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 Englewood, IL
Chimney repair in West Englewood is less about creosote buildup and more about what happens when a coal-era brick flue sits dormant for two or three decades. The neighborhood’s early-1900s two-flats and brick cottages were built around masonry chimneys that once vented coal furnaces, and most have since been capped, converted, or simply left alone. Wexford Chimney Sweep has served West Englewood since 2013, and our chimney repair work here typically starts with a camera inspection that tells you exactly what’s happening inside the flue before any repair is recommended. Call (866) 361-2607 for a free estimate.
Why West Englewood Homes Are Different
West Englewood’s housing stock is dominated by early-20th-century Chicago brick two-flats, frame cottages, and the occasional greystone, most of them built between 1900 and 1930 along streets like 63rd, Ashland, and Halsted. These homes were originally heated with coal, which means their chimneys are often tall, narrow, and built from the soft, salmon-colored brick that Chicago kilns produced in bulk. Many still have their original clay tile liners, and some have no liner at all, just raw brick from firebox to crown.
Chicago’s freeze-thaw cycle punishes these chimneys. Water gets into hairline cracks during winter, freezes, expands, and slowly spalls the brick face and mortar joints. By the time a homeowner in the 60636 ZIP notices crumbling bits of brick on the roof or in the yard below the stack, the outer masonry layer is usually a few years into real deterioration. Inside the flue, the story is often worse: collapsed clay tile sections, bird nests built on top of abandoned flue caps, and blockages that haven’t been addressed since the furnace was last replaced.
One more thing that sets West Englewood apart: the City of Chicago requires a chimney inspection before any furnace or appliance replacement. If you’re swapping out an old boiler or installing a new gas furnace, the flue has to be verified safe and clear. That inspection often surfaces problems the homeowner didn’t know existed, and that’s where a full-service chimney company makes the difference. We sweep it, inspect it, and if something’s wrong, we fix it.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main West Englewood Services
West Englewood homeowners call us most often for two things: a chimney sweep to get a dormant flue back into safe condition, and dryer vent cleaning to clear out the lint hazard most people never think about until the dryer takes two cycles to dry a load.
Chimney Sweep in West Englewood
A chimney sweep in West Englewood usually starts with a flue that hasn’t been touched in years, sometimes decades. Many of these chimneys were capped or sealed when buildings went vacant or were rehabbed with gas furnaces, so our technicians regularly find bird nests, collapsed clay tile, and blocked flues that haven’t seen a brush in a generation. We sweep the flue, remove the blockages, and run a camera inspection so you can see the condition for yourself. If the sweep turns up liner damage or failing masonry, we can quote the repair on the spot. Read more about Chimney Sweep in West Englewood.
Dryer Vent Cleaning in West Englewood
Dryer vents in West Englewood homes run through old walls, sometimes with sharp turns and long horizontal stretches that collect lint fast. The lint buildup is a fire hazard, and the first sign is usually a dryer taking twice as long to dry clothes. We clean the full vent run from dryer to exterior termination, removing packed lint and checking for crushed or disconnected sections. It’s a job most chimney companies don’t offer, but the fire risk is just as real as a blocked flue. Read more about Dryer Vent Cleaning in West Englewood.
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 Englewood
Chimney repair in West Englewood is driven by two forces: the age of the housing stock and the climate. Early-1900s brick chimneys here weren’t built for Chicago’s freeze-thaw winters, and by now most of them show some combination of spalled brick, failed mortar, cracked crowns, and deteriorated clay tile liners. The most common repair call we get is a homeowner who stopped using the fireplace years ago and now needs the chimney made safe for a new gas appliance or a reactivated flue. That starts with our camera inspection, so nothing is recommended without visual evidence you can see for yourself. Let’s look at the five repair jobs we handle most, and you can read more on the Chimney Repair hub.
Chimney Crown Repair
Signs you need it
Hairline cracks or missing chunks across the concrete crown at the top of the stack let water into the chimney’s core, and in West Englewood’s freeze-thaw winters that water does damage all winter long.
What it costs in West Englewood
Chimney crown repair in West Englewood typically runs $250 to $600 depending on how much of the crown has to be rebuilt.
How we do it
We remove the failed crown material, form and pour a new concrete crown with proper slope and a drip edge, and cap it with a weatherproof sealant.
Chimney Liner Installation
Signs you need it
Collapsed or cracked clay tile sections, an unlined flue, or a liner that’s deteriorated enough to show signs of leakage all require a new liner before the chimney can be used safely.
What it costs in West Englewood
Chimney liner installation in West Englewood typically runs $1,200 to $4,500 for the full job, with material choice and flue height being the biggest variables.
How we do it
We run a camera to measure and document the flue, then install a DuraFlex flexible stainless liner sized to the flue and the appliance it will serve, terminating with a proper cap.
Chimney Cap Installation
Signs you need it
Rain getting in, birds nesting in the flue, or a missing cap entirely all call for a cap installation.
What it costs in West Englewood
Chimney cap installation in West Englewood typically runs $150 to $500 depending on the flue size and the cap style.
How we do it
We mount a stainless steel cap from Famco or Copperfield sized to the flue, secured with mechanical fasteners so it stays put in Chicago wind.
Chimney Cap Replacement
Signs you need it
Rust through the cap, a cap that’s blown off or bent, or a screen that’s torn open all mean the old cap is no longer doing its job.
What it costs in West Englewood
Chimney cap replacement in West Englewood typically runs $200 to $600 depending on the flue size and whether the mounting hardware needs to be reset.
How we do it
We remove the old cap, inspect the flue opening for damage, and install a new cap sized to the flue and secured against Chicago’s wind.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Signs you need it
Water stains on the ceiling or walls near the chimney, or visible gaps and lifted metal at the roof line, mean the flashing has failed and water is getting under it.
What it costs in West Englewood
Chimney flashing repair in West Englewood typically runs $300 to $800 depending on how much of the flashing has to be replaced and the roof pitch.
How we do it
We cut back the old flashing, install new step and counter flashing, and seal the joint where the chimney meets the roof so water sheds away from the stack.
What Chimney Repair Costs in West Englewood
| Item | Typical range in West Englewood |
|---|---|
| Chimney crown repair | $250 to $600 |
| Chimney cap installation | $150 to $500 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $200 to $600 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 to $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $1,200 to $4,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $2,000 to $5,000 |
What pushes a West Englewood chimney repair toward the high end? Roof pitch and access matter a lot on these older two-flats where the stack is right at the ridge line or the roof is steep. The condition of the underlying masonry is the other big driver: a crown repair gets more expensive if the brick course underneath has to be relaid first. We give a flat price before work starts, and the camera inspection is part of the estimate so you see exactly why a repair is needed.
Do I really need a new liner, or can the old one be repaired?
If the old clay tile liner has a few cracked sections but the flue is otherwise sound, HeatShield liner repair can restore the flue without a full reline in qualifying cases. Our camera inspection tells you which option applies, and we’ll never recommend a reline unless the flue actually needs it.
How long does a chimney repair take in West Englewood?
Smaller jobs like cap replacement or flashing repair are usually done in a single visit of a few hours. A full liner installation or partial rebuild can take a day or two depending on roof access and weather, and we’ll tell you the schedule before work begins.
Brands We Service in West Englewood
Wexford Chimney Sweep works with the professional-grade chimney product lines you’ll find on contractor supply lists, not the hardware-store substitutes: DuraFlex for flexible liner systems, HeatShield for liner repair, and Famco or Copperfield for caps and covers. Parts for the most common West Englewood chimney repairs are stocked locally, so typical cap and crown jobs can be completed in one visit.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Chimney Company in West Englewood, IL
| Service | Typical range in West Englewood |
|---|---|
| Chimney sweep (standard flue) | $150 to $300 |
| Chimney sweep (heavy creosote or blocked) | $300 to $500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $100 to $250 |
| Camera inspection (included with sweep) | $50 to $250 |
| Chimney crown repair | $250 to $600 |
| Chimney cap installation | $150 to $500 |
| Chimney cap replacement | $200 to $600 |
| Chimney flashing repair | $300 to $800 |
| Chimney liner installation | $1,200 to $4,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild | $2,000 to $5,000 |
On West Englewood jobs, three things push the price up: a tall chimney on a two-flat that needs significant setup and roof access, a flue that’s blocked or heavily creosoted and needs extra labor to clear, and masonry in bad enough shape that the repair involves relaying brick rather than just patching it. We give an upfront flat price before any work begins, and the camera inspection is part of the estimate, so the number you’re quoted is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in West Englewood
West Englewood’s core is the residential grid running south from 63rd Street and west from Ashland, but the chimney work spans the whole 60636 ZIP. We regularly work in the blocks around Hermitage, Wood, Wolcott, and Damen, serving the brick two-flats and frame cottages that make up most of the neighborhood’s housing stock. Typical scheduling for West Englewood calls runs within a few days for a sweep or dryer vent cleaning, and repairs are scheduled around weather windows for roof work.
- 63rd Street corridor
- Ashland Avenue area
- Halsted Street corridor
- Marquette Park edge
- Lindblom Park area
Service Area – Cities Near West Englewood
Wexford Chimney Sweep serves West Englewood and the surrounding South Side neighborhoods with the same local crew and the same flat-price policy. If you’re in Chicago Lawn, IL, West Elsdon, IL, West Lawn, IL, or New City, IL, we cover those neighborhoods too, with no change to scheduling or pricing.
Serving West Englewood, IL — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the West Englewood 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 Englewood
Our team schedules West Englewood sweeps and dryer vent cleanings within a few days of your call in most cases. Repair work that requires roof access depends on Chicago weather, but we usually have a technician out for an estimate within the same week. Call (866) 361-2607 to get on the schedule.
Most routine chimney sweeps and repairs don’t require a permit, but if the repair involves structural rebuild work, the City of Chicago may require a masonry permit. We’ll tell you during the estimate if your job falls into that category, and we handle the paperwork on our end when it does.
Yes, and this is one of our most common calls in West Englewood. Vacant and rehabbed properties often have chimneys that were capped or sealed years ago, and the City requires a chimney inspection before furnace or appliance replacement. We can inspect, document with camera footage, and quote the repair if one is needed.
If your West Englewood chimney hasn’t been looked at in years, or you’re buying or rehabbing a property and need an inspection before the furnace goes in, call (866) 361-2607 for a free estimate. We’ll sweep it, inspect it, and if something’s wrong, we’ll fix it.
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 Englewood Customers Say
"Liner was cracked in two places. He walked me through the repair options honestly, including the one that was cheaper for him and better for me."
— Adriana Morales"Good work. The written inspection report took about a week to arrive after I asked for it, which was slower than I expected."
— Brandon Park"Cap keeps the birds out now, which after two springs of scratching noises is worth every penny."
— Amanda Schaefer