Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterChimney Cleaning Before & After in Downers Grove, IL
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve photographed every one. The photos below show what our camera found, what we did about it, and what the flue looked like when we were done. No staging, no stock images - just the actual work our technicians handle in Downers Grove homes, from Class III glazed creosote (a hard, tar-like deposit that can ignite) to spalling brick faces flaking off the crown.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal - Downers Grove Split-Level
The homeowner in a 1970s split-level near Belmont Road and 63rd Street had burned four to five cords of seasoned oak annually for twelve years without a sweep. Our camera scan showed Class III glazed creosote (the most dangerous form, which cannot be removed by standard brushing) reducing the stainless steel flue liner to less than 70% of its designed diameter. We applied a creosote-modifying agent (a powder that breaks the glaze’s bond with the metal), waited the prescribed dwell time, then ran a rotary cleaning system (a spinning chain whip on a flexible drive) at controlled RPM to avoid damaging the liner. The result: full diameter restored, documented with before-and-after camera footage, and a written scope for annual maintenance going forward. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard required the photo record; the homeowner received both stills and a video clip.
Smoke Chamber Parging - Downers Grove Brick Ranch
A ranch home near Downers Grove Golf Club had smoke occasionally backing into the living room during shoulder-season fires. The smoke chamber (the area above the damper that funnels smoke into the flue) was built with corbeled brick (stepped inward like a pyramid), leaving rough faces and mortar gaps that created turbulence. We used HeatShield cerfractory foam, applied in lifts to build a smooth, parabolic surface that meets the IRC’s 1:10 slope requirement. The camera scan after parging shows a clean, continuous draw. No more smoke in the room, and the homeowner has the photo record and a written 365-Day Done Right Promise on the parging work.
Spalling Crown Rebuild with Gelco Cap - Downers Grove Victorian
The crown on an 1890s home near Downtown Downers Grove was showing spalling (surface flaking caused by water freezing in the concrete’s pore structure), with cracks running from the flue tile to the edge. Water was entering the chase and staining the interior brick. We removed the deteriorated concrete to solid substrate, formed and poured a new crown with a 2-inch overhang and drip edge (design features that direct water away from the masonry), then installed a Gelco stainless steel chimney cap with 5/8-inch mesh to block debris and animals. The photo record shows the pour, the form removal, and the final cap installation. Written price was delivered before any demolition started - Haven Standard Clause 1.
Stainless Liner Installation - Downers Grove Townhome with Deteriorated Clay Flue
A townhome community near Finley Road and Ogden Avenue had original clay flue tiles from 1986 with vertical cracking and shifted joints (gaps that allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to leak into wall cavities or living spaces). We installed a DuraFlex 316Ti stainless steel liner (the titanium-stabilized alloy resists corrosion from acidic condensate in high-efficiency appliances), insulated with perlite mix to maintain flue temperature and reduce creosote formation, and sealed with a top plate and proper storm collar. The camera scan from top to bottom shows continuous, unbroken liner wall. The homeowner received the photo record, the written scope, and the written warranty before any work began - and a free second opinion on the competitor’s $4,200 quote that recommended a full rebuild instead.
Firebox Refractory Panel Replacement - Downers Grove Colonial
A colonial near McCollum Park had a factory-built fireplace with refractory panels (the simulated brick walls that reflect heat into the room) cracked through to the metal wrapper. The manufacturer specifies replacement when cracks exceed 1/4 inch or when pieces are missing - this firebox had both. We sourced matching panels through Haven’s buying network, installed them with the factory-specified clearances and fasteners, and ran a smoke test to confirm proper draft. The written price for panel replacement and reassembly was $680; the competitor’s quote for a “fireplace restoration” was $2,400 with no itemization. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard: have it in writing.
Annual Sweep with Level 2 Inspection - Downers Grove New Construction
A 2022 build near Maple Avenue and 75th Street had its first annual sweep after one season of use. The Class I soot layer (loose, powdery deposit from well-seasoned hardwood burned with adequate air) was light but present, with early glaze forming at the smoke shelf (the flat area behind the damper where cool air and particles settle). We brushed the flue, cleaned the smoke shelf, and ran the full NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection - camera scan from firebox to cap, accessible exterior, and attic clearance check. The homeowner now has a baseline photo record for comparison in future years. Annual sweeps in Downers Grove typically run $180 to $260 for a standard flue with good access; this job was quoted at $195 before we arrived.
Want Results Like These?
Every job above started with a written price, a named technician, and a camera. No surprises, no pressure, no work without documentation. Call (331) 253-4980 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day. We’ll schedule your sweep, deliver your written quote, and show you exactly what we found when we’re done. Free second opinion on any competitor’s written estimate.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Downers Grove, serving Downers Grove since 2009.