Is it dangerous to burn in a chimney that has never been swept?

It can be. Creosote is flammable, and a flue coated with it is fuel inside the house. Stop using the fireplace until the flue has been swept and inspected.

Do I need a permit in Elgin for a sweep and inspection?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding a chimney often is, so confirm with the local building department before any larger work starts.

My home is in the Elgin Historic District. Will the camera inspection matter?

Yes. Older homes there often have original brick chimneys, clay liners and old mortar. The camera shows whether the liner has cracks or gaps and whether the mortar needs attention.

The estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it.

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, who is the contractor and does the work.

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

Elgin has a large cluster of 19th-century homes in and around the Elgin Historic District, and many of them still have their original brick chimneys, clay flue liners and old mortar. If you have burned wood in one of them for years and never had it cleaned, creosote has almost certainly built up inside the flue. This job is a full sweep with a camera inspection. Plan to leave the fireplace or stove unused until it is done, and plan for the chance that the inspection finds something to repair.

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Creosote builds with every fire. Unseasoned or wet wood and slow, smouldering fires build it far faster than hot, bright ones. Illinois also has a long heating season, usually from about October into April, so a flue in Elgin can see months of continuous use. Creosote is flammable. A flue full of it is fuel inside the house.

While you wait — please don't

Do not light another fire. A flue that has never been cleaned may be coated with creosote, and a new fire can ignite it.
Do not stay inside if the chimney is roaring. A roaring sound or flames at the top of the chimney mean a chimney fire, so get everyone out and call 911.
Do not ignore smoke in the room. If smoke is coming into the house, stop using the fireplace, and if anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, get outside and call 911 because it may be carbon monoxide.
Do not guess about the liner. Cracks and gaps in an old clay liner cannot be seen from the firebox, so have the whole flue looked at before you burn again.

What the technician does

Free estimate firstThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first.
Full sweep, top to bottomThe flue is swept from top to bottom and the debris is removed, not left in the firebox.
Camera inspection of the whole flueA camera runs the full length of the flue. Ask to see the footage so you can see what the technician sees.
Liner checkThe liner is checked for cracks and gaps. Ask for any findings and the reasoning behind them in writing.
Damper, smoke shelf and fireboxThe damper, smoke shelf and firebox are cleaned out.
Cap and crownThe cap and crown are inspected, since water gets in there first.

Why this happens in Elgin, IL

Elgin's older neighborhoods, including Gifford Park and Downtown Elgin, have many original brick chimneys with clay flue liners and aging mortar. Those chimneys need tuckpointing and liner inspections before each heating season. A chimney that has never been swept is a good candidate for a camera look, because the sweep and the inspection answer different questions. The sweep clears the flue. The camera shows what condition the liner and masonry are in.

Weather adds to the job. Northern Illinois freeze-thaw cycles, sub-zero cold snaps and road salt are hard on masonry chimneys, and wind-driven rain and snow can get in at the crown, flashing and cap. Demand in Elgin spikes in late fall as homeowners prepare for winter, and again in early spring after freeze-thaw damage and storm season begin. If you are planning this job, calling before the late-fall rush gives you more room to schedule it and to deal with anything the inspection turns up. Newer homes on the far west side often have gas fireplaces, but if you burn wood anywhere in Elgin, the same sweep and inspection apply.

Questions people ask

Is it dangerous to burn in a chimney that has never been swept?: It can be. Creosote is flammable, and a flue coated with it is fuel inside the house. Stop using the fireplace until the flue has been swept and inspected.
Do I need a permit in Elgin for a sweep and inspection?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Relining or rebuilding a chimney often is, so confirm with the local building department before any larger work starts.
My home is in the Elgin Historic District. Will the camera inspection matter?: Yes. Older homes there often have original brick chimneys, clay liners and old mortar. The camera shows whether the liner has cracks or gaps and whether the mortar needs attention.
What does it cost?: The estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and nothing begins until you approve it.
Who does the work?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, who is the contractor and does the work.

One call

One call to (866) 576-7943 gets your Elgin sweep and inspection arranged, with a free estimate on every job. The technician gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.