Do I need a permit to reline a chimney in Chicago?

A permit is commonly required for relining a chimney in Illinois. In the City of Chicago, permits are handled by the Department of Buildings. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with them before work begins.

Who checks the credentials of the technician?

You do, with our help in knowing where to look. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping or masonry repair at the state level, so requirements are local. Ask the technician what your city, village or county requires, and check with the local building department or the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Are you the company that does the relining?

No. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and the technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price.

What should I ask the technician to show me?

Ask to see the camera footage of the liner. Ask for the reasoning behind the recommendation in writing, including the liner size and material and why they suit your appliance.

Stop using the fireplace

Who to call for chimney relining in Chicago, IL

Much of Chicago's housing stock predates 1945 and is masonry: brick bungalows, two- and three-flats, and greystones. The liner inside the chimney has cracked or opened up, so it no longer keeps heat and exhaust gases inside the flue. The people who fix this in Chicago are independent chimney sweeps and masons. Look for one who runs a camera through the flue first, shows you the footage, and explains in writing what they found. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange that technician. We are not the contractor and we do not do the work.

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It happens here for a few reasons. Many older Chicago flues were built for coal or earlier appliances, and now serve a furnace or water heater. Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry. Illinois winters add repeated freeze-thaw cycles on top of a heating season that runs from about October into April, so the flue works hard for months.

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 not be used until the flue is verified.
Get outside and call 911 if you feel unwell. Headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion while an appliance is running can mean carbon monoxide, and fresh air comes first.
Do not relight after a chimney fire. After any chimney fire the flue must be inspected before it is used again, because the tiles may have cracked where you cannot see.
Do not keep relying on a gas appliance venting into a flue you were told is cracked. Get the flue and the appliance checked together before you treat the vent as safe.

What the technician does

Camera inspection firstThe technician runs a camera through the flue and looks at the liner from top to bottom. Ask to see the footage so you can see the damage yourself.
Estimate and price before any workThe estimate is free. The technician gives you the price after inspecting the chimney, and you approve it before anything starts.
Liner matched to the applianceA stainless steel liner is sized to the appliance and insulated where required. Cast-in-place lining is used where it suits the chimney. The flue and appliance are matched for size, material and termination.
Cap and crown handled togetherThe cap and crown are addressed at the same time, since water getting in at the top is hard on a new liner and the masonry around it.
Permit questions answered up frontRelining commonly needs a permit in Illinois. In Chicago that goes through the Department of Buildings, so confirm with them before work begins.

Why this happens in Chicago, IL

Chicago has long, cold winters and heavy lake-effect snow, and Lake Michigan adds damp air along the lakefront. Illinois masonry takes repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which crack crowns, spall brick and break down mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow find the crown, flashing and cap. Humid summers can trap moisture in masonry and in flues that sit unused, which speeds up liner corrosion. Late fall and the spring thaw are when chimney problems tend to show up in Chicago.

Vintage brick homes in Chicago need regular tuckpointing and attention to the chimney liner, since many older flues were built for coal or earlier appliances. Plenty of those chimneys now vent a gas furnace or water heater instead of an active fireplace. That is why a flue can look fine from the street and still need a properly sized liner. Chicago has its own building code, and Illinois has no state licence for chimney work. Requirements are handled locally, so ask the Department of Buildings what applies to your job.

Questions people ask

Do I need a permit to reline a chimney in Chicago?: A permit is commonly required for relining a chimney in Illinois. In the City of Chicago, permits are handled by the Department of Buildings. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with them before work begins.
My Chicago chimney only vents a furnace. Does it still need a liner?: It can. Many older Chicago masonry flues were built for coal or earlier appliances. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry. A camera inspection will show what your flue needs.
Who checks the credentials of the technician?: You do, with our help in knowing where to look. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping or masonry repair at the state level, so requirements are local. Ask the technician what your city, village or county requires, and check with the local building department or the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Are you the company that does the relining?: No. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and the technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price.
What should I ask the technician to show me?: Ask to see the camera footage of the liner. Ask for the reasoning behind the recommendation in writing, including the liner size and material and why they suit your appliance.

One call

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

Call now · (866) 576-7943