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 West Palm Beach: What to Know First
We’re an independent Gelco service provider, and we sweep and inspect Gelco fireplaces and chimneys throughout West Palm Beach. A standard Gelco chimney sweep here typically runs $189 – $289, and most jobs are completed in under two hours from the time our technician rings your doorbell to the moment we hand you a written summary of what we found. That price covers the full sweep, a Level 1 inspection, and your before-and-after photo report at no extra charge.
This page is written for Gelco owners in West Palm Beach who want straight answers about what their system needs, what it costs, and who exactly is walking through their door. Call (728) 203-8687 and a live person answers, around the clock.
How Gelco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Gelco builds solid fireplace and chimney components, but every brand has its weak points. Here’s what we actually see in West Palm Beach homes, based on sweeps and inspections we’ve done on Gelco systems across the area.
- Gelco chimney caps with rusted damper assemblies. Gelco’s multi-flue caps do a fine job keeping rain out, but the damper pivot hardware on older Gelco top-mount dampers is prone to corrosion, especially within a few miles of the Intracoastal Waterway. Most Gelco repairs in West Palm Beach that cross our path involve a cap that won’t open or close cleanly. We free what’s serviceable, and when it’s rusted through, we quote a direct replacement before touching anything.
- Creosote buildup accelerated by Gelco’s tight flue clearances. Gelco stainless flue liners run slightly narrower than some competitor systems, which means the air gap between the liner and the masonry is tight by design. That’s perfectly safe when the system is swept annually, but it also means West Palm Beach’s humid, salt-heavy air condenses inside the flue faster in summer, and creosote deposits cling harder as a result. We use rotary whip heads with nylon bristles to clear Gelco liners without scratching the stainless.
- Gelco refractory panels that crack at the seams. Gelco fireboxes use modular refractory panels that expand and contract with heat. In West Palm Beach, where temperature swings are mild but humidity is constant, we see hairline cracks forming at panel joints in systems that are 8 – 12 years old. A small crack isn’t automatically dangerous, but it’s exactly the kind of thing we photograph, measure, and flag for the next inspection rather than quietly ignoring.
- Soot-clogged Gelco gas log sets. Gelco vented gas logs accumulate soot unevenly, particularly on the rear log row where flame impingement is strongest. When a West Palm Beach homeowner reports a gas smell or yellow, lazy flames, the cause is often a soot layer blocking the burner ports. We remove the logs, clean each burner port individually, and reset the log placement to Gelco’s spec so the flame pattern burns clean again.
- Gelco chimney chase covers with failed silicone from UV exposure. Gelco metal chase tops are sealed at the factory, but Florida sun is harsher than most. After five to seven years of direct West Palm Beach sun, the silicone bead around a Gelco chase cover degrades and water finds its way into the chase. During a sweep, we check the chase interior for water staining and reseal or replace the cover as the condition warrants, always showing you the photo evidence before recommending the work.
Styles & brands we work with





Our Gelco Chimney Sweep Process
Here’s exactly what happens when you book a Gelco sweep with us in West Palm Beach.
- 1
You call, a person answers. No menus, no voicemail. We ask about your Gelco system, schedule a time that works, and you receive the technician’s name and photo before the truck arrives.
- 2
We show ID at the door. Every Alcott Chimney West Palm Beach technician carries a photo ID badge and shows it before stepping inside. That’s the Threshold Standard, and it’s not optional.
- 3
We protect your floors and sightlines. Drop cloths go down around the hearth, and we run a HEPA-filtered vacuum to keep soot dust from settling on furniture. You won’t know we were there except that the chimney is clean.
- 4
We sweep and inspect. We run brushes sized for Gelco flue dimensions, remove creosote and soot from the firebox, damper, and smoke shelf, then perform a Level 1 inspection with a camera. You see every photo.
- 5
We hand you a written price for any recommended work. If we find something that needs repair, you get a written quote before any work begins. If it can wait, we say so plainly.
- 6
We leave your home the way we found it, then back the work. Every repair carries a written guarantee. If it fails within the coverage period, our second visit is free. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Sweep Costs in West Palm Beach
Here are the numbers we quote most often for Gelco work in West Palm Beach, as of 2026.
- Standard Gelco sweep with Level 1 inspection: $189 – $289
- Sweep plus Level 2 camera inspection (after an animal intrusion or before buying a home): $349 – $449
- Gelco cap or damper replacement: $195 – $380 depending on model
- Refractory panel replacement (per panel): $145 – $225
- Gas log cleaning and burner service: $129 – $189
What moves the price is access. A single-story Gelco fireplace on a slab foundation is the fastest job. A two-story chimney with a steep roof pitch in a Flamingo Park historic home takes longer and costs more because we work from scaffolding or a roof harness rather than a ladder. Every estimate includes a written price before work begins, so there’s never a surprise line item.
Call (728) 203-8687 for a free estimate on your Gelco system.
Why West Palm Beach Homeowners Call Alcott Chimney West Palm Beach for Gelco Work
Ruben Castellano grew up in East Los Angeles and learned his trade foundations at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before spending decades working chimneys full-time. He and his crew have served West Palm Beach for years, including jobs in the established homes along Flamingo Park where older fireboxes and aging clay-tile flues keep things interesting. What Ruben brings to a Gelco job is a technician who will walk you through every photo, tell you what it means in plain English, and quote you a number he’ll stand behind. No vague estimates, no upsell pressure. If he wouldn’t put it in writing, he won’t say it to your face, and the other way around.
We’re also not married to one brand. If your Gelco chimney needs a liner, we install DuraFlex systems. If the firebox needs resurfacing, we use HeatShield. The right part for the job, not whatever’s on the truck.
Call (728) 203-8687 and we’ll get your Gelco system swept, inspected, and documented.
FAQs
No. Routine chimney sweeping and Level 1 inspections by an independent service provider do not void your Gelco warranty. We follow Gelco’s maintenance recommendations and document everything with photos, so you have a service record if you ever need to file a claim.
Most Gelco sweeps in West Palm Beach are scheduled within three to five business days. If you smell smoke or suspect a blockage, call (728) 203-8687 and we’ll tell you honestly whether it can wait or needs immediate attention.
When the part matters for fit and fire safety, we use Gelco or equivalent professional-grade trade parts. For liners and resurfacing, we carry DuraFlex and HeatShield, both specified by chimney professionals. We’ll show you the part, explain the difference, and give you a written price before ordering anything.
If the repair cost is under half the cost of a new system and the fireplace is otherwise sound, repair usually makes sense. If your Gelco unit is 15-plus years old with a cracked firebox, rusted chase, and failing liner, replacement may be cheaper over time. We’ll show you the numbers side by side and let you decide.
Creosote builds up inside the flue, and creosote is the tar-like buildup that causes chimney fires. In West Palm Beach’s humid climate, it accumulates faster than in dry regions. A skipped year usually means a heavier, harder-to-remove deposit the next time. Call (728) 203-8687 to schedule your sweep before the next burning season.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner, Alcott Chimney West Palm Beach at Alcott Chimney West Palm Beach, serving West Palm Beach and nearby areas.