Freeze-Thaw Cracks Clay Tiles
Water that enters at the crown or a missing cap freezes inside the flue and splits the tiles. Once the joints open up, combustion gases can reach the masonry and the framing beside it.
Licensed & Insured 5-Star Rated Camera Scan First
Chimney Liner Replacement in Chicago, IL — See the Damage Before You Pay.
Stainless liners for Chicago's old clay-tile flues and hard-working furnaces. A cracked liner is the one finding that makes a chimney unsafe to use. We scan the flue on camera, show you the footage, and reline only what needs relining.
- Camera Footage Shown
- Liner Sized to the Appliance
- Written Price Before Work
- 10% Hero Discount
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Insulated stainless liners
Furnace & water heater liners
Camera scan before & after
Top plate, cap & crown work
Local Expertise
Relining Chimneys in Chicago
Most Chicago chimneys were built with clay tile liners, and on bungalows, two-flats and greystones those tiles are now 70 to 100 years old. Decades of freeze-thaw cycles crack and shift them, and a cracked liner lets heat, smoke and carbon monoxide reach the wood framing behind the brick. On a heating system that runs five months a year, that is not a problem to postpone.
We reline with insulated stainless steel sized to the appliance — wood-burning fireplaces, gas furnaces and water heaters that still vent into the old masonry flue. Every job starts with a camera inspection so you see the actual condition of the tiles before you decide anything.
Warning Signs
Why Chicago Flues Fail
The liner is the part of the chimney you can never see from the room — and the part that keeps heat and combustion gases away from your home's framing.
Old Furnaces Venting Into Big Flues
A modern high-efficiency furnace vented into an oversized century-old flue produces condensation that eats the tile and mortar from the inside. A correctly sized stainless liner fixes the draft and the damage.
Long Heating Season, Heavy Use
Chicago fireplaces and furnaces run hard from October to April. Creosote buildup and heat cycling accelerate damage in a liner that is already cracked.
Camera scans booked this week
Don't Guess What's Inside Your Flue
Tell us what you're seeing — tile pieces, a failed inspection, a smoke smell. We scan the flue, show you the footage, and quote only what it needs.
Prefer to send details?
Share what you're seeing and we'll contact you to confirm the right next step.
Send My Chimney DetailsFree written estimates · No obligation
What We Install
Liners Sized, Insulated and Sealed Correctly
Insulated Stainless Steel Relining
A continuous stainless liner sized to the appliance, wrapped in insulation where clearance requires it, running from the appliance connection to the top plate — no joints inside the chimney to leak.
Furnace & Water Heater Liners
Correctly sized liners for gas appliances still venting into an old masonry flue, which fixes both the condensation damage and the weak draft that caused it.
Top Plate, Cap & Crown Work
The reline is finished with a sealed top plate and cap so water cannot get between the liner and the masonry. Crown repair is quoted in the same estimate when it is needed.
Camera Scan Before and After
We record the condition of the flue before we quote and after we finish, so you see exactly what you paid for instead of taking someone's word for it.
How It Works
From Camera Scan to a Safe Flue
1. Tell Us What's Going On
Failed inspection, tile pieces in the firebox, smoke smell, a home sale deadline — tell us and we book the camera scan.
2. Camera Scan the Flue
A camera goes the full length of the flue. You see the footage and the actual condition of the liner before any price is discussed.
3. Size the Liner
The liner is sized to the appliance and the flue — not guessed. Wrong-size liners cause draft problems that are worse than the original issue.
4. Written Price First
You get the liner type, insulation, top-plate work and total price in writing before we order anything.
5. Install & Verify
The liner is installed, connected, sealed at the top, and re-scanned. You get photos and footage of the finished flue.
Honest Pricing, No Fake Numbers
Nobody can quote a reline over the phone without knowing the flue height, diameter, insulation requirement and appliance. Anyone who does is guessing — and the guess usually rises once they are on site. We scan first, then give one written price that does not move.
If the scan shows your liner is sound, we tell you so. A reline you do not need is the most expensive repair there is.
5-Star Rated
What Homeowners Say About Us
5.0 average rating
Serving Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding area
“Water was coming in around our chimney every time it rained. Captain found the cracked crown and bad flashing, explained everything clearly, and fixed it in one visit. Not a drop since.”
Michael R.
Chimney Leak Repair · San Antonio, TX · 2 weeks ago
“Very professional from start to finish. The inspection was thorough, they showed me photos of everything, and the cleaning was spotless — no mess left behind. Fair price too.”
Sarah K.
Chimney Inspection & Cleaning · Austin, TX · 1 month ago
“Our 90-year-old brick chimney was crumbling. The tuckpointing work is beautiful — it looks brand new but still matches the house perfectly. True craftsmen.”
David & Anna T.
Tuckpointing & Masonry Repair · Houston, TX · 1 month ago
Liner FAQs
Answers Before You Commit to a Reline
Got an inspection report you don't understand? Call and read it to us — we'll tell you plainly what it means.
(682) 217-3577It depends on the flue height, the liner diameter, whether insulation is required and what appliance it serves. A short furnace liner and a full insulated fireplace reline are very different jobs. We scan the flue first and give a written price before ordering anything.
The reliable answer comes from a camera scan of the flue. Common clues are pieces of clay tile in the firebox, a smoke or gas smell, a failed Level 2 inspection, or a furnace that back-drafts. Visible cracks and open joints on camera confirm it.
A quality stainless liner, correctly sized and installed, typically lasts decades and is usually sold with a long manufacturer warranty. Thin or wrongly sized liners fail early, which is why sizing and material matter more than price.
No. A cracked liner lets heat and combustion gases reach combustible framing behind the masonry, and it is one of the few findings that make a chimney unsafe to use until it is corrected.
Often yes. Modern high-efficiency gas furnaces and water heaters vented into an oversized old masonry flue produce condensation that destroys tile and mortar. A correctly sized liner solves the draft and the damage.
Most straightforward relines are done in a day once the correct liner is on hand. Unusual flue sizes, offsets and factory-built components may need an ordering window, which we tell you about after the scan.
Yes — 10% off for military, veterans, seniors 65+, police, firefighters and EMTs. Mention it when you call (682) 217-3577.
Not automatically — many older tile liners are still sound. What matters is the camera inspection: cracked, gapped or spalled tiles need relining, intact ones do not. We show you the footage either way.
Yes, and it is one of the most common jobs we do in Chicago. Two appliances venting into an oversized masonry flue is a classic condensation problem; an aluminum or stainless liner sized to the appliances corrects it.
Find Out What's Really Inside Your Chimney
One camera scan, one honest answer, one written price. Call now and we'll get you on the schedule.