Chimney and fireplace service in Elmhurst
Four in ten Elmhurst homes were built before 1960. We inspect each chimney for free, photograph it and write the price down before work begins.
Elmhurst began as Cottage Hill, took its present name in 1869 and was incorporated as a village in 1882. The Census Bureau's 2020–2024 survey counts 17,753 homes: 14.7 percent built before 1940, 6.3 percent in the 1940s and 22.0 percent in the 1950s, which makes Elmhurst one of the strongest postwar-brick towns in DuPage County. The median home dates to 1966, and 13.6 percent were built from 2000 to 2009.
Gas heats 85.8 percent of homes, and 72.0 percent of the housing is detached single-family. Older Elmhurst chimneys usually serve the furnace and water heater beside the fireplace, while newer houses lean toward gas fireplaces. At the free inspection we check every flue and give you a written price before anything starts.
Notable houses and postwar brick
Elmhurst has homes by Mies van der Rohe (the McCormick House), Frank Lloyd Wright (the F.B. Henderson House) and Walter Burley Griffin (the William H. Emery House). Most streets, though, are lined with 1940s and 1950s brick houses whose chimneys are now 70 years old or more.
On those stacks the crown and the top courses take the most weather. Crown crack repair typically runs $150 to $700, rebuilding the top few feet with a crown $600 to $1,000 and tuckpointing $500 to $2,500. We keep the mortar softer than the brick, as the National Park Service advises for old masonry.
Lake-effect reach and gas flues
Lake-effect snow can reach farther west than people expect. On November 10, 2025, the National Weather Service recorded 5.0 inches just southeast of neighboring Villa Park, more than O'Hare's 1.7. Wet snow packed against a chimney finds weak flashing; flashing typically runs $300 to $1,800.
Inside, the common job is a liner. When a furnace is swapped for a side-vented high-efficiency model, the water heater left in the old flue often needs one sized to it. An aluminum liner for gas appliances typically runs $625 to $2,250, and a stainless liner $900 to $3,800.
Where we work in Elmhurst
Downtown Elmhurst · Wilder Park · York Street · Spring Road · Salt Creek area · Eldridge Park · Butterfield · North Elmhurst
FAQ
Elmhurst chimney questions
Our 1950s Elmhurst house has one chimney for the furnace and fireplace. Is that normal?
Yes, and each appliance should have its own flue inside it. We check that at the free inspection, along with the tile condition and whether the water heater is left alone in an oversized flue after a furnace change.
How much does a chimney cleaning cost in Elmhurst?
We price it at the free inspection, after seeing the flue, and you have the price in writing before any work. We book Sunday to Friday in 3-hour windows and call to confirm.
We're selling our Elmhurst house. Does the chimney matter?
It can. Items 6 and 13 of the Illinois disclosure form ask the seller about chimney leaks and defects and about fireplace or wood stove defects, answered from what the seller actually knows. Our home-sale inspection is free and gives you photos and a written report.
Who do I call if I smell gas?
Leave the house, then call Nicor Gas at 888-642-6748 and 911 from outside.
Book online
Book in Elmhurst. The inspection is free.
Free inspection in a 3-hour window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5. We call to confirm before we arrive.