chimneys around Cicero.
- Visible black, tar-like glaze on the inside of your firebox or flue. That’s third-stage creosote, the hardest to remove and the most combustible. It won’t come off with a brush alone.
- Soot flakes falling into the hearth between fires. This usually means creosote has accumulated to the point where normal thermal expansion is breaking chunks loose. Those chunks are highly flammable.
- You hear animals or birds in the chimney. Nesting material is Season Three creosote fuel, blocked flues, and carbon monoxide risk. We remove it and install a proper cap so it doesn’t happen again.
Our Process, Step by Step
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Assessment and setup. We arrive, walk the interior with you, and lay tarps and drop cloths around the hearth. We note any existing damage in the room so we both know what predates our visit.
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The sweep itself. Using the correct brush or rotary head for your flue, we work from the firebox up or the crown down depending on access. Our HEPA vacuum runs the whole time to keep airborne soot at a minimum.
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Inspection. After the cleaning, we inspect the chimney from the top down: crown, cap, flashing, flue interior, smoke chamber, damper, firebox. We photograph what we see.
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Written summary and recommendations. Before we pack up, you get a plain-language summary of what we found, plus photos where applicable. Nothing gets recommended that we can’t show you.
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Repair or maintenance scheduling, if needed. If something needs attention, we quote it, explain it, and schedule it. No pressure, no third-party referrals, no vague warnings.
How Much Does Chimney Sweep Cost in Cicero?
Chimney sweep pricing in Cicero is driven by flue size, creosote stage, and the condition of the system overall. Here’s what you can typically expect:
- Standard chimney sweep and inspection: $180 – $340 for a single-flue home with normal creosote build-up
- Heavy or glazed creosote removal: $350 – $550 when rotary tooling and extended time are required
- Gas fireplace cleaning: $120 – $220 depending on log set complexity and vent configuration
- Dryer vent cleaning: $95 – $175, often bundled with a chimney sweep at a discount
What changes the price: the height of the flue, the degree of creosote buildup, roof access difficulty, and whether repairs are identified that need to be addressed. You avoid overpaying by getting a clear quote before work begins, not after. Wexford Chimney Sweep provides a flat-price estimate up front for every job in Cicero. If an inspection turns up something unexpected, we tell you before we touch it. You’ll always know the number before we start.
Our Service Area Near Cicero
We serve Cicero and the surrounding communities, including Chimney Sweep in Berwyn, Chimney Sweep in North Lawndale, Stickney, Oak Park, Forest Park, and Riverside. If you’re in one of those areas, you’ll find the same straightforward pricing and the same inspection-first approach. Most homeowners can schedule within the week, and during burn season we recommend booking now rather than waiting for the first cold snap. Not sure if we cover your address? Call and we’ll tell you straight.
Serving Cicero, IL — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Cicero area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chimney Sweep in Cicero
A chimney sweep is the process of removing creosote, soot, and debris from the interior of your flue, plus a visual inspection of the system. In Cicero, an annual sweep is the recommended minimum for wood-burning fireplaces. It reduces fire risk, improves draft, and catches small structural problems before they become expensive repairs. Call (866) 361-2607 to schedule yours.
A standard single-flue chimney sweep takes between 45 and 90 minutes once setup is complete. Heavy creosote, difficult roof access, or an inspection that reveals issues will extend that time. We always let you know before we begin if a job is going to run longer than expected. Estimates are free, so call us for a time quote on your specific chimney.
A typical chimney sweep and inspection in Cicero runs between $180 and $340 for a standard single-flue home. Heavily glazed creosote, taller chimneys, or repairs identified during the visit will add to the total. Every job gets a flat-price quote before work begins, with no add-ons you didn’t approve. Call (866) 361-2607 for an exact quote.
Yes. We work on DuraFlex, Copperfield, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and virtually any other make found in Cicero homes. Our team is trained across those product lines and we keep the common components on the truck. That means less waiting and fewer return trips.
If you have an active chimney fire, call 911 first. For urgent issues like blocked flues, animal intrusion, or smoke backup, we make every effort to get a technician to you as quickly as possible during business days in Cicero. The best defense is prevention: schedule your sweep before burn season and you won’t need to worry about emergency calls.
We stand behind the quality of our sweep and inspection work. If a flue we swept shows significant creosote buildup within a service period that’s inconsistent with normal use, we’ll return and address it. Repair work carries the applicable manufacturer warranty on the materials we install, including DuraFlex and Copperfield components. Ask us about specifics for your project.
Clear objects from the hearth and mantel, and don’t start a fire within 12 hours of the appointment so the flue is cool. If you have pets, keep them in a back room or crate while we work. The space in front of the fireplace should be clear to about six feet so we can set up tarps and equipment. Everything else, we handle.
Schedule Your Chimney Sweep Service in Cicero Today
Don’t wait until the first cold night to find out your chimney has a problem. Call Wexford Chimney Sweep at (866) 361-2607 for a free, no-obligation estimate. We’ll get you on the schedule, have the flue clean and inspected before burn season, and give you a straight answer about anything we find. Norm Sulecki and the team have been keeping Cicero chimneys safe and functional, and we’re ready to add yours to the list.
Written by Norm Sulecki, Owner at Wexford Chimney Sweep, serving Cicero and surrounding communities.