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 Crystal Lake, IL
Photos don’t exaggerate. When a homeowner in Crystal Lake sees Class III glazed creosote coating their flue liner, or spalling brick that’s been shedding freeze-thaw debris for three winters, the camera tells the truth. We’ve documented every chimney we’ve touched since 2009, over 38,000 jobs, and this gallery shows what professional chimney cleaning and repair actually looks like in McHenry County homes.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, Prairie Grove
The homeowner burned exclusively seasoned oak but never realized their insert was running so cold that pyrolysis gases were condensing into rock-hard glazed creosote, a tar-like compound that standard brushing won’t touch. We applied a Stage Three creosote modifier, mechanically removed the glazed layer with chains and whips, then ran our camera to verify bare metal. The flue liner passed inspection. Written scope, written price, photo record delivered under Haven Standard Clause 4.
Smoke Chamber Parging and Firebox Restoration, Lakewood
The corbeled brick smoke chamber, that sloped area above the firebox, had never been parged and was shedding sand into the hearth every burning season. Smoke chambers are required to be smooth to prevent turbulent flow and creosote accumulation, but most Crystal Lake homes built before 1990 were left rough. We applied Chamber-Tech 2000 to create a smooth, insulated surface, then documented the geometry with our camera. The firebox got matching refractory repair. Price was written before we unloaded the truck.
Chimney Cap and Crown Replacement, Bull Valley
The crown, that concrete slab at the top of the chimney, had cracked diagonally and was funneling meltwater directly onto the clay flue tiles below. Water in a chimney in Crystal Lake’s freeze-thaw climate destroys liners from the outside in. We removed the failed crown, poured a new 4-inch reinforced slab with proper drip edge and slope, then installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with ¾-inch mesh to keep out raccoons and starlings. The photo record shows the pour, the cure, and the final fit.
Flue Liner Reline with DuraFlex, Woodstock Vicinity
The terracotta flue liner had a horizontal fracture at the second joint, visible on our camera scan as daylight showing through to the masonry wall. That gap meant combustion gases were leaking into the chimney structure, a carbon monoxide risk that can’t be diagnosed from the hearth. We dropped a DuraFlex 316Ti stainless steel liner, poured vermiculite insulation around it for UL 1777 listing, and top-sealed with a custom collar. The homeowner received camera footage of the fracture, the liner pull, and the sealed termination.
Chimney Sweep and Damper Repair, Crystal Lake Historic District
The throat damper hadn’t closed in a decade, which meant conditioned air was escaping up the flue year-round and the smoke shelf was packed with fallen debris from three maples in the yard. We removed the damper plate, found the frame pitted through, and installed a new cast-iron assembly with matching pivot arms. The sweep removed two gallons of granular creosote and leaf matter. Draft was tested at 12 pascals, within spec for the fireplace opening. Written warranty, 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Spalling Brick and Tuckpointing, Ridgefield
The south face of this exterior chimney was taking the full force of sun, wind, and freeze-thaw cycling off the ridge. Brick faces were spalling, peeling off in layers like an onion, because the original mortar was too hard and trapped moisture. We ground out the joints to ¾-inch depth, repointed with Type N mortar matched for absorption, replaced two units that had lost more than ⅓ of their face, and applied a breathable Siloxane water repellent. No sealant, which would have trapped the next freeze cycle. Photos show each stage, including the depth gauge in the joint.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here follows the same sequence: camera inspection, written price with scope, documented work, photo record, written warranty. No exceptions since 2009. If your chimney in Crystal Lake hasn’t been inspected this burning season, or if you’ve got a written estimate you’d like us to review for free, call (815) 923-3185. Corrine Halstead and our team answer live, 24 hours a day.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Crystal Lake, serving Crystal Lake and McHenry County since 2009.