What every Chicago homeowner should know about chimneys, what fails first, how creosote builds up, when to reline, and how to choose a sweep.
Chicagoans burn hard through long winters, and that heavy use lays down creosote faster than most homeowners realize. Here is what creosote is, why a hard-burning flue builds it, and how it turns into a chimney fire.
Read more →A leaking chimney is one of the most common calls we get, and on a Chicago home it almost always comes down to one of four things. Here is how to tell them apart and why the freeze-and-thaw cycle is behind so much of it.
Read more →The chimney liner is the part you never see and the part that most directly keeps your home safe. Here is what a liner does, how clay and stainless liners differ, and why a failed liner is one finding that should not wait.
Read more →Most people think of a chimney in terms of smoke and fire, but its quieter job is venting carbon monoxide safely out of the house. Here is how a chimney protects you, how it can fail at that job, and what to watch for.
Read more →Chicago's brick bungalows and greystones were built with masonry chimneys meant to last generations. Here is what it takes to keep a century-old chimney sound, and why the work has to respect the building.
Read more →Chimney work is expensive, you usually cannot see what was done up there, and the trade has its share of bad actors. Here is how to tell an honest Chicago chimney company from one to walk away from.
Read more →Whatever your chimney needs, our licensed and insured Chicago crew gives you one honest assessment and photos of every job, with up-front pricing and no pressure.