Gelco Chimney Cap Installation Nationwide

Gelco Chimney Cap Installation: The Elmhurst Owner’s Guide

We stock and install Gelco-compatible chimney caps across Elmhurst, with most replacements running $285-$520 installed depending on flue size and whether your crown needs resealing. Same-day installation is usually available when you call before noon, and we carry the common Gelco sizes on every truck. Most Elmhurst homeowners discover their cap has failed during a heavy rain when water starts hitting the firebox floor, or when a neighbor spots rust streaks running down the brick from the roofline.

Call (708) 498-3199

Which Gelco Models This Applies To

Gelco caps break down into three main series you’ll see on Elmhurst homes: the original Gelco Galvanized line (pre-2015, often marked with a stamped “G” on the skirt edge), the Gelco Stainless line (marked “SS” or “304” on the underside label), and the Gelco Multi-Flue custom caps used on larger homes near York Woods and the older bungalow districts south of Butterfield Road. The critical compatibility gotcha is the skirt depth: Gelco galvanized caps from the 2000s used a 2¾-inch skirt, while current stainless models use a 3¼-inch skirt. Measure yours before ordering. A cap with the wrong skirt depth will seat poorly on the flue tile and blow off in the first March windstorm off the prairie.

We source Gelco caps through Haven’s buying network alongside DuraFlex and HeatShield materials, which keeps our prices honest and our lead times short. OEM Gelco caps carry the original branding and exact spec match; quality aftermarket equivalents from Olympia Chimney meet the same 304 stainless and mesh spec at roughly 15% lower cost. We stock both on the truck and will show you the difference before you decide. Level Two Chimney Elmhurst is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Gelco.

Signs Your Gelco Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing

• Rust streaks on the brickwork below the cap. Gelco galvanized caps have a 12-18 year lifespan in Elmhurst’s freeze-thaw cycle before the zinc coating fails at the weld seams. Once moisture gets under the skirt, it tracks down the flue tile and leaves orange-brown stains that homeowners often mistake for roof flashing problems.
• Mesh sides pulled outward or detached from the frame. Squirrels in Elmhurst’s mature oak canopy chew the ¾-inch mesh on Gelco caps, or the spot-welds fatigue from thermal cycling. A gap larger than a quarter lets animals and burning debris through, which is how chimney fires start.
• Cap sitting crooked or visibly shifted after wind. The Gelco mounting system uses stainless tension screws on the skirt. If the crown beneath has spalled or the flue tile lip has chipped, the screws lose purchase and the cap tilts. Water then pools on the low side and accelerates crown decay.
• Water in the firebox or rust on the damper plate. This means the cap is either missing entirely, the lid has blown off leaving only the mesh frame, or the Gelco’s internal baffle has corroded through. In Elmhurst’s clay-heavy soil zone, foundation settling can also crack the crown and let water in around the cap base even when the cap itself looks fine.
• Smoke smell in the house on humid days. A Gelco cap with a failed or missing spark arrestor mesh allows downdrafts to push chimney odors back into the living space. The mesh also acts as a rain baffle; when it’s compromised, humid summer air carries creosote smell straight down the flue.

Before

After

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

The total installed price for most Elmhurst homes falls between $285 and $520. What drives the range: flue tile diameter (common sizes are 8×8, 8×13, and 13×13 inches), whether your existing cap was screwed or cemented in place, and crown condition. We inspect the crown with the camera before quoting; if it’s sound, we note that in writing. If it needs work, we show you the photo and price it separately before anything starts. Every Gelco cap installation includes new stainless tension screws, a bead of crown sealant at the skirt base, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise. The warranty is in writing before we leave.

DIY or Call Us?

Here’s what you can safely check yourself: from the ground with binoculars, confirm the cap is still seated squarely and all four tension screws are visible. If the cap is tilted or a screw is missing, don’t climb up. Elmhurst’s bungalow roofs are steep, often 8:12 pitch or greater, and the clay tile or dimensional shingles get slick with organic debris from the oak canopy. Falls from roof height are the leading cause of serious injury in homeowner chimney work.

What goes wrong with DIY Gelco replacement: homeowners frequently order by flue tile outside dimension when Gelco caps are sized by inside flue opening. An 8×13-inch flue tile with 1-inch walls needs a 6×11 cap, not an 8×13. Wrong size means poor draft, creosote buildup at the skirt, and eventually a return visit. We measure with a flue ruler, check draft with a manometer, and document both readings in your file. If you want to verify our measurement, we’ll hand you the ruler. The camera doesn’t editorialize. Neither do I.

Call (708) 498-3199 and we’ll give you a written price before we schedule. Estimates are free.

FAQs