Chimney Sweep Bros sweeps, inspects, relines and repairs chimneys across Chicago Ridge. We are insured, open seven days a week from 7:00am to 7:00pm. Call (708) 432-3430.
Village services and permit information are available from the Village of Chicago Ridge.
A small village with old housing
Chicago Ridge is compact, and most people know it for Chicago Ridge Mall, which opened in 1981 and expanded in 1986. The residential streets around it are considerably older than the mall, and that is what we actually deal with: a dense stock of modest post-war and pre-war homes with masonry chimneys that have now been standing through Chicago winters for sixty, seventy or more years.
The mid-century masonry chimneys here are now sixty-odd winters old, and the failure point is rarely the brick — it is the mortar joints between the clay flue tiles inside. They wash out slowly. Nothing dramatic announces it; you simply end up with gaps in the liner, and a gap is a direct path for heat and carbon monoxide into the wall cavity. It is invisible from the firebox, and only a camera finds it. See chimney inspection.
Smaller houses, smaller flues, same physics
The homes here are generally more modest than in Homer Glen or Palos Park, and there is a temptation to assume a smaller chimney is a smaller problem. It is not. A cracked flue tile in a bungalow lets heat and carbon monoxide into the structure exactly as it would in a large house, and a blocked flue backs smoke into a small room faster than a large one. If anything, the tight lots and modest square footage make a carbon monoxide problem more dangerous, not less.
What does change is the cost of the fix, and that is worth knowing: a shorter, more accessible chimney is generally cheaper to sweep, reline and repair than a tall or awkward one. Our prices start where they start for a reason — see pricing.
Chimney services we provide in Chicago Ridge
- Chimney sweeping — under a sealed HEPA vacuum, Level 1 inspection included.
- Chimney inspection — Level 1 and Level 2 with a camera up the flue.
- Chimney repair and masonry — spalling brick, failed mortar, tuckpointing, rebuilds.
- Chimney relining — stainless liners sized to the appliance.
- Caps and crowns — stopping water before it does the damage.
- Gas fireplace service — the flue still matters, because carbon monoxide does.
- Dryer vent cleaning — the full duct run.
Water at the top, as always
The pattern here is the same as everywhere else in the Southwest Suburbs: water gets in through a cracked crown or a missing cap, freezes, expands, and breaks the chimney apart from the inside. Fixing the top is cheap. Rebuilding the stack is not. See caps and crowns.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chimney in a smaller house less of a risk?
No. A cracked flue tile lets heat and carbon monoxide into the structure regardless of the size of the house, and a blocked flue fills a small room with smoke faster than a large one. What does change is the cost of the fix — a shorter, accessible chimney is usually cheaper to work on.
How much does a chimney sweep cost in Chicago Ridge?
A sweep with a Level 1 inspection starts at $179, confirmed before we start. The full list is on our pricing page.
My house is pre-war. What should I expect up the flue?
Possibly an unlined flue, or a liner that would not meet a modern standard. It is common in housing of that age. It is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to have a camera put up there before you rely on the fireplace.
Why does my chimney leak when it rains?
Usually a cracked crown, a missing cap, or failed flashing where the chimney meets the roof. Finding which one is the whole job — patching the wrong one changes nothing.
Do you charge travel to Chicago Ridge?
No. There is no travel surcharge.
Do you sweep chimneys that have not been used in years?
Yes, and it should be done before you light it rather than after. Disused flues are where we most often find nests, fallen masonry and crowns that have quietly been letting water in.
Can you come at the weekend?
Yes. We work seven days a week, 7:00am to 7:00pm, at the same rate.
What is the cheapest thing I can do to protect my chimney?
Fit a cap and make sure the crown is sound. It is the least expensive work on a chimney and it prevents most of the expensive problems, because nearly all of them start with water getting in at the top.
Book a chimney sweep in Chicago Ridge
Call (708) 432-3430 — open seven days, 7:00am to 7:00pm — or book online. Prices are on our pricing page and confirmed before work begins.
From our blog: Carbon Monoxide and Your Fireplace: What Every Homeowner Should Know
Also from our blog: Whether your chimney is tall enough under the 3-2-10 rule.
From our blog: How to Check Your Chimney for Creosote, Step by Step