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.
Fast, Reliable Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Across Lombard
Chimney cleaning and sweep in Lombard, IL typically costs $189-$289 for a standard annual sweep with Level 1 inspection, while a Level 2 camera inspection runs $329-$479. Most appointments are scheduled within 3-5 business days, and every visit includes a written price before work starts and a documented photo record when it’s done. Call (331) 202-2419 for a free estimate.
We’ve been dispatching crews to Lombard from our Chicago office since 2009, and the pattern is unmistakable: most chimneys we encounter in this village sit on postwar ranches and split-levels built between 1945 and 1975, with original clay-tile flues now 50-75 years old. Many were converted from oil or coal to gas heating in the 1970s without proper relining. That mismatch - an oversized flue serving a low-heat gas appliance - is the single most common source of hidden damage we find in Lombard homes. Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep team treats every service call as a potential inspection, because in this housing stock, a sweep without a camera run often misses the real problem.
Why Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights Is Lombard’s Preferred Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Company
We’ve completed more than 38,000 chimney inspections and cleanings since 2009, and a significant share of those have been in Lombard’s postwar neighborhoods - from the ranch blocks near Madison Meadow Park to the split-level streets west of Highland Avenue. Homeowners here don’t need another company promising vague “quality”; they need someone who can show them what their 60-year-old flue actually looks like from the inside.
Our reviews from Lombard customers consistently mention the same thing: the technician named what was found, showed the camera footage, and delivered a written price before any work started. No surprises. That practice is Clause 1 of the Haven Standard - “Have it in writing” - and it’s been non-negotiable on every single job since our founding.
Response time to Lombard is typically 3-5 business days for standard sweeps, with scheduling coordinated from our Chicago office. For urgent situations - suspected chimney fire, carbon monoxide alarm, or sudden draft failure - we prioritize same-week appointments. Live phone support runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you’re never leaving a voicemail and hoping someone calls back.
What builds trust in Lombard specifically is our familiarity with the local failure pattern: oil-to-gas conversions on pre-1970 homes, freeze-thaw damage to mid-century masonry, and the spalled brick and collapsed crowns that show up every spring after another hard northern Illinois winter. We don’t guess. We put the camera down the flue and show you.
Our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Services in Lombard

Level 1 Inspection
A Level 1 inspection is a visual examination of the readily accessible portions of your chimney - the firebox, damper, and exterior stack - performed during a standard sweep. In Lombard, we recommend this annually for newer systems or well-maintained gas fireplaces with no history of problems. It’s included with every annual sweep at no extra charge. But for homes built before 1975 - which describes much of Lombard’s housing stock - a Level 1 alone is often insufficient, because it cannot see inside the flue liner where the real damage hides.

Level 2 Inspection
The Level 2 camera inspection is where we separate what looks fine from what actually is fine. We run a high-resolution camera the full length of the flue, documenting every crack, spall, and gap in the liner. In Lombard, this is the inspection we perform on virtually every pre-1970 home, because the oil-to-gas conversion damage is so predictable. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this documented photo record on every job - we established that practice in 2009, years before insurers or regulators began asking for it. The footage belongs to you. You see what we see before any recommendation is made.

Creosote Removal
Creosote builds in three classes. Class I is flaky soot, easily brushed. Class II is tar-like and requires rotary tools. Class III is glazed, hardened, and often cannot be removed by sweeping alone - it may need chemical treatment or, in severe cases, a liner replacement. Lombard’s older chimneys that still vent wood-burning fireplaces are particularly susceptible to Class III buildup when homeowners burn unseasoned wood or restrict airflow. We identify the class during inspection and quote the removal method in writing before starting. No guessing, no mid-job price changes.

Soot Removal
Soot accumulation from gas appliances is different - finer, more acidic, and often more destructive to clay tile over time. In Lombard’s converted gas systems, we regularly find soot combined with condensate damage where the oversized flue never gets hot enough to establish proper draft. The result is a flue that looks “just dirty” but is actually deteriorating from the inside. Our sweep includes full firebox, smoke chamber, and flue cleaning, with debris contained and removed from your property.

Annual Sweep
The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual chimney inspection and cleaning for all solid-fuel systems, and every other year for gas. In Lombard’s climate - 20-30 freeze-thaw cycles each winter, high spring humidity - we push toward annual service for all masonry chimneys, regardless of fuel type. Water infiltration through cracked crowns and mortar joints accelerates every other failure mode. An annual sweep catches it early, documents the condition, and gives you a baseline for comparison year over year.

Fireplace Cleaning
Fireplace cleaning addresses the firebox, smoke shelf, and visible flue entrance - the areas that affect both performance and indoor air quality. In Lombard homes with original masonry fireplaces, we often find degraded firebrick, damaged smoke chambers, and missing or corroded dampers. We clean what can be cleaned, document what needs repair, and provide a written scope and price for any additional work.

What happens when you call
- 1
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.
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AfterTrusted Brands We Service in Lombard
When relining or repair is needed, we source materials through Haven’s buying network to keep customer prices honest. For Lombard’s common oil-to-gas conversion relines, we regularly use HeatShield for cerfractory flue restoration and DuraFlex for stainless steel liner installations. Olympia Chimney supplies our gelcoated and premium liners where full replacement is indicated. These aren’t generic parts - they’re specified to your flue dimensions, appliance type, and venting requirements, with installation backed by the manufacturer’s warranty and our 365-Day Done Right Promise. We stock common sizes locally, so most Lombard relines don’t involve multi-week waits for materials.
Common Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Problems We See in Lombard Homes

- Oil-to-gas conversion flues without relining. The original oversized clay-tile flue, built for a coal or oil furnace, now serves a low-heat gas appliance. It never gets hot enough to dry acidic condensate, so the tiles spall and flake inward. We see this on pre-1970 Lombard homes so consistently that we assume liner damage until the camera proves otherwise.
- Freeze-thaw masonry destruction. Lombard’s 20-30 annual freeze-thaw cycles force water into every crack and joint. By spring, we regularly find severely spalled brick, collapsed chimney crowns, and mortar joints ground to powder on mid-century stacks that looked fine the previous fall.
- Level 1 inspections that miss the real damage. A flashlight look at the firebox cannot see a flaking liner 15 feet up the flue. In Lombard’s housing stock, this is a dangerous omission - the chimney may “still draft” while the liner collapses inward, obstructing the flue or exposing combustibles.
- Third-degree creosote in wood-burning systems. Homeowners burning unseasoned hardwood or restricting airflow for overnight burns create glazed, hardened creosote that standard brushing won’t touch. We identify it with the camera and quote chemical treatment or mechanical removal in writing - never a surprise add-on.
Pricing for Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Lombard, IL
| Service | Typical Range in Lombard |
|---|---|
| Annual Sweep with Level 1 Inspection | $189 - $289 |
| Level 2 Camera Inspection (includes sweep) | $329 - $479 |
| Class III Creosote Removal (chemical + rotary) | $450 - $750 |
| Stainless Steel Liner Installation (DuraFlex) | $2,800 - $4,500 |
| HeatShield Flue Restoration | $1,800 - $3,200 |
| Chimney Crown Repair/Rebuild | $650 - $1,400 |
What moves you within these ranges? Flue height, roof access difficulty, liner condition, and whether the system is straight or has offsets. Every quote is delivered in writing before work begins - Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, no exceptions. We also offer a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written estimate. Call (331) 202-2419 for your exact price; estimates are free.
We Also Serve Cities Near Lombard

Our crews work throughout the western suburbs, including Lombard and neighboring Glen Ellyn, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, and Bloomingdale. Scheduling is coordinated from our Chicago office, with local technicians assigned to minimize drive time and keep appointment windows reliable.
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

Because the original clay-tile flue was built for a wood-burning fireplace or coal furnace, then adapted for gas without relining - a combination that hides damage a flashlight cannot see. A Level 2 camera run reveals spalling tiles, condensate damage, and draft-obstructing debris inside the flue, and Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires we document it with photos you receive. Call (331) 202-2419 to schedule; estimates are free.
Yes. The mismatch between an oversized clay-tile flue and a low-heat gas appliance is so routine in pre-1970 Lombard homes that we assume liner damage until the camera proves otherwise. The acidic condensate trapped in the oversized flue flakes tile from the inside for years before symptoms appear. We recently swept a 1958 ranch off South Main Street near the Villa Park border where the gas furnace was venting into the original 8×12 clay-tile flue with no liner. The Level 2 camera showed the tiles spalling and flaking inward - exactly the oil-to-gas conversion failure we see across Lombard’s postwar blocks - so we relined it with a HeatShield-restored flue and re-swept the firebox and smoke chamber before wrapping up. Call (331) 202-2419 for a camera inspection; estimates are free.
The NFPA recommends annual inspection for all chimneys, with cleaning as needed based on creosote or soot accumulation. In Lombard’s climate - hard freeze-thaw winters, humid springs - we advise annual service for all masonry chimneys, even gas, to catch water damage before it compounds. Call (331) 202-2419 to book your annual sweep; estimates are free.
Third-degree creosote is glossy, hardened, and tar-black - more like enamel than flakes. A standard wire brush won’t touch it. Removal requires chemical treatment to soften the deposit, followed by rotary mechanical cleaning, and sometimes cannot be fully cleared without liner replacement. We identify the class during camera inspection and quote the specific removal method in writing. Call (331) 202-2419 if you suspect glazed buildup; estimates are free.
No. Cracked crowns and spalled brick are entry points for water, and in Lombard’s freeze-thaw climate, each cycle widens the damage. What starts as surface flaking becomes structural failure - collapsed crowns, loose brick, and water intrusion into wall cavities. We document crown and masonry condition during every inspection and quote repair before catastrophic failure. Call (331) 202-2419 for an assessment; estimates are free.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Co., serving Lombard and the western suburbs since 2009.





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