Why does a chimney that has never been swept need a camera inspection?

A brush cleans the flue, but only a camera shows the liner. It can reveal cracks and gaps that you cannot see from the firebox. Ask the technician to show you the footage.

Is the fireplace safe to use in Decatur until it is swept?

It is best to stop using it until it has been swept and inspected. Creosote builds up over many burns, and a flue full of it is fuel inside the house. If you see flames at the top or hear a roar, get everyone out and call 911.

Does Decatur's weather change what the inspection looks for?

Yes. Decatur has regular hard freezes and freeze-thaw cycles from late fall through early spring, and these are hard on brick, mortar and crowns. Spring storms and hail can also damage chimney caps, so the cap and crown are part of the inspection.

Do I need a permit for a sweep in Illinois?

Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding often is. Rules vary by jurisdiction, so check with the local building department before that kind of work begins.

Who actually does the work?

An independent sweep or mason does it. One Call Chimney arranges the visit and is not the contractor. The estimate is free, and the technician gives you the price before any work starts.

Never been swept, booked with one call, in Decatur, IL

Decatur sits on the flat central Illinois prairie beside Lake Decatur, and many of its older homes have masonry chimneys and fireplaces that have seen a lot of winters. If you have burned wood in yours for years and it has never been cleaned, creosote has almost certainly built up inside the flue. This job is a full sweep and a camera inspection. Plan to have the fireplace unused until it is done, and plan for the technician to look at the liner, the cap and the crown as well.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

Phones answered around the clock · free estimate

Creosote forms every time wood burns. Unseasoned or wet wood and slow, smouldering fires build it far faster than hot, bright ones. Illinois has a long heating season that typically runs from about October into April, so a flue gets months of continuous use. In Decatur, hard freezes and freeze-thaw cycles also work on exposed brick and mortar. A chimney that has never been swept has never been looked at closely either.

While you wait — please don't

Do not keep burning until it is checked. Creosote is flammable, and a lined flue full of it is fuel inside your house.
Do not fight a chimney fire yourself. A roaring sound or flames at the top of the chimney means a chimney fire, so get everyone out and call 911.
Do not use the fireplace if smoke comes into the room. Smoke in the room can mean a blockage or a damaged liner, and if anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, get outside and call 911 because it may be carbon monoxide.
Do not burn wet or unseasoned wood. It builds creosote much faster, so even a freshly cleaned flue fills up sooner.

What the technician does

You call, we arrange the visitOne Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with an independent sweep. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work.
Full sweep, top to bottomThe technician cleans the whole chimney and removes the debris, rather than leaving it in the firebox.
Camera inspection of the whole flueA camera runs the length of the flue. You can ask to see the footage and have the findings explained in writing.
Liner checked for cracks and gapsOlder clay tile liners can crack or open at the joints. A flue with a damaged liner should stay out of use until it is dealt with.
Damper, smoke shelf and firebox cleanedThese spots collect soot and debris. They are cleaned as part of the same visit.
Cap and crown inspected, price agreed firstThe technician checks the cap and crown, then gives you the price. Nothing starts until you approve it.

Why this happens in Decatur, IL

Much of Decatur's housing is older single-family stock: brick and wood-frame homes, bungalows and mid-century ranches. Many have masonry chimneys and fireplaces. Across Illinois, older brick homes often have full-height masonry chimneys with clay tile liners. Natural gas is the dominant heating fuel, so some homes also vent a furnace or water heater through an old chimney that needs a properly sized liner. If your home is in Johns Hill, Millikin Place, Mount Zion, Forsyth or anywhere else around Decatur, the first step is the same: find out what is inside the flue.

Plan around the seasons. Repair demand typically spikes in spring and early summer after severe storms and hail, which can damage chimney caps, and again with the first hard freezes of late fall and winter. Freeze-thaw cycles are hard on masonry, and they can lead to spalled brick, cracked crowns and worn mortar joints. If the inspection finds masonry work, it is usually done in warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally do not need a permit in Illinois. Relining or rebuilding work often does, and permits are issued locally, so confirm with the building department before that work begins.

Questions people ask

Why does a chimney that has never been swept need a camera inspection?: A brush cleans the flue, but only a camera shows the liner. It can reveal cracks and gaps that you cannot see from the firebox. Ask the technician to show you the footage.
Is the fireplace safe to use in Decatur until it is swept?: It is best to stop using it until it has been swept and inspected. Creosote builds up over many burns, and a flue full of it is fuel inside the house. If you see flames at the top or hear a roar, get everyone out and call 911.
Does Decatur's weather change what the inspection looks for?: Yes. Decatur has regular hard freezes and freeze-thaw cycles from late fall through early spring, and these are hard on brick, mortar and crowns. Spring storms and hail can also damage chimney caps, so the cap and crown are part of the inspection.
Do I need a permit for a sweep in Illinois?: Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding often is. Rules vary by jurisdiction, so check with the local building department before that kind of work begins.
Who actually does the work?: An independent sweep or mason does it. One Call Chimney arranges the visit and is not the contractor. The estimate is free, and the technician gives you the price before any work starts.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and one call arranges your sweep and inspection in Decatur. The estimate is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943