Level 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.
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Before
AfterFast, Reliable Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Across Lombard
A Level 2 chimney inspection and sweep in Lombard typically costs $249-$389, with most appointments completed in 90 minutes and a written price delivered before any work begins. Our crews serve Lombard from our Chicago metro office, and we schedule seven days a week with live phone support at (708) 234-1174.
We’ve swept chimneys in Lombard since 2009, and the housing stock here tells a specific story. The brick ranches and split-levels built between 1948 and 1975, especially along the St. Charles Road corridor and near downtown Main Street, carry clay-tile flues that were sized for coal or oil boilers and later converted to natural gas. That mismatch matters. Oversized liners condense moisture, deposit acidic byproduct, and create venting hazards even in fireplaces that see light use. Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep team knows what to look for because we’ve documented it on thousands of Lombard inspections.
Why Level Two Chimney Evanston Is Lombard’s Preferred Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Company
Lombard homeowners research before they call. They read three-star reviews. They want a text when the tech is en route. We built our process for exactly this customer.
We’ve completed more than 38,000 chimney inspections and cleanings since 2009. Every single one included a written price before work started and a documented photo record when it was done. That’s Haven Standard Clause 4, and it’s been our default practice since before insurers or regulators asked for it.
Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and licensed. You get a name, not a random arrival. A text when we’re on the way. And a written scope, written price, and written warranty before anyone touches your chimney. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard: have it in writing.
We answer our phones live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No voicemail. No web form that disappears into a queue. When you call (708) 234-1174, you speak to a person who can book your Lombard appointment or connect you directly with Corrine Halstead.
Our 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every job. If it’s not done right, we make it right. No argument. No runaround.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Services in Lombard
Level 1 Inspection
A Level 1 inspection is a visual examination of readily accessible portions of your chimney and fireplace. In Lombard’s 1920s bungalows near Main Street, this can reveal obvious crown cracks or deteriorating mortar joints. But for the post-WWII ranches and split-levels that dominate Lombard’s housing stock, a Level 1 inspection is often insufficient. The clay-tile flues in these homes were converted from coal or oil to natural gas, and the damage hides inside the flue where a flashlight can’t reach. We recommend Level 1 only for chimneys that have been regularly maintained with no changes in fuel or appliance type.
Level 2 Inspection
Level 2 is our standard for every Lombard home built before 1975, and it’s the inspection most homeowners actually need. We run a camera the full length of the flue, document every tile joint, every crack, every area of spalling or glaze. In a 1950s ranch off St. Charles Road, our tech recently found an oversized clay-tile flue that once served a coal furnace but now vents only a small gas appliance. The tile joints were dissolving from constant condensation. First-degree creosote glazed the firebox walls. We swept the flue, removed the soot, and showed the homeowner the cracked tile on our monitor before recommending a HeatShield liner. No upsell without camera evidence they could see. A second pass with the camera confirmed the repair, and the draft improved immediately. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job.
Creosote Removal
Creosote in Lombard chimneys isn’t just about how often you burn. In those converted mid-century flues, the oversized liner runs cooler than designed. Cooler flue gas means more condensation. More condensation means more creosote deposition, even from a handful of fires per year. We classify creosote by stage: first-degree (soot, easily brushed), second-degree (flakey, requires rotary tools), and third-degree (glazed, often requires chemical treatment). Most Lombard homeowners are surprised to learn their “barely used” fireplace carries second-degree creosote. We remove it completely and show you the before-and-after on camera.
Soot Removal
Soot accumulation in Lombard’s converted flues carries acidic byproducts from natural gas combustion. Left in place, it attacks mortar joints and accelerates deterioration of already-aging clay tile. Our soot removal process includes HEPA-contained vacuuming, rotary brushing of the flue, and hand-cleaning of the smoke chamber and firebox. We finish with a camera pass to confirm the flue is clear and document the condition for your records. This is standard on every sweep, not an optional add-on.
Annual Sweep
The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection and cleaning for all wood-burning systems. In Lombard, we’d add: annual inspection is critical for any chimney with a converted flue, regardless of use. The condensation and acidic deposition happen whether you’re burning or not. Our annual sweep includes Level 2 camera inspection, full creosote and soot removal, and a written condition report with photo documentation. Book it before burning season starts; Lombard’s first sustained cold snaps typically arrive by late October.
Fireplace Cleaning
Fireplace cleaning addresses the firebox, smoke chamber, damper assembly, and hearth area. In Lombard’s older homes, we often find deteriorated firebrick, damaged throat dampers, and smoke chambers that were parged (smoothed with mortar) decades ago and are now crumbling. We clean thoroughly, document the condition, and report what needs attention now versus what can be monitored.
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.
Before
AfterTrusted Brands We Service in Lombard
We source materials through Haven’s buying network to keep customer prices honest. For liner repairs and replacements in Lombard’s converted flues, we use HeatShield cerfractory sealant for resurfacing damaged clay tile and DuraFlex stainless steel liners for full replacements when the original flue is beyond repair. Olympia Chimney supplies our caps and chase covers, sized specifically for the wind exposure on flat DuPage County terrain. We stock common parts locally, so most Lombard repairs don’t wait on shipping.
Common Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Problems We See in Lombard Homes
- Oversized clay-tile flues from coal-to-gas conversions. In Lombard’s 1950s-60s ranches along St. Charles Road, we regularly encounter flues sized for coal furnaces now venting small gas appliances. The severe mismatch causes persistent condensation that dissolves mortar joints and deposits corrosive soot. A standard brush sweep misses the damage; only a camera inspection reveals it.
- Freeze-thaw destruction of crowns and flashings. Lombard sits fully exposed to northwest winds off the Great Plains, driving rain and snowmelt directly into chimney caps and flashings at higher rates than more sheltered locations. Chicago metro freeze-thaw cycles cross 32°F dozens of times each winter, aggressively cracking masonry crowns and mortar joints. A skipped annual cleaning becomes visible structural damage within a few seasons.
- Upselling without evidence. The worst practice in our industry is recommending a full liner replacement on a 1950s Lombard ranch without showing the homeowner camera footage of the actual crack or spalled tile. We don’t do this. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard exists specifically to prevent it. You see what we see before any recommendation is made.
- Disconnected or improperly vented appliances. In converted systems, we sometimes find gas water heaters or furnaces venting into flues with missing or cracked tiles, or into flues that were never properly resized. This creates carbon monoxide venting risks that a Level 1 inspection cannot catch. The camera finds it. We document it. You decide what to do with the information.
Pricing for Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lombard, IL
A Level 2 chimney inspection and sweep in Lombard runs $249-$389. Annual maintenance sweeps for chimneys in good condition typically fall at the lower end. Heavier creosote buildup, third-degree glazing requiring chemical treatment, or additional time for complex smoke chamber access can push toward the upper range.
Fireplace cleaning alone, without full flue sweep, runs $149-$219. Level 1 inspection (where appropriate) is $189-$249. We deliver a written price before any work starts, every time, no exceptions. Haven Standard Clause 1.
What affects cost: accessibility of the flue, degree of creosote accumulation, condition of the smoke chamber, and whether the chimney has been maintained regularly or neglected for multiple seasons. Lombard’s converted flues often require more time than correctly-sized modern systems.
We offer free estimates and a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote. Bring us their paperwork. We’ll review it honestly.
| Service | Price Range in Lombard |
|---|---|
| Level 2 Inspection & Sweep | $249 - $389 |
| Annual Maintenance Sweep | $189 - $279 |
| Fireplace Cleaning | $149 - $219 |
| Level 1 Inspection | $189 - $249 |
| Creosote Removal (heavy/glazed) | $289 - $429 |
We Also Serve Cities Near Lombard
Our crews work throughout the near-west suburbs. We regularly schedule Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lombard alongside appointments in Elmhurst, Westchester, Elmwood Park, and Oak Park. If you’re near the border of any of these towns, call (708) 234-1174 and we’ll coordinate routing to keep your appointment efficient.
Serving Lombard, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Lombard 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 - Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lombard
Yes. The oversized flue in your converted system condenses moisture and accumulates acidic byproduct regardless of how little you burn. In Lombard, this pattern is far more concentrated than in newer DuPage suburbs where flues were sized correctly from the start. We recommend annual Level 2 inspection with camera documentation. Call (708) 234-1174 for a free estimate.
A Level 1 inspection is visual and limited to readily accessible areas. A Level 2 inspection includes a camera scan of the full flue interior, accessible portions of the attic and basement, and documentation of all findings. For Lombard’s pre-1975 homes with converted flues, Level 2 is the appropriate standard. We include it on every sweep. Call (708) 234-1174 to schedule.
Your converted flue is likely oversized for your current appliance. Cooler flue gas condenses more readily, and condensation drives creosote deposition. This is common in Lombard’s 1948-1975 housing stock and unrelated to how often you burn. We remove the buildup and show you the flue condition on camera. Call (708) 234-1174 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Lombard’s flat, wind-exposed terrain allows northwest winds to drive precipitation directly into caps and flashings. Dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter expand cracks in mortar and masonry. A sound crown and proper flashing are your best defense; we inspect both on every visit and document their condition. Call (708) 234-1174 to book before winter.
We recommend a liner only when camera evidence shows cracked tiles, spalling, or venting hazards that we can display on our monitor for you to see. No recommendation is made without documentation. If a competitor has suggested liner replacement, bring us their written quote for a Free Second Opinion. Call (708) 234-1174 to schedule your inspection.
Ready to book your chimney inspection and sweep in Lombard? Call (708) 234-1174 now. Live support, 24 hours a day. Written price before any work starts. Camera documentation included. Backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Co., serving Lombard and the Chicago metro area since 2009.