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.
Chimney Company in West Town, IL
Chimney repair in West Town usually starts with a century-old brick stack that was built for coal, converted for gas, and never relined. We inspect and restore those original masonry chimneys on 1880s – 1920s workers’ cottages and two-flats before freeze-thaw damage turns a cracked flue tile into a water-damaged ceiling. Wexford Chimney Sweep has served West Town since 2013, and the work here is almost never a routine sweep: it’s an assessment of what a hundred years of Chicago winters have done to the brick above your roofline. Call (866) 361-2607 for a chimney inspection with camera documentation.
Why West Town Homes Are Different
West Town’s housing stock is dominated by narrow brick two- and three-flats and workers’ cottages from the 1880s through the 1920s. Nearly all of them still have their original masonry chimneys, and most of those were built unlined, single-wythe, and sized for coal. When gas and furnace venting came later, flues got reused in ways they were never designed for, and decades of acidic condensate and Chicago’s hard freeze-thaw cycles have done what you’d expect: spalled mortar joints, cracked flue tiles, and water staining that shows up in the spring long before anyone thinks to call a chimney company.
The density of West Town matters too. Rowhouse-style shared walls and parapets mean many chimney repairs require roof access from a gangway or a ladder through a tight side lot. We’re used to that. In the two-flats along the east – west residential streets, a single chimney often serves both a first-floor fireplace and a second-floor furnace or water heater, so what starts as a flue inspection frequently turns into a multi-appliance venting correction that has to satisfy Chicago’s strict chimney and venting code. That’s the core of the job in West Town: not sweeping a modern flue, but assessing and restoring a century-old stack that was never designed for what it’s doing now.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main West Town Services
Two services account for most of what West Town homeowners call us about: chimney sweeping and dryer vent cleaning. Here’s what each job actually looks like in this neighborhood.
Chimney Sweep in West Town
A Chimney Sweep in West Town starts with the reality that most flues here haven’t been inspected in years, and many haven’t been relined since the house was built. We sweep the flue, run a camera through it, and document every crack, gap, and creosote deposit so you can see exactly what’s there. In the brick two-flats along West Town’s residential streets, we often find that the flue serving a first-floor fireplace is also venting a second-floor water heater, and that combination needs correction under Chicago’s venting code, not just a cleaning. The sweep is the diagnostic, not the end goal.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in West Town
Dryer Vent Cleaning in West Town matters in houses where the dryer vents down a long run through a rear frame addition or out a tight side lot. West Town’s narrow lots and historic rear porches often mean dryer ducts take long, angled paths that collect lint faster than a short straight run ever would. We clean the full length of the vent, clear the exterior termination, and check airflow so the dryer isn’t working against a clogged pipe. Lint is the leading residential combustible-exhaust fire hazard after chimney creosote, and in a brick cottage with shared walls, a dryer vent fire isn’t just your problem.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Chimney Repair in West Town
Chimney repair in West Town is almost always about brick, mortar, and what water has been doing to both for over a century. The houses here were built with unlined or single-wythe chimneys that Chicago’s freeze-thaw winters punish every year: water soaks into open mortar joints, freezes, expands, and spalls the brick face until the stack starts leaning or dropping chunks onto the roof. We sweep it, inspect it, and if something’s wrong, we fix it. Most West Town chimney repairs are structural, not cosmetic, and the fix needs to satisfy both the laws of masonry physics and Chicago’s venting code. For a deeper look at our full repair capability, see our Chimney Repair page.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
You see water staining on the ceiling near the chimney, hear birds or animals in the flue, or notice rust streaks running down the brick face.
What it costs in West Town
Chimney cap installation in West Town typically runs $180 – $340 for the cap and the labor to install it on a standard masonry flue.
How we do it
We measure the flue tile at the crown, select a properly sized stainless cap, and mechanically fasten it so rain and animals stay out while the flue still drafts correctly.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
Your existing cap is rusted through, missing, or the mesh is torn and birds have gotten inside the flue.
What it costs in West Town
Chimney cap replacement in West Town typically runs $180 – $340 for the new cap and installation, though removing a corroded fastening job from an existing cap can push it toward the higher end.
How we do it
We pull the old cap, inspect the flue tile it was protecting, and install a correctly sized replacement that seals against the crown without restricting draft.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Your chimney has never been relined, the camera inspection shows cracked or missing flue tiles, or you’re converting an old fireplace to a gas insert that requires a properly sized liner.
What it costs in West Town
Chimney liner installation in West Town typically runs $3,000 – $6,500 depending on flue height, liner diameter, and roof access conditions on tight side lots.
How we do it
We measure the full flue run, install a professional-grade DuraFlex flexible liner system sized for the appliance, and verify the connection at the appliance and the termination at the crown.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
You see water staining on the ceiling around the chimney, damp spots in the attic, or the flashing has lifted, corroded, or pulled away from the brick.
What it costs in West Town
Chimney flashing repair in West Town typically runs $250 – $500 for a standard repair, more if the flashing has to be fully replaced and the roofline is steep or hard to reach.
How we do it
We remove the failed flashing sections, reset new step and counter flashing against the brick, and seal every seam with the right masonry-compatible sealant, not roofing caulk.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
The concrete crown is cracked, spalled, or missing chunks, and water is pooling on top of the chimney instead of running off.
What it costs in West Town
Chimney crown repair in West Town typically runs $300 – $800, with full crown rebuilds running higher when the existing crown has to be fully removed and reformed.
How we do it
We resurface or rebuild the crown with a proper slope and an expansion gap, then seal it so water sheds away from the flue instead of into the brickwork.
What Chimney Repair Costs in West Town
| Item | Typical range in West Town |
|---|---|
| Chimney cap installation | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney liner installation | $3,000 – $6,500 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $250 – $500 |
| Chimney crown repair | $300 – $800 |
Do I really need a new liner, or can it wait?
If the camera inspection shows cracked flue tiles or gaps between sections, the liner is already failing, and running an appliance through it sends heat and gases into the brick and possibly the house. In qualifying cases, HeatShield liner repair can restore the existing flue without a full reline. Call (866) 361-2607 and we’ll show you the camera footage before recommending anything.
Can you fix the chimney the same day you sweep it?
Most cap and flashing repairs can be done the same day if roof access is straightforward and we have the right cap in the truck. Full liner installations and crown rebuilds usually need a return visit, and we’ll quote that work up front so there are no surprises.
Brands We Service in West Town
We stock and install DuraFlex, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield products, the same professional-grade lines used by credentialed chimney contractors nationwide. We keep common West Town sizes in the truck, and special-order parts typically arrive within a few business days. See our brands for the full range.
See the difference
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After
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in West Town, IL
| Service | Typical range in West Town |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $193 |
| Chimney cap installation | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $180 – $340 |
| Chimney liner installation | $3,000 – $6,500 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $250 – $500 |
| Chimney crown repair | $300 – $800 |
West Town prices push upward when a chimney is on a three-story flat with no direct roof access, when the stack is shared between two units and the repair has to satisfy multi-appliance code, or when the existing liner has to come out before the new one goes in. We quote the full job before any work starts, and that quote doesn’t change unless we find something structural after opening the chimney.
Neighborhoods We Serve in West Town
We work throughout the 60622 ZIP code and all of West Town’s residential pockets. We’re typically on a West Town roof or in a West Town basement within a day or two of your call, depending on the season and what the inspection needs to reach.
- Wicker Park
- Ukrainian Village
- East Village
- Noble Square
- Pulaski Park
Service Area – Cities Near West Town
Wexford Chimney Sweep is based in Cicero, IL, and we run crews into West Town and the surrounding neighborhoods every week. We also serve East Garfield Park, IL, Logan Square, IL, Chicago Loop, IL, and West Garfield Park, IL. If you’re on the edge of West Town, call us and we’ll confirm whether we cover your block.
Serving West Town, IL — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the West Town area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Chimney Company in West Town
Most cap, crown, and flashing repairs don’t require a permit, but full liner installations and structural rebuilding often do, and Chicago’s venting code applies to any appliance venting change. We’ll tell you what your specific job requires before we start, and we handle the work to code.
In most cases we can schedule a West Town inspection within a day or two, and routine sweeps are usually booked within the week. If you’re seeing water staining or masonry falling, tell us when you call and we’ll work to get eyes on it sooner.
We cover the full 60622 ZIP code, including the tight gangway-access rowhouses, the shared-wall two-flats, and the three-story buildings where roof access takes an extension ladder and a steady hand. If you’re in West Town, we service your chimney.
Call Wexford Chimney Sweep at (866) 361-2607 for a free estimate on chimney repair, chimney sweeping, or dryer vent cleaning in West Town. We’ll show you what the camera sees before you spend a dollar on repairs.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local chimney cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What West Town Customers Say
"Drop cloths everywhere, HEPA vac, and not a speck of soot on the carpet. I'd been dreading the mess for nothing."
— Scott Walsh"Crown was cracked and taking water. Repaired it rather than quoting a rebuild, which the previous company had pushed hard for."
— Gilbert Rodriguez"Level two inspection before we bought the house. The report was detailed enough to use as a negotiating point and he explained every photo in it."
— Rosa Hernandez