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

A permit is commonly required for relining in Illinois, and permits are issued locally. Ask the local building department before work begins, and ask which code edition is in force.

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.

Does Illinois license chimney relining?

Not as a separate trade at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, and some municipalities ask contractors to register or hold a local license. Confirm with the building department where the work will be done.

My home has a gas furnace venting into an old masonry chimney. Does that need a liner?

Often it does. A flue that was sized for something else can let acidic condensate attack the masonry. The camera inspection shows what the flue needs for the appliance it serves.

Can I keep using the fireplace until the relining is done?

No. Until the liner is verified, a damaged one can let heat and carbon monoxide reach the house structure. Leave the appliance off.

Stop using the fireplace

Chimney Relining, booked with one call, in Schaumburg, IL

Schaumburg grew fast around the Woodfield Mall area, and many of its homes and condos are now 30 to 50 years old. At that age a flue liner can be cracked, worn out or the wrong size for the appliance it serves. If you were told your liner is cracked and needs relining, this is planned work. It starts with a camera look inside the flue. Plan on not using the fireplace, stove or gas appliance until the liner has been checked.

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The cause is usually a mix of age, heat and weather. Illinois has a long heating season, from about October into April, so a flue gets months of continuous use. Freeze-thaw cycles and wind-driven rain and snow work on the crown, flashing and cap. Humid summers leave moisture in masonry and in flues that sit unused, and that speeds up liner corrosion.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace or stove. A damaged liner lets heat and carbon monoxide reach the structure of the house, so the appliance should stay off until the flue is verified.
Do not relight after a chimney fire. Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire, and the flue must be inspected before it is used again.
Get outside if you feel unwell. If anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911.
Do not convert to gas without a liner. Switching to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry.

What the technician does

Camera inspection firstThe technician runs a camera through the flue and looks at the actual damage. You can ask to see the footage.
Liner sized to the applianceA stainless steel liner is sized to what it vents and insulated where required. Where it suits the flue, a cast-in-place lining may be used instead.
Appliance and flue matchedSize, material and termination are matched to the fireplace, stove, furnace or water heater on the other end.
Cap and crown addressed togetherThe cap and crown are looked at during the same job, since water getting in at the top is hard on a new liner.
Price before work, your approval firstThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.

Why this happens in Schaumburg, IL

Many Schaumburg single-family homes have a masonry or prefab fireplace, and the condos and townhomes in the mix often share the same era of construction. Original parts from the 1960s through the 1990s are now reaching an age where replacement comes up. Illinois homes often vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney, and that kind of flue needs a properly sized liner.

Winter freeze-thaw and heavy road-salt use are hard on masonry chimneys in Schaumburg. Spring and summer storms add wind and water at the top of the stack. Demand rises in early fall as homeowners book work before the first cold snap. Masonry and crown repairs tend to land in warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. If you are planning a reline, that is worth keeping in mind. Also check whether your HOA wants notice before exterior work.

Questions people ask

Do I need a permit to reline a chimney in Schaumburg?: A permit is commonly required for relining in Illinois, and permits are issued locally. Ask the local building department before work begins, and ask which code edition is in force.
Who does the work?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.
Does Illinois license chimney relining?: Not as a separate trade at the state level. Requirements are handled locally, and some municipalities ask contractors to register or hold a local license. Confirm with the building department where the work will be done.
My home has a gas furnace venting into an old masonry chimney. Does that need a liner?: Often it does. A flue that was sized for something else can let acidic condensate attack the masonry. The camera inspection shows what the flue needs for the appliance it serves.
Can I keep using the fireplace until the relining is done?: No. Until the liner is verified, a damaged one can let heat and carbon monoxide reach the house structure. Leave the appliance off.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange a technician for your Schaumburg chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943