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.
Gelco Chimney Sweep in Fort Lauderdale: What to Know First
Gelco chimney sweep service in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $189 – $340 for a standard sweep and visual inspection, and most jobs are completed in 60 – 90 minutes. As an independent Gelco service provider, we work on Gelco chimney systems across Fort Lauderdale, from Victoria Park condos to single-family homes in Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, and along the New River. You’ll get a written price before we touch a single tool, and we’ll show you what we found with camera evidence before recommending anything beyond the sweep. If your Gelco system just needs cleaning and a quick check, that’s what you’ll pay for – nothing more.
This page is for Gelco owners in Fort Lauderdale who want straight answers about what their chimney needs, what it costs, and who they’re letting onto the roof. Call (754) 354-1451 for a free estimate. Nathan Corliss and our crew have been cleaning and inspecting chimneys in this market for going on two decades.
How Gelco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Gelco makes solid chimney components, but no brand escapes South Florida’s humidity and salt air. Here’s what we actually see on Gelco systems in Fort Lauderdale homes.
- Gelco stainless steel liners and South Florida salt corrosion. Homes within a mile or two of the beach – think Harbor Beach, Las Olas Isles, or anything east of US-1 – put Gelco liners through the wringer. Salt-laden air gets into the flue and sits on the steel between burns. We regularly sweep Gelco liners that have developed surface pitting from this, not from fire damage. Our fix is a thorough creosote and soot removal followed by a camera inspection to document the actual condition, so you know whether the liner is serviceable or needs attention. Most of the time, a good sweep is all it takes.
- Creosote buildup in Gelco’s air-cooled chimney systems during our humid off-season. Fort Lauderdale doesn’t get a real heating season, which means Gelco chimneys sit idle for months. Creosote left from occasional winter fires absorbs humidity and turns gummy, then hardens into a glaze that resists brushes. We see this constantly on Gelco air-cooled chimney systems in neighborhoods like Plantation and Davie. The fix is a mechanical sweep with the right brushes and, when needed, a creosote-release chemical treatment that breaks down the deposits before we brush.
- Gelco chase covers leaking around the flue pipe during summer downpours. A leaky chase cover lets water run down the outside of the Gelco flue and into the firebox. We’ll spot the rust streaks during a Level 1 or Level 2 inspection. The sweep removes the soot and moisture that have already gotten in, and we’ll tell you plainly if the chase cover needs replacing – with a written price first, so there’s no surprise at the door.
- Animal nesting in Gelco chimney caps during the wet season. Fort Lauderdale’s spring and summer bring birds, squirrels, and the occasional raccoon looking for a dry spot. Gelco chimney caps are sturdy, but the space under them is a favorite nesting spot. A sweep clears out the nest material, which is a fire hazard if left in place, and we’ll check that the cap itself is still seated correctly.
- Smoke drafting issues in Gelco systems where the flue height is borderline for our flat, low-rise roof lines. Many Fort Lauderdale homes have shallow roof pitches and short chimneys, which makes draft marginal even when the Gelco setup is built to spec. Soot and creosote inside the flue make it worse. A clean flue often fixes a lazy draft on its own. If it doesn’t, we’ll show you the camera footage and talk about realistic options – not a hard sell on a rebuild you don’t need.
Styles & brands we work with





Our Gelco Chimney Sweep Process
Here’s exactly how a Gelco chimney sweep with Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale goes from first call to finished job.
- 1
Call and book. You talk to a live person, any hour, any day. We ask about your fireplace or stove, what you’re seeing or smelling, and when you’re available. No voicemail loops.
- 2
Arrival and written price. A background-checked, uniformed technician shows up in the window we gave you. Before any work starts, you get a written price for the sweep. If we find something else while we’re up there, we stop, show you the evidence, and quote you in writing before touching anything beyond the original scope. The number on the invoice matches the number we quoted at the door.
- 3
Interior and exterior protection. We lay down protective barriers inside your home and set up our equipment outside. We leave it cleaner than we found it – that’s the Kingswell Way.
- 4
The sweep and Level 1 inspection. We remove creosote and soot from the Gelco flue using brushes matched to your liner type and condition. For glazed creosote or stubborn deposits, we’ll use the right chemical pretreatment first. Every sweep includes a Level 1 inspection of your Gelco chimney system.
- 5
Camera documentation. We run a camera through the flue and show you the footage. If everything looks good, you’ll see that with your own eyes. If something needs attention – pitting, a cracked tile, a failed joint – you’ll see that too, and we’ll give you a written repair quote with no pressure. Nothing gets recommended unless you can see the evidence.
- 6
Cleanup and written guarantee. We clear our equipment, vacuum, and leave your space ready to use. You get a written guarantee on any repair work completed, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise applies: if it’s not done right, we make it right. If a covered repair fails inside the guarantee period, we return and correct it at no charge.
See the difference
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AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Sweep Costs in Fort Lauderdale
Here’s what Gelco owners in Fort Lauderdale can expect to pay for common scenarios. These are honest ranges, not bait numbers.
- Standard Gelco chimney sweep with Level 1 inspection: $189 – $340. This covers most single-flue masonry and prefab systems. The spread depends on flue height, creosote stage, and access from the roof.
- Heavy creosote removal on a Gelco liner: $275 – $425. Glazed or stage-three creosote requires chemical pretreatment and extra time.
- Gelco chimney sweep plus Level 2 camera inspection: $325 – $525. This is what we recommend if you’ve had water intrusion, draft problems, or you’re buying or selling a home in Fort Lauderdale.
- Animal nest removal from a Gelco chimney cap area: $75 – $200, depending on nest size and access.
- Gelco chase cover replacement plus sweep: $450 – $900, depending on material, size, and whether custom fabrication is needed.
What moves the price: flue length, creosote buildup stage, roof pitch and access, and whether a chemical treatment is needed. You’ll always know the exact number before we start. Call (754) 354-1451 for a free estimate on your Gelco chimney in Fort Lauderdale.
Why Fort Lauderdale Homeowners Call Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale for Gelco Work
Plenty of chimney companies will take a Gelco job. Few of them will put the price in writing before they start or guarantee the repair in writing when they finish. We do both, every time, no exceptions. That’s not a promise we make lightly because we’ve been doing this since 2002, and our crew has seen what happens when contractors cut corners – in Fort Lauderdale’s humidity and salt air, corners cut in a flue become expensive problems fast. We’re also not a one-brand shop. While we service Gelco systems daily, our techs work across DuraFlex, HeatShield, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield too. That matters because your Gelco setup may share components from multiple manufacturers, and a tech who only knows one brand will miss what’s really going on.
Say the price first, explain the work second, put it all in writing – that is the whole business model.
FAQs
Yes, we service all Gelco chimney systems installed in Fort Lauderdale homes, including air-cooled chimney systems, stainless steel liners, chase covers, and chimney caps. We’re an independent Gelco service provider, not a manufacturer-authorized dealer, which means we’re free to recommend what’s actually best for your chimney – including quality aftermarket parts when they offer better value than OEM.
No, routine chimney sweeping and inspection do not void Gelco warranties. In fact, regular maintenance is required by most warranty terms. The voiding happens when homeowners ignore the maintenance schedule, attempt unqualified repairs, or let creosote buildup damage components. We sweep to the manufacturer’s specifications and document everything we find. Call (754) 354-1451 for scheduling and pricing.
Once a year, even if you only burn occasionally in the winter months. Fort Lauderdale’s humidity means creosote left from last season absorbs moisture and hardens over the summer, making it harder to remove later. Annual sweeps keep the flue clean, catch early corrosion from salt air, and keep your Gelco system running safely. The exception is heavy use or a water leak – if you see rust streaks or smell musty odors, call sooner.
If the crack is minor and the surrounding structure is sound, we can often address it with HeatShield’s ceramic joint repair system, which is a recognized solution in the industry. For more extensive damage – large cracks, gaps, or a liner that’s pulling away – the repair usually means a new stainless liner from a brand like DuraFlex. We’ll show you the camera footage and give you a written quote before any repair work starts. Call (754) 354-1451 and we’ll walk you through the options without any hard sell.
That depends on season and scheduling. During peak months, we’re typically booking about a week out. If you’ve got water coming in or you smell smoke inside the house, tell the person who answers the phone – we’ll work to get you on the schedule faster. Our phones are answered by a live person 24/7, so you’ll always know exactly where you stand.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner, Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale at Ashby Chimney Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.