Never been swept in Chicago, IL
Much of Chicago's housing is old brick. That includes the bungalows, two-flats and greystones in places like Lakeview, Logan Square and Bridgeport, and most were built before 1945. If you have burned wood in a chimney like that and never had it cleaned, creosote has almost certainly been building up inside the flue. Nobody has looked at the liner in that time either, so its condition is unknown.
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Creosote is flammable. A flue coated with it is fuel sitting inside your house. Chicago has a long heating season and a lot of old masonry. Many older flues were built for coal or earlier appliances, so a chimney that has never been swept and never been inspected is worth sorting out before the next fire.
While you wait — please don't
- Don't light another fire until it's been checked. A flue with heavy buildup and an unknown liner is the setup for a chimney fire.
- Don't stay inside if the chimney roars or flames show at the top. That is a chimney fire, so get everyone out of the house and call 911.
- Don't ignore smoke in the room or feeling unwell near the fireplace. Stop using the fireplace, and if anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, get outside and call 911 because it may be carbon monoxide.
- Don't try to burn the buildup out. A hot fire in a dirty flue can ignite the creosote, and wet or unseasoned wood and slow smouldering fires make the buildup worse.
What the technician does
- You call and get a free estimateOne Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep, who inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts.
- Full sweep, top to bottomThe whole flue is cleaned and the debris is removed, so the creosote leaves the house instead of staying in the system.
- Camera inspection of the whole flueA camera shows what a flashlight can't. The liner is checked for cracks and gaps, which matters in a chimney that has never been looked at.
- Damper, smoke shelf and fireboxThese are cleaned and checked, since soot and debris collect there.
- Cap and crown inspectionThe top of the chimney is checked for damage that lets water in.
- You approve the price firstAsk to see the camera footage and ask for the reasoning behind any recommendation in writing. Nothing goes ahead until you say yes.
Why this happens in Chicago, IL
Illinois has a long heating season, typically from about October into April, so a flue in Chicago can see months of continuous use. Freeze-thaw cycles are hard on exposed masonry. They cause spalled brick, cracked crowns and worn mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow off Lake Michigan can add water intrusion at the crown, flashing and cap. A chimney that has gone unswept has usually gone uninspected for this kind of damage as well.
Older Chicago homes often need regular tuckpointing and attention to the chimney liner, because many older masonry flues were built for coal or earlier appliances. Many of these chimneys now serve furnaces and water heaters instead of an active fireplace, and they still need a liner that suits what is connected to them. Demand rises in late fall, when people prepare for winter, and again in the spring thaw, when freeze-thaw damage to masonry shows up. Booking a sweep before the cold sets in gives you room to deal with whatever the camera finds.
Questions people ask
- Is it safe to burn wood if I've never had the chimney swept?
- Stop using it until it has been swept and inspected. Creosote buildup and an unchecked liner are the two things that turn a normal fire into a chimney fire. If you see flames at the top or hear a roaring sound, get everyone out and call 911.
- Does the chimney on my Chicago two-flat or bungalow need this if it only vents a furnace?
- Chicago has many older masonry chimneys that now serve furnaces and water heaters. They may have liners built for coal or earlier appliances. An inspection shows whether the liner is sound and suits what is connected to it.
- Do I need a permit in Chicago for a sweep?
- Routine sweeping and basic inspection are generally not permitted work in Illinois. Relining, installing a stove or insert, or rebuilding a chimney above the roofline commonly is. In Chicago, permits go through the Department of Buildings, so confirm with them before bigger work starts.
- Who actually does the work?
- An independent sweep or mason does the work. One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service, not the contractor. Illinois leaves chimney work to local rules, so check what the city, village or county requires of contractors where you live.
- What does it cost?
- The estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first. Call (866) 576-7943 to start.
One call
Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a sweep and inspection for your Chicago chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
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Something else in this area
- Water coming in
- Smoke comes back into the room
- Something living up there
- Smells of smoke or damp
- Cracked crown or crumbling brick
- Damper stuck or broken
- Liner damaged or missing
- Rebuild or new chimney
One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.