Sweepnman owner reflects on 20 years of business

Sweepnman owner reflects on 20 years of business
March 16, 2026 - By Emily Collins
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WESTFORD — What began as a one-truck chimney sweeping business has grown into a regional fireplace and chimney company serving homeowners in multiple towns across Massachusetts.
David Bancroft, owner of Sweepnman Fireplace Center, said he started the company more than two decades ago with a simple goal in mind: to work for himself and build something of his own.
“22 years ago, I incorporated Sweepnman,” Bancroft said. “I started out as just a one-truck operation.”
Today, the business includes a service headquarters in North Reading and a showroom and fabrication space in Westford.
Bancroft purchased the Groton Road building four years ago. The Westford location houses the company’s metal fabrication shop and fireplace showroom. Bancroft said he was initially looking for industrial space for the fabrication side of the business, but discovered the property already had retail showroom zoning.
“I’ve always wanted to have a fireplace store,” Bancroft said. “So it was perfect. It’s just it’s taken a long time to put this together.”
Sweepnman offers a range of services, including chimney sweeping, chimney inspections, fireplace installation, masonry repairs and waterproofing. Fixing chimney leaks is one of the most common calls the company receives, Bancroft said.
“We fix leaky chimneys, that’s really one of our specialties,” Bancroft said.
Many customers contact the company when moving into or selling a home and want to ensure their chimney system is safe.
“New homeowners, or if someone’s selling their house, they want to call us to make sure everything is good before they sell it,” Bancroft said.
The business began to grow rapidly after Bancroft decided to focus on chimney sweeping full-time in 2015. Over the following years, the company expanded significantly, adding employees, service crews and management staff.
The North Reading location now operates as the company’s service hub, with technicians performing chimney sweeping, inspections, masonry work and installations throughout the region. The Westford showroom allows customers to see different fireplace models in person and learn about heating options.
Bancroft said when customers visit the showroom, the first step is understanding what they want from a fireplace.
“We’ll want to find out if they want heat or ambience or if they want to maybe be able to cook on something,” Bancroft said. “Some  want if they’re going green, like a lot of people. But no matter what it is, it’s highly efficient, and we offer the latest and greatest.”
Beyond running the business, Bancroft has become deeply involved in the chimney sweep industry. He is a master chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and serves as president of the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild.
Community involvement is another important part of the business, according to Bancroft. Sweepnman donates regularly to local organizations, including Westford Little League, and contributes annually to the Jimmy Fund.
The company donates $1,000 every time the Boston Red Sox sweep a series. They have donated $36,000 to the charity over the past five years.
“It’s such an important thing to give back like that,” Bancroft said. 
Looking ahead, Bancroft said he plans to continue expanding the showroom’s product offerings and is currently exploring new fireplace and outdoor cooking equipment lines.
Despite the company’s growth, he said he still reflects on how far the business has come.
“I never imagined that we’d be sitting here right now when I was just a single truck working out of my house,” Bancroft said. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”