Does my Arlington Heights home need a permit to reline the chimney?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally, and relining a chimney commonly needs one. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the Arlington Heights building department before work begins.

Is there a state license for chimney relining in Illinois?

Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed trades at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, and many municipalities ask contractors to register or hold a local licence. You can check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the local building department.

My mid-century house now has a gas furnace in the old chimney. Does it need a liner?

Many Illinois homes vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner. Without one, acidic condensate can attack the masonry. A camera inspection will show what your flue needs.

When is the best time to schedule masonry and liner work here?

Masonry rebuilding, tuckpointing and crown repairs are concentrated in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Heating season runs roughly October into April, so a flue you plan to use should be verified first.

What does One Call Chimney actually do?

We are a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason. We are not the contractor and do not perform the work. Every job starts with a free estimate.

Stop using the fireplace

Who to call for chimney relining in Arlington Heights, IL

Much of Arlington Heights was built from the post-WWII boom through the 1970s, with older homes closer to downtown, and many of those houses have masonry or prefabricated fireplaces and chimneys. If someone told you the liner is cracked and needs relining, the flue has almost certainly worn out or been damaged. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason in the Arlington Heights area, and they do the work. Look for someone who starts with a camera inspection, shows you the footage, and puts the reasoning for any repair in writing.

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The liner is the lining inside the chimney that carries smoke and gas out of the house. When it cracks, heat and carbon monoxide can reach the structure around it. Winters here are cold and snowy, with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Illinois also has a long heating season, roughly October into April, so flues see months of steady use. That wears on a liner, and cold, wet and warm cycles wear on the masonry around it.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace or stove. A damaged liner can let heat and carbon monoxide reach the structure of the house, so the appliance should stay off until the flue is verified.
Get outside and call 911 if you feel unwell. Headache, nausea, dizziness or confusion indoors can point to carbon monoxide, and fresh air and emergency help come first.
Do not light it again after a chimney fire. Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire, and the flue must be inspected before anyone uses it again.
Do not keep running a gas appliance into a flue you are unsure about. A furnace or water heater vented through an older masonry chimney should have the flue checked before you rely on it.

What the technician does

Camera inspection firstThe technician sends a camera through the flue to see the real condition of the liner. Ask to see the footage.
Free estimate, then your approvalThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it.
Liner matched to the applianceA stainless steel liner is sized to the appliance and insulated where required. Where it suits the chimney, a cast-in-place lining may be used instead.
Flue and appliance made to fitThe appliance and flue are matched for size, material and termination, so the system vents the way it should.
Cap and crown handled togetherThe cap and crown are addressed at the same time, so water does not undo the new liner.

Why this happens in Arlington Heights, IL

Arlington Heights is a Chicago northwest suburb, and many of its mid-century homes have aging chimneys. Chicago-area clay soils and big seasonal temperature swings add wear to masonry. Illinois winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can lead to spalled brick, cracked crowns and worn mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow can add water at the crown, flashing and cap. Humid summers can trap moisture in rarely used flues and speed up liner corrosion.

Natural gas is the main heating fuel in Illinois, so many homes vent a furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney. Those flues often need a properly sized liner. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry. Demand around Arlington Heights is highest from late fall through winter during cold snaps, and again in spring and summer after storm damage. Masonry work is usually done in warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing.

Questions people ask

Does my Arlington Heights home need a permit to reline the chimney?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally, and relining a chimney commonly needs one. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the Arlington Heights building department before work begins.
Is there a state license for chimney relining in Illinois?: Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed trades at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, and many municipalities ask contractors to register or hold a local licence. You can check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the local building department.
My mid-century house now has a gas furnace in the old chimney. Does it need a liner?: Many Illinois homes vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner. Without one, acidic condensate can attack the masonry. A camera inspection will show what your flue needs.
When is the best time to schedule masonry and liner work here?: Masonry rebuilding, tuckpointing and crown repairs are concentrated in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Heating season runs roughly October into April, so a flue you plan to use should be verified first.
What does One Call Chimney actually do?: We are a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason. We are not the contractor and do not perform the work. Every job starts with a free estimate.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a technician for your Arlington Heights chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943