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 Joliet, IL
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and we’ve learned that most Joliet homeowners don’t know what’s up there until they see it. These before-and-after records from actual jobs show what our camera found, what we did about it, and what the flue looked like when we finished. Every photo here is part of the documented record we deliver under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard.
Recent Transformations
Class III Glazed Creosote Removal, Near Joliet Junior College
The camera showed a quarter-inch layer of glazed creosote, that shiny, tar-like buildup that forms when smoke condenses in a cool flue. It’s the fuel source behind most chimney fires. The homeowner near Joliet Junior College had been burning seasoned oak but hadn’t swept the flue in four years. We ran a rotary chain system with polypropylene whips to fracture the glaze, followed by a HEPA vacuum sweep and a camera re-scan. The after photos show bare terracotta liner with the draft path fully open. Written scope, written price, written warranty delivered before we started, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Smoke Chamber Parging and Flue Cleaning, Cathedral Area
The smoke chamber, that sloped area above the firebox that funnels smoke into the flue, was rough corbeled brick with missing mortar and heavy soot. In the Cathedral area of Joliet, this is common in 1960s ranch homes with original masonry. A rough smoke chamber creates turbulence, slows draft, and lets creosote collect on ledges. We swept the flue, then applied HeatShield cerfractory foam to smooth the chamber walls to NFPA 211 standards. The camera footage after shows a clean, tapered surface with no ledges for creosote to accumulate. The homeowner received the photo record, the camera video, and a written condition report before we packed up.
Spalling Flue Tile and Liner Assessment, Shorewood Border
The clay flue tiles were spalling, meaning the surface was flaking off from freeze-thaw cycles and acidic condensation. This happens when a liner has reached end of life or when a gas appliance vents into a clay flue never meant for it. We didn’t sell a liner on this visit. We swept the loose debris, ran the camera the full length, and documented every spalled section with photos and measurements. The homeowner on the Shorewood border now has a written record of liner condition, a clear explanation of when replacement becomes necessary for safety, and our written estimate valid for 90 days. No pressure, just documentation. Clause 4 requires it.
Chimney Cap and Crown Rebuild with Full Sweep, Near Pilcher Park
The cap was a rusted wire mesh held together with, as Corrine Halstead puts it, “rust and optimism.” Water had been entering the flue for years, saturating the flue liner, eroding mortar joints, and growing moss on the smoke shelf. Near Pilcher Park, the mature tree canopy accelerates this kind of damage by holding moisture against the masonry. We swept the flue, removed the failed cap, rebuilt the crown with proper slope and drip edge, and installed a Gelco stainless steel cap with mesh screening. The after photos show a dry, clean flue top with positive water shedding. The photo record includes close-ups of the crown pour and cap attachment.
Gas Flue Obstruction and Carbon Monoxide Risk, Ingalls Park
A gas furnace B-vent was blocked by a collapsed section of clay liner and bird nest debris. The homeowner in Ingalls Park had noticed a faint exhaust smell in the basement. This is the kind of call we answer live, 24 hours a day, because carbon monoxide doesn’t keep business hours. We removed the obstruction, swept the flue, ran draft and spillage tests at the appliance, and documented the readings in the photo record. The after photos show a clear vent path, proper draft, and a sealed appliance connector. We flagged the remaining liner sections for future monitoring and gave the homeowner a written timeline.
Fireplace Insert Removal and Full Liner Sweep, Near Louis Joliet Mall
A steel fireplace insert had been installed with a damaged flexible liner that was packed with creosote around the insert body. The homeowner near Louis Joliet Mall wanted the insert out to restore the original open hearth. We extracted the insert, which revealed a flue that hadn’t been fully accessible for cleaning in years. We swept the entire flue length, inspected the original firebox and throat damper, and documented the masonry condition. The after photos show a clean, open flue with a functional damper and a firebox ready for use or further repair. The written scope included options for firebox tuckpointing if the homeowner chooses to pursue it later.
Want Results Like These?
Every job starts with a written price, a written scope, and a written warranty before any work begins. You’ll get the camera footage, the photo record, and a clear explanation of what we found in plain terms. Call (815) 620-5234 anytime, day or night. A live person answers. Estimates are free, and we offer a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote. Corrine Halstead and our background-checked, uniformed technicians serve Joliet and 18 surrounding communities.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Joliet, serving Joliet since 2009.