Who do I call for a chimney leak in Chicago?

Call (866) 576-7943. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service that arranges the job with an independent sweep or mason. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.

Do I need a permit to fix a leaking chimney in Chicago?

In Chicago, permits are handled by the Department of Buildings. A permit is commonly required for relining a chimney or rebuilding it above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Confirm with the building department before work begins.

Why does my chimney leak after a Chicago winter?

Repeated freeze-thaw cycles widen cracks in the crown and mortar joints, and wind-driven rain and snow then get in at the crown, flashing and cap. The damp patch on the ceiling often shows up in the spring thaw.

Does Illinois license chimney repair?

Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed trades at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, so ask the technician what the city requires. You can also check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the building department.

Is it safe to use the fireplace with a leak?

If water is coming in, stop using the fireplace until the chimney has been inspected, because wet masonry or a damaged liner can be unsafe. If anyone has a headache, feels dizzy or nauseous, or smells smoke in the room, get outside and call 911.

Who to call for chimney leak in Chicago, IL

Much of Chicago's housing predates 1945 and is built of masonry, so a damp patch on the ceiling next to the chimney is a familiar problem in brick bungalows, two- and three-flats and greystones. Water is almost certainly getting in at the flashing, the crown, the cap or the mortar joints and running down the inside. Independent sweeps and masons do this work, and One Call Chimney arranges one for you. Look for someone who traces where the water enters instead of sealing over the stain, and who will explain the reasoning in writing.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

Phones answered around the clock · free estimate

It happens here because Illinois winters are hard on exposed brick. Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds, and over time that means spalled brick, cracked crowns and worn mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow off the prairie and the lake get in where ordinary rain runs past. Chicago's long, cold winters give the weather plenty of time to do that work.

While you wait — please don't

Do not stand or park under the chimney base. A chimney that has been wet for years can become structurally unsound, and falling brick is a hazard at the base.
Do not climb onto the roof to look. Wet flashing and masonry make a steep roof dangerous, and the technician can inspect it safely.
Do not seal over the stain or the brick. Paint or caulk can hide the symptom while water keeps getting in, so the entry point needs to be traced first.
Do not light the fireplace until it has been inspected. If the liner or brick is damaged, stop using the fireplace; if anyone feels dizzy, gets a headache or smells smoke in the room, get outside and call 911.

What the technician does

Inspection and tracingThe technician inspects the chimney and finds where the water enters. The leak is traced, not sealed over.
FlashingWhere the flashing has failed, it is replaced and counter-flashed into the mortar joint.
Crown and capA cracked crown is repaired or recast, and a cap is fitted to keep rain and snow out of the flue.
Brick and mortarWorn joints are repointed and spalled brick is replaced.
Water repellentWhere it suits the masonry, a breathable water repellent is applied.
Price first, then your approvalThe estimate is free. You get the price before any work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it.

Why this happens in Chicago, IL

Most Chicago garages are detached and open onto alleys, but the chimney is part of the house and takes the full weather on its own. Many older masonry flues here were built for coal or earlier appliances. Many now serve furnaces and water heaters instead of an active fireplace, so a chimney that is damp inside can still matter even if you never light a fire. Vintage brick also needs regular tuckpointing and liner attention. Whether the house is in Lakeview, Pilsen or Beverly, that is worth asking the technician about.

Timing follows the seasons. Demand rises in late fall as people prepare for winter, and again in the spring thaw when freeze-thaw damage to masonry shows up. In Illinois, masonry rebuilding, tuckpointing and crown repair are concentrated in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Summer in Chicago also brings severe thunderstorms and hail, and humid summers can leave moisture trapped in masonry. If you see a damp patch, it is worth getting the chimney looked at before the next heavy weather.

Questions people ask

Who do I call for a chimney leak in Chicago?: Call (866) 576-7943. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service that arranges the job with an independent sweep or mason. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.
Do I need a permit to fix a leaking chimney in Chicago?: In Chicago, permits are handled by the Department of Buildings. A permit is commonly required for relining a chimney or rebuilding it above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Confirm with the building department before work begins.
Why does my chimney leak after a Chicago winter?: Repeated freeze-thaw cycles widen cracks in the crown and mortar joints, and wind-driven rain and snow then get in at the crown, flashing and cap. The damp patch on the ceiling often shows up in the spring thaw.
Does Illinois license chimney repair?: Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed trades at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, so ask the technician what the city requires. You can also check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the building department.
Is it safe to use the fireplace with a leak?: If water is coming in, stop using the fireplace until the chimney has been inspected, because wet masonry or a damaged liner can be unsafe. If anyone has a headache, feels dizzy or nauseous, or smells smoke in the room, get outside and call 911.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange an independent technician for your chimney leak in Chicago. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

Nearby

Answers

Free tool

Inspection level quiz

Same problem in nearby cities

Every city we cover in Illinois

Something else in this area

One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.