Get in touch Village of Skokie!
Warm Up Safely in Village of Skokie!
Hello, Village of Skokie residents! As winter approaches, the allure of a crackling fireplace becomes irresistible. But before you light that first fire, ensure your chimney is ready for the season. At Chimney Monkey, we’re here to make your fireplace experience safe, warm, and worry-free.
Let’s make your winter in Skokie memorable and warm. Your comfort and safety are our priority.
Skokie, IL is a northern suburb of Chicago and is “The World’s Largest Village”. It is a great place to live the “city life” outside of the city itself. Chicago style bungalow homes line the streets and transit in and out of the city is easily accessible. Residents can enjoy shopping in the Old Orchard shopping center or a trip to the great outdoors at the Skokie Lagoons. During the summer months, Skokie’s close access to Lake Michigan beaches makes it appealing to many residents. However, during the winter, the beautiful village offers holiday lights and skating at the local parks. Skokie is a wonderful place to call home any time of the year.
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois. With a population of 67,824 as of the 2020 census, Skokie offers a unique blend of urban proximity and suburban tranquility. Situated just 15 miles north of Chicago’s downtown Loop, Skokie boasts a rich cultural heritage. We proudly serve Skokie’s zip codes: 60076, 60077, and 60203.
If you are a Skokie resident, you know that winters can get cold and nothing says coming home from a day at work like an evening around the fire. When you gather around the fireplace with your family, you are creating memories that will last forever. If you are looking for a Skokie chimney cleaning service, look no further than Chimney Monkey. We look forward to working with you soon!
Contact Chimney Monkey
You can call our office from Monday to Friday from 8am – 9pm at 847 994 4388
Chimney Monkey specializes in chimney sweeping, fireplace cleaning, inspections, and repairs. Ensure your home’s safety and efficiency with our professional services.
We proudly serve Skokie and surrounding communities, including Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, Winnetka, Chicago and nearby towns.
Call us today and let us take care of your chimney needs!
Chimney Service in Skokie, IL
Keep your Skokie home safe and cozy with the North Shore’s trusted chimney team. Call or book online today.
The Oversized Water Heater Flue
This is the condition we document most often in Skokie, and most homeowners have never heard of it. The original chimney was sized for a mid-century furnace and a water heater venting together. When the furnace was replaced with a high-efficiency unit it stopped using the chimney and started venting out a plastic pipe through the wall, which left the water heater venting alone into a flue several times larger than it needs. Exhaust that used to move up fast now cools on the way, condenses, and the moisture goes to work on the liner, the mortar and eventually the masonry itself. What we find is white staining and deteriorating joints inside the flue, soft mortar at the top, and in the worst cases a spalling liner venting an appliance that produces carbon monoxide. The correction is a properly sized stainless liner. We inspect the utility flue at the same rate as a fireplace inspection.
Bungalows, Two-Flats and Shared Flues
Skokie’s older two-flats and converted buildings sometimes vent two appliances into a single flue, or vent a newer appliance into a flue that was 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. If you own a two-flat or manage a small building, we can inspect the units in one visit and document each flue separately.
Fireplaces That Were Converted and Forgotten
A lot of Skokie fireplaces have had gas logs dropped in at some point, sometimes decades ago, sometimes with the damper clamped and sometimes not. Others were closed off entirely during a remodel with the flue left open at the top. Both situations produce the same call: a smell, a draft, a bird, or an owner who wants to use the fireplace again. Our NFI-certified technicians handle the gas side, and the inspection tells you whether the firebox and flue can support what you want to do. When the honest answer is that returning it to wood-burning is not worth the money, we will say so.
Skokie Chimney Questions
We replaced our furnace and were told the chimney is now too big. Is that real?
Yes, and it is the most common condition we find 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.
We never use the fireplace. Do we still need an inspection?
The fireplace flue can wait longer between sweepings, but the water heater and furnace flue vents every day of the year regardless. That is the one we would look at.
Our house is a 1955 brick bungalow. Does the chimney need repointing?
Sometimes, and it depends on which face you are looking at. We photograph all four sides and the top, and tell you whether it is maintenance or something to schedule.
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.
Do you charge for the inspection?
Yes. You are paying for a documented answer: photographs, a camera survey where conditions allow, and a clear explanation of what needs correcting now versus what can wait. The report is yours whether or not we do the repair.
Our Prices
Typical rates as of September 2026: 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 are quoted in writing after inspection. Call 847-994-4388 to book or to confirm current pricing.
