Frequently Asked Questions

We lay floor protection, run a rotary brush system up the flue from the firebox or down from the roof depending on your system, and vacuum the resulting soot and creosote. The critical part is the camera scan - we send a Chim-Scan or equivalent down the full flue length, recording every joint, liner segment, and offset. The whole process takes 60-90 minutes for a standard fireplace flue in Arlington Heights. You receive the footage and our written assessment before we pack up.

The NFPA 211 standard says annually for wood-burning systems, and we agree for Arlington Heights given our freeze-thaw cycles and the heavy oak and maple that local homeowners burn. Gas systems need Level 2 inspection every 2-3 years - not because they produce creosote, but because moisture from condensation degrades liners and animal nesting blocks vents. If you bought your home between 2015 and 2025 and have no record of prior service, book now and we'll establish your baseline.

Stage 3 glazed creosote builds up, reducing flue diameter and raising internal temperatures. In Arlington Heights, we've seen flue temperatures exceed 900°F in neglected systems during cold snaps, which can ignite adjacent framing. Carbon monoxide risk rises too - cracked liners and blocked flues push exhaust into living spaces. The camera inspection is what tells you whether you're at risk or just due for cleaning. Most of our "urgent" finds could have been caught two years earlier for the price of a routine sweep.

Yes, for the initial appointment. We need access to the firebox, damper controls, and sometimes the attic or basement for cleanout access. More importantly, we walk you through the camera footage in real time so you understand what we're documenting. For straightforward annual repeats where no issues were found previously, some Arlington Heights homeowners arrange key access - but we still prefer you see the evidence yourself.

Plan on 60-90 minutes for a single-flue fireplace system in typical Arlington Heights construction. Older homes in downtown Arlington Heights or near Lake Arlington with tight clearances or multiple flue bends run longer. Insert removals add 30-45 minutes. We schedule real windows, not four-hour blocks - Clause 2 of the Haven Standard - and text when the tech is en route.

We specify DuraFlex stainless steel relining for most wood-burning restorations - it's the alloy and seam construction we trust for our freeze-thaw climate. For smooth-wall gas applications, we use Olympia Chimney's aluminum and stainless lines. HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing is our go-to for restoring sound but pitted clay flue tiles without full liner replacement. We don't install what we can't document - every brand goes in with a warranty card and installation photos in your file.

DuraFlex uses a .006-inch 316Ti stainless alloy with a double-lock seam, rated for 2100°F continuous and 2500°F peak. Standard .005-inch 304 stainless from generic suppliers fatigues faster at the elbows and collars where our Arlington Heights installations see the most thermal cycling. The extra material cost pays back in warranty length - DuraFlex carries a lifetime warranty when we install it, versus 10-15 years on lesser alloys. We quote both if you ask, but we recommend what we'd put in our own homes.

Yes, for custom-fit applications where standard stock sizes won't cover multi-flue chimneys or unusual crown profiles. Gelco's multi-flue caps with 5/8-inch mesh come in galvanized, stainless, and copper, and their band-around-brick mounting avoids the mortar degradation we see from cheaper slip-in designs. We photograph the crown condition before capping - if the crown is cracked, the cap goes on after crown repair, not before, or you'll trap moisture.

Usually, yes. Arlington Heights has a mix of 1960s-1990s construction with original clay flue systems and 2000s-era remodels with factory-built metal chimneys. We carry common termination caps, storm collars, and firestop spacers for major brands, and we source specialty items within 48 hours. The camera inspection tells us what you've got before we order anything - no guesswork, no returns, no delays.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance Illinois requires for chimney and venting contractors. We verify annually, and license numbers are on your written estimate. We're also insured for general liability and workers compensation - the certificates are available on request. This isn't a handshake operation; Clause 3 of the Haven Standard means verified crews, period.

Chimney cleaning and Level 2 inspection don't require permits in Arlington Heights. Liner replacement, structural rebuilds, and new chimney construction do, and we pull those permits as part of our project scope. We've worked with Arlington Heights building inspectors since opening our local branch, and we know their documentation preferences - photos, NFPA 211 references, and manufacturer installation instructions. The permit history stays with your property record, which matters at resale.

The Haven Standard is five clauses that govern every job: flat written price before starting; scheduled arrival with named tech and en-route text; verified, licensed, insured crews; photo and reading evidence from every job; and no surprises, no upsells, no scope creep. It originated from Emberly's practice of archiving camera footage years before it was common - that archive proved liner failures before fires, and became Clause 4. Every job we do in Arlington Heights carries it.

Active chimney fire - you'll hear roaring in the flue, see sparks or flames at the top, and possibly smell intense heat. Carbon monoxide detector alarms tied to your heating appliance. Sudden structural collapse of the crown or exterior brick. For any of these, evacuate and call 911 first, then call us at (331) 202-2419 for post-incident inspection and documentation. We answer calls 24/7, and we'll schedule the earliest available appointment to assess damage and provide your insurance carrier with dated evidence.

Yes, and you should not use the system until we do. We document the flue with camera scan, take thermal readings of surrounding framing, and produce a written report with photos that distinguish pre-existing wear from fire damage. Insurance adjusters in Arlington Heights and Cook County know our documentation format - it's dated, geotagged, and references NFPA 211 inspection criteria. Call (331) 202-2419 as soon as the fire department clears the scene.

We work through winter weather in Arlington Heights - it's when heating systems run hardest and when most undetected problems surface. Roof access may be limited during active ice dam conditions for safety reasons, but we can often inspect from the interior and schedule exterior follow-up. We don't promise same-day arrival, but we do answer the phone 24/7 and book the earliest available slot. Your real protection is annual maintenance before the heating season, not emergency response after failure.

The sweep and inspection itself are warranted for 30 days against missed debris or incomplete documentation - if we didn't clean what we said we cleaned, or if the photo report is incomplete, we return at no charge. Repairs and installations carry manufacturer warranties: DuraFlex lifetime, HeatShield 20-year, Olympia Chimney 15-year on stainless gas liners. Our workmanship on installations is warranted for 5 years. Everything is in writing before we start - Clause 1 again - so there's nothing to argue about later.

Bring us the prior company's report, if there is one. We'll compare their documentation to our camera findings. If they missed a cracked liner or significant creosote buildup that was visible at the time, that's a conversation about their standard of care, not ours. We can't warranty another company's work, but we can show you exactly what we found and when, with dated footage. In Arlington Heights, we've caught missed liner separations that prior "visual inspections" never documented - the difference between Level 1 and Level 2.

Installation warranties transfer to the new owner with written notification to us. The documentation archive - your photo reports, estimates, and findings - stays in our system and can be provided to buyers or their inspectors on request. Several Arlington Heights homeowners have used our reports as selling points, showing prospective buyers a maintained system with verified history. Call (331) 202-2419 to request records for your closing packet.

Call us within 30 days. We'll review your photo report against what was done, and if we missed something or didn't explain it clearly, we'll make it right. We don't do refunds on completed sweeps - the work was performed and documented - but we do return to address legitimate concerns at no charge. Our reputation in Arlington Heights, Palatine, and Glenview depends on homeowners trusting what we show them. The Haven Standard exists so that trust is verifiable, not just promised.

Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Arlington Heights, serving Arlington Heights, Palatine, Glenview, and surrounding communities since 2009.