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.
Fast, Reliable Dryer Vent Cleaning Across Evanston
Dryer vent cleaning in Evanston typically costs $129 – $189 for a standard single-family home and takes about an hour. That’s the number most Evanston homeowners ask for first, so there it is. If you live in a walk-up in the Ridge Historic District or a 1920s four-square near Central Street, the job can run slightly higher because those vent runs are longer and often hide surprises. Call us at (833) 589-7835 and we’ll give you a straight answer before we ever set foot in the house. Sandstone Chimney Sweep works throughout Evanston from 60201 to 60208, and we know the older housing stock here better than most.
Why Sandstone Chimney Sweep Is Evanston’s Preferred Dryer Vent Cleaning Company
We’re not a franchise that parachutes in from Naperville. Our team works Evanston neighborhoods every week: the Victorians and four-squares of the Ridge Historic District, the 1950s ranches west of Dodge Avenue, the condos along Sheridan Road. When a homeowner on Asbury Avenue calls about a dryer that’s taking two cycles to dry towels, we know before we arrive that the vent probably runs through an old chimney chase, not a straight pipe to the exterior. That local knowledge matters when the fix isn’t obvious.
Norm Sobieski built Sandstone Chimney Sweep on a simple rule: we find it, we fix it, and we show you the evidence. Evanston homeowners appreciate that. They’re used to old-house problems, and they don’t want a technician who waves vague concerns about airflow without showing them what’s actually inside the vent. Our camera inspection gives you before-and-after footage on a tablet, so the diagnosis isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a picture.
We also understand Evanston’s specific housing timeline. Homes here span 120 years of construction methods. A dryer vent in a 1905 home near the lake is a different animal than one in a 1965 bungalow off Dempster Street. Our Dryer Vent Cleaning team treats each one accordingly.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Dryer Vent Cleaning Services in Evanston
Three services cover nearly every dryer vent issue we encounter in Evanston homes. Here’s what each one involves and when you need it.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
This is the core service most Evanston homes need every one to two years. We use a rotary brush system sized to your vent diameter (most Evanston homes run 4-inch rigid or semi-rigid ducts), then run a camera through to confirm the walls are clean end to end. If your dryer vent ties into an old chimney chase, we clean the full path, not just the first few feet from the appliance. Lint that collects behind a disconnected damper inside a chase is a fire hazard you can’t see from either end.
Level 2 Inspection
A Level 2 inspection goes beyond what a basic cleaning covers. We scope the vent with a camera and look for hidden problems: detached connectors, crushed flex sections, nests, abandoned flue tie-ins, or gaps where lint escapes into wall cavities. In Evanston’s older homes, a Level 2 inspection often reveals that a dryer vent shares space with an old oil flue or was spliced mid-run decades ago. If you’ve just bought a home in Evanston or have never had your vent scoped, this is where real information starts. You see everything on the screen.
Chimney Cap Installation
When a dryer vent exits through a roof or a chimney, the cap keeps rain, snow, and animals out. Evanston’s lake-effect weather means rusted, damaged, or missing caps are common. We install caps sized for your termination and secure them properly against high winds off the lake. If a squirrel has been nesting where your vent terminates, a new cap solves it permanently.
Commercial and Multi-Unit Dryer Vent Systems
Evanston condos and apartment buildings along Chicago Avenue and near the university have shared vent stacks that behave differently from single-family runs. We clean common-area dryer vent lines and recommend cleaning schedules for building managers. Multi-unit systems clog faster because lint from multiple dryers collects in the same trunk, and a blockage in one unit affects everyone’s airflow.
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.
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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.
Trusted Brands We Service in Evanston
Your dryer’s brand doesn’t change how we clean the vent, but it does tell us what to expect. LG and Samsung models common in newer Evanston townhomes have moisture sensors that get confused by restricted airflow. Older Whirlpool and Maytag units found throughout the Ridge Historic District tend to run hotter, accelerating lint accumulation. We work with all of them. When replacement parts are needed, we source from HeatShield’s resurfacing systems for damaged chimney liners and use Gelco and Olympia Chimney products for caps and terminations. If a vent has been routed through a deteriorating clay tile flue, those materials are the right fix, not a big-box patch. We stock common parts for Evanston’s older homes, so most repairs don’t wait on a parts shipment.
Common Dryer Vent Cleaning Problems We See in Evanston Homes
After years of working in Evanston, certain problems show up again and again. Some are visible. Most aren’t.
- Abandoned oil flue tie-ins in the Ridge Historic District: Many 1920s homes had coal furnaces converted to oil in the 1940s, and those old oil flues were abandoned in place. Decades later, dryer vents got routed into them because the chase was convenient. Lint collects against spalling brick where the flue bends, and dampers seized open let cold air pour back in. This is invisible from the exterior and the laundry room.
- Freeze-thaw crown damage near the lake: Evanston’s winters alternate between hard freezes and thaws all season. Chimney crowns crack, water seeps into the masonry, and rusty stains bleed down through the vent run. By the time you notice rust on the dryer’s back panel, the vent has been wet for months.
- Disconnected vent connectors inside framed chases: We find this in every Evanston neighborhood, but especially in mid-century ranches where the original vent was a cheap flex pipe. The connector behind the wall slips apart, the dryer blows lint into the wall cavity, and the homeowner wonders why the laundry room smells musty. It’s a fire risk hiding behind drywall.
- Oversized dryer on an undersized flue: Newer dryers move more air than the old 6-inch clay flues in Evanston’s early-1900s homes were built for. The vent can’t handle the volume, so lint builds up faster and the dryer overheats. We measure airflow before and after cleaning and can tell you if your vent size is the problem.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterPricing for Dryer Vent Cleaning in Evanston, IL
A standard dryer vent cleaning in Evanston runs $129 – $189 for a single-family home where the vent run is under 20 feet and accessible from one end. If your vent ties into a chimney chase or an old oil flue in the Ridge Historic District, expect $159 – $219 because we’re cleaning a much longer, more complex path. A Level 2 camera inspection runs $89 – $129 when booked with a cleaning, or $149 as a standalone service. Chimney cap installation for a dryer vent termination typically runs $85 – $210 depending on cap size and roof access. Condo and multi-unit shared vent stacks are quoted by the building, usually $199 – $400 per common line. Every estimate is free. Call (833) 589-7835 and we’ll walk you through what your specific home needs before we book anything.
Key Takeaways:
- Standard dryer vent cleaning in Evanston: $129 – $189
- Older homes with chimney chase tie-ins: $159 – $219
- Level 2 camera inspection: $89 – $149
- Cap installation: $85 – $210
- Free estimates, no obligation ever
We Also Serve Cities Near Evanston
While Evanston is our home base, we regularly work in Evanston and the surrounding North Shore communities. Wilmette homeowners call us for the same freeze-thaw crown issues we see near the lake. Skokie and West Ridge have their share of mid-century ranches with flex-pipe connector failures. And Rogers Park, just down Sheridan Road, has older brick walk-ups where abandoned flues hide the same lint traps we find in the Ridge Historic District. If you’re nearby, we’ll come out.
Serving Evanston, IL — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Evanston 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 – Dryer Vent Cleaning in Evanston
Your dryer vent may be connected to an old oil flue because Evanston homes built before WWII typically had coal furnaces, and when those were converted to oil or gas in the 1940s, the original flues were abandoned in place. Later, when dryers were added, contractors used those existing chases to route the vent rather than cut a new hole through the roof or wall. Over time, lint collects at the bends and against old brick, creating a blockage you can’t see. A camera inspection shows exactly what’s happening inside your specific flue. Call (833) 589-7835 to schedule one.
Evanston’s freeze-thaw cycle damages the chimney crown and surrounding mortar joints, which allows moisture into the vent run. That moisture rusts the vent connector, causes lint to clump and stick instead of blowing through, and in severe cases collapses a section of flex pipe inside the chase. The problem compounds every winter near the lake. Spring is the right time to inspect and clean, especially after a heavy snow year. If your dryer has been slow since winter, call (833) 589-7835 for a free estimate.
Yes, we show you camera footage inside your vent before recommending any repair. You see exactly what we see: the lint buildup, the disconnected connector, the cracks in the flue, the rust. If we recommend a repair, it’s because the footage shows a problem. If the vent is fine, we’ll tell you that, too. Nothing gets recommended without evidence in Evanston. That’s how Norm Sobieski has run Sandstone Chimney Sweep from the start.
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible parts of the vent, from the dryer connection to the wall or chase opening. It catches obvious problems. A Level 2 inspection uses a camera to inspect the entire vent run, including sections inside walls, chases, or chimneys that you can’t see. In Evanston’s older homes, Level 2 is the only way to find abandoned oil flue tie-ins, hidden disconnects, and lint packed against spalling brick. If you’re buying an older Evanston home, schedule a Level 2 before you close.
Most Evanston homeowners should schedule dryer vent cleaning once a year. If your vent runs through an old chimney chase or abandoned oil flue in the Ridge Historic District, every 6 to 12 months is safer. Homes near the lake with high humidity may need more frequent inspection because damp lint clogs faster. If your dryer takes more than one cycle to dry a load, that’s the signal to call. Call (833) 589-7835 and we’ll get you on the schedule.
Contact Sandstone Chimney Sweep in Evanston
If your dryer vent hasn’t been checked in the last year, or if you’ve been told you need major work and want a second opinion with camera evidence, call Norm Sobieski at Sandstone Chimney Sweep. We serve all of Evanston, from the lakefront high-rises to the bungalows off Dempster, and we’ll give you a straight answer. Estimates are free. Call (833) 589-7835.
Written by Norm Sobieski, Owner at Sandstone Chimney Sweep, serving Evanston and the North Shore.