Professional chimney cleaning starting at $189. NCSG-certified technicians with HD camera inspections and photo-documented reports. Same-week scheduling available. Serving all of Chicago and 100+ suburbs.
Every Widen Chicago chimney cleaning includes a full sweep removing soot, creosote, and debris from your flue liner, smoke chamber, damper, and firebox. Our NCSG-certified technicians use professional-grade brushes, rods, and HEPA-filtered vacuums to leave your home spotless.
Every cleaning includes a complimentary visual inspection with a digital photo report. You see exactly what we see — cracks, deterioration, blockages, and any areas of concern — with written recommendations and no-pressure advice.
Standard chimney cleaning in Chicago starts at $189 for a single flue. Multi-flue homes, heavy creosote buildup, or difficult access (third floor, steep roof) may cost more. We always provide the exact price before starting — never a surprise bill.
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Standard chimney cleaning (single flue) | $189–$289 |
| Multi-flue cleaning (2+ flues) | $289–$449 |
| Heavy creosote removal (Stage 2-3) | $289–$450 |
| Chimney cleaning + dryer vent bundle | $289–$399 |
| Annual maintenance plan | $149/year |
Chicago's harsh winters mean heavy fireplace use from October through April. Six months of burning wood or gas creates significant creosote buildup — the #1 cause of chimney fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports over 25,000 chimney fires annually in the U.S., most of which are preventable with regular cleaning.
Chicago's older housing stock — brick two-flats, bungalows, and pre-war homes — often have aging flue liners and decades of accumulated buildup. Many homes we service in Lincoln Park, Oak Park, Evanston, and Beverly haven't been cleaned in years. Our HD camera inspection catches problems invisible to the naked eye.
Creosote is the combustible byproduct of burning wood. It coats your flue liner in three increasingly dangerous stages — and Chicago's cold winters accelerate buildup faster than most homeowners realize.
Chicago winters mean heavy fireplace use — and unseasoned or wet firewood burns cooler and dirtier, accelerating creosote buildup. Annual cleaning by a certified sweep catches Stage 1 before it progresses to the dangerous stages. The NFPA recommends annual inspection and cleaning for any chimney in regular use.
1. Pre-clean inspection. We assess the chimney from the firebox up before touching a brush. This lets us identify any structural issues and determine the level of creosote buildup before we start.
2. Home protection. Drop cloths cover your flooring and furniture around the fireplace. HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment connects to the firebox to capture all dust before it enters your home.
3. Top-down sweep. Our technician accesses the chimney from the roof and works professional-grade brushes and rods from the top of the flue to the firebox bottom, dislodging all soot, creosote, and debris into the connected vacuum.
4. Camera inspection. After cleaning, we scan the flue with an HD camera to document the liner condition, check for cracks, gaps, or deterioration, and confirm the cleaning is complete. You see the camera feed live.
5. Cleanup and photo report. We remove all equipment, clean the firebox and hearth, and deliver a digital photo report documenting the chimney's condition with written recommendations. No mess left behind — ever.
Masonry chimneys (brick or stone) are the most common in Chicago's pre-war housing stock. Most bungalows, two-flats, and Greystone buildings have masonry chimneys with clay tile flue liners. We clean the full flue length, smoke chamber, and firebox.
Prefab / factory-built chimneys are common in homes built after 1975. They use metal flue pipes inside a framed wood chase. We clean and inspect the metal pipe system and check the chase for moisture intrusion and cap integrity.
Wood stove flues and inserts often have the heaviest creosote buildup because stoves burn at lower temperatures. We specialize in insert cleaning — including disconnecting the insert, cleaning the liner and firebox separately, and reinstalling correctly.
Gas fireplace vents don't produce creosote but do accumulate debris, bird nests, and corrosion that affects draft and CO venting. We inspect and clean gas flue vents to ensure safe combustion gas exhaust.
Widen Chicago provides chimney cleaning across all of Chicago and 100+ surrounding suburbs. We serve the North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest), Northwest Suburbs (Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Palatine), West Suburbs (Oak Park, Hinsdale, Naperville, Elmhurst, Wheaton), and South Suburbs (Orland Park, Tinley Park, Burr Ridge). Same-week scheduling available across all service areas. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, call (224) 343-1991 — if we can reach you, we will.
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