Frequently Asked Questions

We arrive in a named window, text when en route, and spend 60-90 minutes on site. The technician seals the work area, runs a rotary sweep system from the top down or bottom up depending on roof access, then drops a camera for the Level 2 inspection. You receive dated photos of the flue interior, the crown, the smoke chamber, and the firebox, plus a written condition report. Since 2009, every job leaves a documented record.

Most appointments run 60 to 90 minutes for a single-flue system. Homes in Arlington Heights or Glen Ellyn with multiple fireplaces, or properties with a basement wood stove tied into the same chimney, can run closer to two hours. We book real windows, not four-hour blocks, and we call or text if traffic from Cary or Crystal Lake shifts our arrival.

NFPA 211 recommends annual inspection; cleaning frequency depends on use. A Hoffman Estates family burning two cords of oak or maple through a standard open hearth should plan on yearly sweeping. Gas log sets need inspection every two years for debris, moisture damage, and liner deterioration. We check your burn record and creosote depth, then tell you when to book next. No calendar scare tactics.

NFPA 211 defines three inspection levels. Level 1 is a visual check with a flashlight from the firebox and roof. Level 2 puts a camera down the full flue length, examines the smoke chamber, and documents hidden liner gaps, tile shifts, or creosote glazing. Level 3 involves demolition and is only triggered when Level 2 finds imminent hazard. We named the company after Level 2 because that is the standard a homeowner actually needs. Most companies charge for Level 1 and hope you do not know the difference.

No. We lay drop cloths from the entry to the hearth, seal the firebox opening with a vacuum-assisted containment unit, and run HEPA filtration. When we leave, we sweep the hearth and surrounding floor. The only evidence we were there is the photo report in your inbox and the clean flue you cannot see but now have proof of.

We stock Gelco stainless caps with welded seams and 3/4-inch mesh for Hoffman Estates homes, sized for single or multi-flue crowns. For coastal-influenced properties near the Des Plaines River watershed or homes in West Chicago with heavier wind exposure, we also source Famco galvanized and copper options. We measure on site, show you the fit, and quote before ordering. No catalog guessing.

Yes, Olympia Chimney stainless liners and top-sealing dampers are in our regular inventory for Hoffman Estates and surrounding markets. Their 316Ti alloy handles the freeze-thaw cycling and acidic condensation we see in Illinois heating-season conditions. We also pull from Copperfield for specialty firebrick and refractory panels when a firebox needs rebuild rather than sweep. The brand goes on the written quote; you know exactly what you are buying.

We do not install customer-supplied caps. The fit between flue tile, crown slope, and mesh height is too specific for off-the-shelf guessing. We measure, we source, we warranty. That chain is what makes Clause 4, Evidence on every job, possible. If you have a cap already, we are happy to inspect it during your sweep and tell you whether it is salvageable.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance Illinois requires for chimney and fireplace work. We verify annually, and the license number is on your written estimate. Clause 3 of the Haven Standard, Verified crews, means background-checked, insured, and documented. Not claimed. Documented.

Interior relining and structural rebuilds in Hoffman Estates fall under the Village of Hoffman Estates building division and require permit and inspection. We pull permits as part of quoted work, schedule the village inspection, and include the permit cost in your flat written price. For routine sweeping and Level 2 inspection, no permit is required. We tell you which category your job falls into before you sign.

If Hoffman Estates building inspection flags an issue we did not catch, we return at no charge and fix it. That is Clause 5, No surprises, in practice. In 17 years of operation since 2009, our documentation system means we rarely miss what an inspector sees, because we already photographed it and showed it to you.

Call the fire department first if flames or heavy smoke are visible. Once the hazard is controlled, call us at (331) 200-4445 for a Level 2 inspection before you burn again. Chimney fires often crack clay flue tiles, damage liners, or open gaps between masonry courses that you cannot see from the firebox. We camera the full flue, document thermal damage, and tell you whether the system is safe to use or needs repair. Do not assume a small fire left no damage.

Yes, and you should. We perform pre-purchase Level 2 inspections throughout Hoffman Estates, Palatine, and Elgin. We deliver the photo report within 24 hours, formatted for your attorney and insurer. If the seller claimed the chimney was "just swept," we verify what that actually meant. Since 2009, our archived footage has helped buyers negotiate real liner replacement against sellers who hoped a quick brush would hide the truth.

Yes. Blocked flues, cracked liners, or reversed draft from creosote buildup can force carbon monoxide back into living space. The risk is highest in Hoffman Estates homes with modern air-sealing and negative pressure from kitchen hoods and bath fans. A clean flue with intact liner and proper draft is your protection. We test draft and document CO readings as part of every inspection.

Our sweep and inspection carry a 90-day workmanship guarantee: if creosote buildup returns to hazardous levels within that window due to incomplete work, we re-sweep at no charge. Liner, cap, and damper installations carry manufacturer warranties, Gelco and Olympia Chimney typically 10 years to lifetime on stainless components, plus our installation workmanship coverage. Every warranty term is written on your estimate before you sign. Clause 1 again.

The Haven Standard is a five-clause code every Level Two Chimney branch works to. Clause 1: flat price, written scope, written warranty before anyone starts. Clause 2: arrive on schedule, named tech, text en route. Clause 3: verified crews, licensed, insured, documented. Clause 4: evidence on every job, photos and readings archived. Clause 5: no surprises, no door upsell, no scope creep. Corrine Halstead and our Hoffman Estates team operate under this standard. It is not a slogan. It is the terms of service.

We guarantee we will find and show you what is actually there. If your flue is sound, we say so and you have the photos to prove it. If the liner is cracked or the crown is spalled, we show you the damage, explain whether it is urgent or monitorable, and quote repair in writing. Some chimneys need nothing beyond a sweep. Some need work. We do not invent problems, and we do not hide them. Evidence first, since 2009.

Call us. We answer the phone 24/7, and a live coordinator connects you with the local team. If something was missed, rushed, or left unclear, we return and make it right. Our business in Hoffman Estates, Bloomingdale, and across the northwest suburbs runs on documented reputation, not anonymous reviews. One call resolves almost every concern.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Hoffman Estates, serving Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Bloomingdale, and surrounding communities since 2009.