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.
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Before
AfterLevel 2 Inspection in Elmhurst, IL
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Elmhurst is a full camera-scan examination of your flue liner, smoke chamber, firebox, and accessible exterior structure, performed to the NFPA 211 standard and documented with photos before anyone leaves your driveway. It costs $199-$349 at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, and you get a written price before we start – not after the technician is already on your roof. If you need to schedule one today, call us at (708) 498-3199 and a live person will pick up.
Most homeowners in Elmhurst first encounter the phrase “Level 2 inspection” when they’re buying or selling a home, after a chimney fire, or when an insurance company asks for documentation. What they often don’t realize is that a Level 2 is meaningfully different from the basic “visual inspection” many sweep companies perform with a flashlight and call it a day. A real Level 2 – the kind NFPA 211 actually requires – puts a camera down the flue and produces a documented record of what was found. That’s been our default practice since 2009, under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, long before insurers started asking for it.
Level Two Chimney Co. is independently owned and operated, led by Corrine Halstead, and the name isn’t incidental: the NFPA 211 Level 2 standard is what we built the business around. Every inspection we complete in Elmhurst – whether the home is in the Eldridge neighborhood near the train station, a newer build on the west side of town, or a Tudor on South Prospect – goes out with a written scope, a photo record, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped on the paperwork. Our full Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Elmhurst service is the natural next step when the inspection finds buildup or blockage.
When You Need a Level 2 Inspection
NFPA 211 is specific about the circumstances that trigger a mandatory Level 2. The situations below all qualify, and several come up regularly in Elmhurst homes given the mix of older masonry fireplaces, prefabricated inserts installed in the 1980s and 1990s, and the freeze-thaw cycles that hit DuPage County hard every winter.
- You’re buying or selling the home. Any change of ownership is a Level 2 trigger under NFPA 211. Elmhurst real estate moves fast, and a written inspection report from a camera-scan visit gives both buyers and sellers documented evidence of liner condition – spalling, cracking, or offset joints – rather than a seller’s verbal assurance.
- A chimney fire occurred. Even a brief, low-intensity chimney fire can crack a clay tile flue liner or warp a prefabricated metal liner in ways that aren’t visible from below. In Elmhurst homes with older clay-tile liners – common in the brick colonials and ranch homes built through the 1970s – a post-fire camera scan is the only reliable way to find hairline fractures before the next fire season.
- You’ve had a significant weather event. The hailstorms that move through the Chicago metro in spring and summer can crack chimney crowns, dislodge caps, and send water into the flue. We’ve seen homes in the Eldridge Park area where a single bad storm season allowed enough water intrusion to begin spalling the interior liner brick within 18 months.
- You installed or are planning to install a new appliance or liner. Switching from a wood-burning fireplace to a gas insert, or adding a stove to an unused flue, requires a Level 2 before the new appliance goes in. The flue that worked for open-wood burning is often the wrong size or condition for a sealed gas appliance, and HeatShield liner restoration or a DuraFlex relining may be part of the solution.
- The chimney hasn’t been inspected in more than three years. A basic annual sweep with a visual check is appropriate most years. But after three or more years without a camera scan – or if you moved into the home without documented inspection history – a Level 2 is the baseline for knowing what you actually have.
- Your insurer or real estate attorney asked for one. Some homeowners’ insurance carriers in DuPage County now require a documented Level 2 report before writing or renewing coverage on older homes with masonry fireplaces. We provide a photo-documented written report that meets those requirements.
Our Level 2 Inspection Process
Here’s exactly what happens when we arrive at your Elmhurst home. Nothing starts until you have the written price in hand – that’s Haven Standard Clause 1 and it’s non-negotiable.
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Written price and scope delivered before work begins.
The technician presents a written quote covering the inspection cost, any sweep fee if cleaning is included, and the specific areas being examined. You sign off on the scope. Nothing about the price changes after that, regardless of what the camera finds – if something beyond the original scope needs a quote, we write that separately before touching it. -
Exterior examination: crown, cap, mortar joints, and flashing.
We work top-down. The technician examines the chimney crown for cracks or deterioration, checks the cap for secure seating and screen integrity, inspects the visible mortar joints for spalling or voids, and looks at the flashing where the chimney meets the roofline. In Elmhurst’s climate, freeze-thaw cycles work on mortar joints every winter; crown cracks are extremely common on homes over 20 years old. -
Camera scan of the full flue liner.
A video camera goes down the flue from the top. We’re looking at the liner – clay tile, cast-in-place, or metal – for cracks, offsets, missing mortar joints, obstructions, and creosote classification. Clay tile liners in Elmhurst homes from the 1950s through 1980s often show horizontal cracking at mortar joint lines by the time they’re 40 years old. We document everything on camera. -
Firebox and smoke chamber examination.
From inside, the technician inspects the firebox walls, the damper, and the smoke chamber above it. The smoke chamber is often where parged (coated) surfaces begin to crack first – and where Class II or Class III creosote builds up when a chimney is used regularly but cleaned infrequently. Class III creosote is a glazed, tar-like deposit that requires chemical treatment before mechanical removal; we name the class plainly in the report. -
Accessible attic, crawl space, or basement passthrough check (where applicable).
NFPA 211 Level 2 includes inspection of accessible portions of the chimney in the attic, crawl space, or basement. For Elmhurst homes with chimneys that pass through an unfinished attic – common in the older two-story homes near Spring Road – this step can reveal gaps in the liner system or combustible clearance issues that are invisible from inside the living space. -
Written report and photo record delivered before we leave.
Under Haven Standard Clause 4, a documented photo record is included on every visit – not an optional add-on you pay extra for. The written report names what was found, classifies conditions using trade-standard terminology (spalling, offset joint, Class II creosote, failed crown), and describes what each finding means in plain language. If repairs are needed, you get a written quote for each one before we ask for a decision.
Before
AfterLevel 2 Inspection Pricing in Elmhurst
A Level 2 chimney inspection in Elmhurst runs $199 to $349 for most single-flue residential fireplaces. The range exists for real reasons, spelled out below. There is no “call for a quote” here – written pricing is how we operate.
| Scenario | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Single-flue Level 2 inspection (camera scan + written report) | $199 – $249 |
| Level 2 inspection + standard chimney sweep (combined visit) | $279 – $349 |
| Multi-flue home (each additional flue) | Add $75 – $100 per flue |
| Prefabricated/factory-built fireplace inspection | $199 – $279 |
| Real estate transaction (written report for buyer/seller/attorney) | $229 – $349 |
What moves the price within those ranges: flue height and accessibility, whether a Annual Sweep is bundled with the inspection, and the number of flues. A two-story Colonial in Elmhurst with a single masonry flue and accessible attic will land at the lower end. A home with two flues, a steep pitch, and a third-floor attic passthrough will land higher. The written price you receive accounts for those specifics before anything begins.
If a competitor has given you a written estimate, bring it to us. We offer a free second opinion on any written quote – we’ll camera-scan the flue, give you our written assessment, and let you compare findings and price side-by-side. Call (708) 498-3199 to schedule.
Repairs, if needed, are quoted separately in writing. Common repair costs for Elmhurst homes after a Level 2 inspection include: chimney crown repair ($195-$450 depending on extent), repointing mortar joints ($300-$900 for a standard residential chimney), and flue relining with a DuraFlex or comparable liner system ($1,800-$3,400 for a single flue). Nothing is added to your bill without a separate written scope.
What the Report Actually Contains
This matters more than most homeowners expect. A Level 2 inspection report isn’t just a pass/fail checkbox. What you receive from Level Two Chimney Elmhurst after every camera-scan visit:
- Photos from the camera run, labeled by location in the flue (top, mid-point, smoke shelf level, firebox entry)
- Written classification of creosote deposit class (Class I, II, or III) with a plain-language explanation of what that means for your specific appliance use
- Condition notes on the crown, cap, flashing, mortar joints, firebox, and smoke chamber – each written in plain terms, not just trade codes
- A clear statement of what, if anything, needs attention – and what doesn’t
- Written quotes for any recommended repairs, each with scope and price, delivered before you’re asked to decide
- The 365-Day Done Right Promise covering any work performed
That documentation is yours to keep. If an insurer asks for it in six months or the next buyer’s attorney wants to see it at closing, you have it.
FAQs – Level 2 Inspection in Elmhurst
How much does a Level 2 chimney inspection cost in Elmhurst?
A Level 2 inspection in Elmhurst costs $199 to $349 at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, depending on the number of flues, whether Chimney Cleaning & Sweep is bundled, and the home’s specific access conditions. The written price is set before work begins – not adjusted after the technician is on the job. Call (708) 498-3199 for an exact written quote.
What’s the difference between a Level 1 and a Level 2 chimney inspection?
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of the chimney – the firebox, visible flue opening, and exterior crown – typically performed without a camera. A Level 2 inspection, per NFPA 211, adds a camera scan of the full flue liner and examination of accessible interior spaces like attics and crawl spaces where the chimney passes through. NFPA 211 requires a Level 2 any time there’s been a change of ownership, a chimney fire, or a change in the appliance or fuel type connected to the flue. The camera makes a meaningful difference: we’ve found cracked liners in Elmhurst homes that looked clean from below.
Can you come today for a Level 2 inspection in Elmhurst?
Same-day and next-day appointments are available in Elmhurst depending on the current schedule. Our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – call (708) 498-3199 and we’ll tell you exactly what’s open. If you’re in the middle of a real estate transaction with a tight timeline, let us know when you call and we’ll prioritize accordingly.
Do I need a Level 2 inspection when buying or selling a home in Elmhurst?
Yes – NFPA 211 designates any change of ownership as a trigger for a Level 2 inspection. In practice, Elmhurst buyers’ attorneys and some DuPage County home inspectors are increasingly asking for a camera-documented chimney inspection specifically because a basic visual check doesn’t produce the liner condition evidence needed for disclosure or insurance purposes. We provide a full written report with photos suitable for real estate transactions. Call (708) 498-3199 to get it scheduled around your closing timeline.
What happens if the Level 2 inspection finds a problem?
We document what was found – in plain language, with photos – and give you a written quote for any recommended repair before asking for a decision. Nothing is added to the inspection bill, and no repair work starts without a separate written scope and price that you approve. Common findings in Elmhurst homes include cracked clay tile liner sections (often repairable with a HeatShield application or requiring a full reline), failed chimney crowns, and Soot Removal and Class II creosote buildup. If the finding is cosmetic or low-priority, we say that too – the report reflects what’s actually there, not what generates the most revenue.
Why Camera Documentation Has Mattered Since 2009
Corrine Halstead built Level Two Chimney Co. around a premise that wasn’t standard practice in 2009: that a camera scan and a photo record should be the default on every inspection visit, not an upsell. Under Haven Standard Clause 4, that documentation requirement applies to every job we complete – in Elmhurst and everywhere else we work.
The practical result after more than 38,000 chimney inspections and cleanings: homeowners have a documented baseline. When a fire happens, or an insurance claim gets filed, or a buyer’s attorney asks what condition the liner was in at the last inspection, there’s a record. Not a technician’s memory. Not a checkbox. Photos, a camera run, and a written report with a date on it.
For Elmhurst homes specifically – many of them built between 1940 and 1985 with original clay tile liners that are now 40 to 80 years old – that baseline matters. Clay tile is durable until it isn’t, and the failure mode is usually invisible to the naked eye until a liner section has cracked far enough to allow combustion gases or sparks to breach the flue. A camera finds it. A flashlight often doesn’t.
Our inspection work is the foundation of everything else we do. The home base of our operation is built on the idea that the inspection comes first, the written price comes before work starts, and the documentation stays with the homeowner. If a sweep is recommended after the camera run, our Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Elmhurst service handles it as a natural continuation of the same visit or a scheduled follow-up – always with a separate written scope if work beyond the original quote is needed.
Schedule a Level 2 Inspection in Elmhurst
If you need a Level 2 chimney inspection in Elmhurst – for a real estate transaction, after a weather event, or simply because the last documented camera scan was more than three years ago – call (708) 498-3199. A live person answers around the clock. You’ll get a written price before anyone comes out, a camera-scan inspection when we arrive, and a photo-documented written report before we leave. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers any work that follows. Estimates are free, and if you have a competitor’s written quote, bring it – we’ll give you a free second opinion on it.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Elmhurst, serving Elmhurst.