Chimney Sweep in Des Plaines, IL

Chimney Sweep and Repair in Des Plaines, IL

Des Plaines is an older city than most of what surrounds it, with pre-war housing near the river and downtown, post-war brick through the rest, and the Des Plaines River running the length of it. That river is part of the chimney story here. Call 847-994-4388 or book online. We serve the 60016 and 60018 zip code and the surrounding communities, including Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Niles, Morton Grove and Rosemont.

Moisture, Low Ground and Masonry

Parts of Des Plaines sit low and damp, and masonry that stays wet behaves differently from masonry that dries out between rains. Ground moisture wicks up through the base of a chimney, and a chimney getting water from above through a cracked crown and from below through the foundation deteriorates from both ends.

What we look for is the whole water path: the crown, the cap, the mortar joints, the flashing, and the condition at the base. Sealing the one thing you noticed while leaving the others open just sends the water down the next route. Where masonry is still sound, repointing and a proper crown with a drip edge will add years to it.

The Oversized Water Heater Flue

The other recurring Des Plaines finding is the appliance flue. The original chimney was sized for a mid-century furnace and a water heater venting together. Once the furnace was replaced with a high-efficiency unit venting out a side wall, the water heater was left alone in a flue several times larger than it needs. The exhaust cools before it reaches the top, condenses, and the moisture attacks the liner and mortar joints from the inside.

We find white staining and deteriorating joints inside the flue, soft mortar at the top, and in the worst cases a liner shedding into a flue venting an appliance that produces carbon monoxide. The correction is a properly sized stainless liner, and we inspect that flue at the same rate as a fireplace.

Two-Flats, Rentals and Shared Flues

The older parts of the city have two-flats and converted buildings that sometimes vent two appliances into a single flue, or vent a newer appliance into a flue abandoned decades ago and never cleared. We check what is actually connected rather than what the previous owner said was connected, and we flag shared or abandoned flues specifically in the report. For owners and managers we can inspect the units in one visit with separate documentation for each.

What We Repair and Maintain in Des Plaines

• Level 1 and Level 2 chimney inspections — a documented condition report on the flue, firebox and chimney exterior, with photographs.
• Water heater and furnace chimney liners — correctly sized stainless liners for appliance flues.
• Chimney cleaning and sweeping — creosote removal and draft correction on wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.
• Chimney relining — for cracked, offset or missing clay tile.
• Brick and mortar repair and tuckpointing — repointing joints before water gets behind the brick.
• Crown repair and replacement — with a drip edge, so water leaves the chimney instead of soaking into it.
• Firebox and smoke chamber repair — parging voids and rebuilding deteriorated fireboxes.
• Chimney leak repair — finding the actual entry point before anything gets sealed.
• Chimney caps and spark arrestors — stock, custom and multi-flue caps sized to the flue.
• Gas fireplace and gas log service — valves, log sets, ignition and venting, by NFI-certified technicians.
• Dryer vent cleaning — including long and rooftop runs.

Areas We Cover

All of Des Plaines, including downtown and the blocks near the river, the neighborhoods around Oakton and Dempster, Cumberland and the south side, and the areas bordering Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Niles and Morton Grove.

Why Our Inspections Are Paid

We charge for inspections because the inspection is the service: we document what is actually happening with photographs and, where conditions allow, a camera survey of the flue, then explain what is urgent, what is maintenance and what can reasonably wait. A free estimate prices a known job. A diagnostic inspection determines what the job actually is. The report is yours whether or not we do the repair.

Who You Are Hiring

Chimney Monkey has been in business since 2017 and works out of Buffalo Grove. We are members and sponsors of the National Chimney Sweep Guild — our partner Brett Conklin serves on the NCSG board as an at-large director through 2027 — and we belong to the regional North Central Chimney Guild. Our technicians are NFI certified across wood-burning, gas and pellet appliances, we have SPRAT-certified technicians for rope-access work, and our crew trains through the year. One of our three partners is a U.S. military veteran. More than 1,100 Google reviews.

Des Plaines Chimney Questions

Our basement is damp and the chimney base looks wet. Is that related?

It can be. A chimney taking water from above through a cracked crown and from below through ground moisture deteriorates from both ends. We document the condition at the top and the base and tell you which is actually driving it.

We replaced our furnace and were told the chimney is now too big. Is that real?

Yes, and it is a common condition here. A flue sized for a furnace and water heater together is oversized once the furnace vents out the side wall. The exhaust cools, condenses and damages the flue from the inside. The correction is a liner sized to the appliance.

Can you inspect both units in a two-flat in one visit?

Yes, with separate documentation for each unit. We also flag shared or abandoned flues, which are common in buildings of this age and are not something to leave unresolved.

How much does a chimney sweep cost in Des Plaines, IL?

A chimney sweep runs $300 to $350 and includes the Level 1 inspection. An inspection on its own is $200 to $300, and the same range covers a utility chimney serving a furnace or water heater. A Level 2 inspection with a camera survey of the flue is around $300. Typical rates as of September 2026.

Do you charge for the inspection?

Yes. You are paying for a documented answer: photographs, a camera survey of the flue where conditions allow, and a written explanation of what needs correcting now versus what can wait. That report is yours whether or not we do the repair.

Our Prices

Typical rates as of September 2026. Prices change, so call 847-994-4388 to confirm current pricing. A chimney sweep runs $300–$350 and includes the Level 1 inspection. An inspection on its own is $200–$300, and the same range covers a utility chimney serving a furnace or water heater. A Level 2 inspection with a camera survey of the flue is around $300. Fireplace liners are sized per flue, and most complete jobs land between $3,000 and $4,000; a utility flue liner for a furnace or water heater typically runs $3,000–$3,800. Masonry repairs, relining and crown work are quoted in writing after the inspection, because pricing an unknown condition is guessing. Call 847-994-4388 to book or to confirm current pricing.