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
AfterGelco Chimney Cap & Crown in Arlington Heights: What to Know First
Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights provides independent Gelco chimney cap and crown service, from cap replacement on the Ultra models to crown coating on the multi-flue assemblies common in the older colonials near Campbell Street. Most Gelco jobs we book run within a week, and every one starts with a written price before any work begins - no exceptions, no surprises. If you own a Gelco cap or crown in Arlington Heights and you’re seeing rust bleed, gaps at the flue shoulder, or water stains on the firebox back wall, this page is for you. Call (331) 202-2419 for a free estimate, or bring us a competitor’s written quote for a free second opinion.
How Gelco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Ultra Series single-flue caps: The 304 stainless mesh on the Ultra line holds up well in Arlington Heights’ freeze-thaw cycles, but the corner weld at the hip seam opens after 8-12 years when snow load sits and refreezes. We see this on the split-levels near Rand Road more than elsewhere. Our fix: cut out the failed seam, re-weld with 316L filler for better chloride resistance, or replace with a new Ultra cap if the frame has warped. We document the gap with the camera before touching anything.
- Multi-flue cap saddle sag: Gelco’s multi-flue caps with the peaked saddle - common on the twin-flue setups in Arlington Heights’ 1960s ranches - collect ice in the valley between peaks. The saddle gradually flattens, ponding water that rusts the flue collar from the top down. We catch this during the camera scan of the flue interior, looking for rust streaks on the liner wall. Fix: re-pitch or replace the saddle section, seal with Geocel 3300, and add a cricket if the chimney sits on the low side of the roof.
- Crown wash failure under Gelco caps: Gelco caps mount tight to the crown, which is the point - but when the crown wash underneath cracks (spalling from Arlington Heights’ salt-heavy winters and summer expansion), water gets trapped between cap and concrete. The cap looks fine; the crown is turning to sand underneath. We pull the cap, assess the crown integrity with a sounding hammer, and either re-pour with a proper drip edge or apply a CrownCoat flexible membrane if the structure is sound. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we.
- Top-mount damper integration caps: Gelco’s cap-and-damper combo units, the ones with the cable-operated damper built into the lid, suffer cable fray where the housing meets the cap skirt. Homeowners notice the damper won’t fully open, or the cap rattles in wind. We see this when the original installer set the cable angle too sharp off the flue wall. Fix: replace the cable assembly, re-route for a gentler bend, or swap to a separate cap and throat damper if the flue geometry allows. We always check the Gelco part number against current availability - some pre-2015 cable lengths are discontinued.
- Spark arrestor mesh clog on oil-vented systems: In Arlington Heights, we still find Gelco caps with 5/8-inch mesh on chimneys venting oil furnaces. The mesh is too fine for oil soot; it cakes shut, choking draft and backing CO risk. Gelco makes a 3/4-inch mesh replacement screen for exactly this, but most homeowners don’t know it exists. We measure the soot particle size during inspection, note the appliance type on the written scope, and swap to the correct mesh or a dedicated oil-vent cap from our Famco supply.
Our Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Process
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Call and schedule: A live person answers, day or night. We book a Level 2 inspection with camera scan - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, our practice since 2009.
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On-site inspection: The assigned tech arrives in uniform, license visible, with a text sent when they’re en route. We run the camera down the flue first, then photograph the cap and crown from the roof. Corrine Halstead trained our crew to document the Gelco part number, manufacturing date stamp if visible, and fastener condition before quoting.
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Written scope and price: You get the camera footage, photos, and a written price with line-item parts: OEM Gelco, quality aftermarket through our Haven buying network, or a hybrid. No work starts until you sign the scope.
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Repair or replacement: We fabricate or source parts - Gelco, DuraFlex, or HeatShield depending on what the job demands - and complete the cap or crown work. Crown repairs cure 24 hours minimum before cap reinstallation; we don’t rush it.
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Post-work test and record: Final camera pull to verify flue clearance, water test on the crown, documented photo record uploaded to your file. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies from this moment.
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Cleanup and close: We haul old material, leave the roof and hearth cleaner than found, and email your warranty and record within 24 hours.
Before
AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Arlington Heights
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gelco cap reseal / fastener replacement | $180 - $290 | Roof pitch, fastener corrosion, need for chimney access equipment |
| Ultra Series single-flue cap replacement | $340 - $520 | Flue size (8×8 vs. 13×13), stainless vs. copper finish, damper integration |
| Multi-flue cap replacement | $680 - $1,100 | Flue count, saddle re-pitch, custom width for oversized chimney |
| Crown repair with coating | $420 - $750 | Crown square footage, crack depth, need for structural rebuild |
| Crown rebuild + new Gelco cap | $1,400 - $2,200 | Formwork complexity, rebar condition, cap size and material |
These are Arlington Heights market ranges based on our 2024-2025 jobs, not national guesses. A cap-only replacement on a walkable roof with standard 8×13 flue sits at the low end; a three-flue custom cap on a steep slate roof with rotten fascia climbs higher. Every estimate is free, written, and valid for 30 days. Call (331) 202-2419 to book.
Why Arlington Heights Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights for Gelco Work
We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a healthy share of those were Gelco caps in the northwest suburbs. Corrine Halstead and our techs know the part numbers, the discontinued lines, and which Arlington Heights neighborhoods put the hardest winters on metal. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if the cap leaks or the crown coating cracks, we make it right. Our Haven Standard Clause 1 written price and Clause 4 photo record come on every job, not as upgrades. And because we source Gelco, DuraFlex, HeatShield, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield through our buying network, we don’t push one brand to cover a parts shortage. You get what your chimney actually needs.
FAQs
No - but Gelco’s original warranty on materials typically runs 10 years from manufacture, and most caps we see in Arlington Heights are past that window. As an independent Gelco service provider, we don’t represent the manufacturer, but we do document our parts and labor under our own 365-Day Done Right Promise. If your cap is newer, we’ll note the serial number and advise whether Gelco direct is your better path. Call (331) 202-2419 and we’ll sort it out.
Most Gelco hardware - mesh screens, mounting brackets, damper cables - remains available, though pre-2015 cable lengths for top-mount damper caps were discontinued in 2022. We stock common replacements and fabricate what we can’t order, using 316 stainless or equivalent through our Haven network. If your cap is a true orphan, we’ll quote a quality aftermarket replacement that fits the flue without modifying the crown.
Repair makes sense when the frame is straight, fasteners are intact, and the failure is localized - a torn screen, loose skirt, or failed seal. Replacement is the honest call when the frame has warped from ice load, the flue collar is rusted through, or the cap was never the right size and has been cobbled to fit. We show you the camera and roof photos, name the finding, and quote both options when both exist. No default to the bigger ticket.
Most cap replacements or crown coatings are single-day work: 3-5 hours on site, plus cure time for coatings or crown pours. Crown rebuilds run two days - pour day and cap-mount day after cure. We book within a week for standard jobs and communicate if weather delays the cure. You’ll get a text when the tech is en route and photos when the job is done.
Water enters. In Arlington Heights, that means freeze-thaw damage accelerating through winter: spalling concrete, rusted flue liner, stained masonry, and in the worst case, structural chimney movement that turns a $500 cap job into a $4,000 rebuild. Carbon monoxide risk rises if the flue liner degrades enough to leak combustion gases into wall cavities. We don’t scare-sell - we’ve documented chimneys that ran safely for years with minor crown cracks, and we’ve pulled liners that were Swiss cheese from ignored water entry. The camera shows which one yours is. Call (331) 202-2419 for a free estimate and we’ll show you exactly what we found.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights at Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights, serving Arlington Heights and nearby areas.