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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterGelco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Arlington Heights: What to Know First
We provide independent Gelco chimney liner and rebuild service in Arlington Heights, with most liner replacements completed in one day and full rebuilds typically finished within two to three days. Every job starts with a written price before any work begins, and every Gelco owner receives a documented photo record of their flue condition under Clause 4 of the Haven Standard. If you own a Gelco stainless steel liner, flexible liner, or pre-fabricated chimney system in Arlington Heights and you’re seeing rust staining, draft issues, or a smoking fireplace, call (331) 202-2419 for a free estimate. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we.
How Gelco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Gelco UltraPro stainless liners develop pinhole corrosion at the flex-to-rigid transition joints where condensation pools during Arlington Heights freeze-thaw cycles. We section-scan the entire run with our chimney camera, cut back to sound metal, and splice in matching gauge 316Ti stainless or transition to a DuraFlex equivalent when Gelco OEM is back-ordered.
- Gelco flexible liner kits installed in the late 2010s often show premature insulation compression where installers used standard mesh instead of Gelco’s specified high-tension mesh, creating hot spots that degrade the outer wall. We strip the compromised section, verify the flue dimension with a laser measure, and re-insulate with HeatShield Cerfractory Foam or a properly tensioned Gelco replacement.
- Gelco pre-fabricated chimney chase covers on Arlington Heights townhomes near Rand Road sag at the center weld seam after five to seven years of snow load, funneling water directly onto the liner top. We fabricate a pitched aluminum or stainless replacement with integrated drip edge, then inspect the liner collar for galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals met.
- Gelco smooth-wall rigid liners in oil-to-gas conversion jobs crack at the tee snout when the original installer didn’t account for the lighter, wetter gas flue gases accelerating thermal shock. We pull the tee, assess whether the flue can accept a wider diameter per NFPA 211, and install a condensate drain tee if the appliance venting profile demands it.
- Gelco liner top plates and storm collars loosen in Arlington Heights homes with mature oak canopy - the freeze-thaw plus leaf-debris acidity attacks the sealant bead. We don’t just re-caulk. We pull the plate, media-blast the mating surface, and re-bed with high-temp silicone rated to 500°F continuous, then document the gap measurement in your photo record.
Our Gelco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers 24/7. We book your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera scan, and you’ll get a text when your technician is en route.
- 2
Inspection and documentation. Corrine’s crew runs the camera the full length of your Gelco flue. We record liner gauge readings, joint condition, creosote stage, and any spalling in the surrounding masonry. You see what we see on the monitor.
- 3
Written price, written scope. Before any tool touches your chimney, you get a single-page scope with line-item pricing and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped at the bottom. No verbal estimates, no “we’ll see once we start.”
- 4
Parts decision. If your Gelco series is still in production, we quote OEM through our Haven buying network. If it’s discontinued or lead times stretch past burning season, we specify a DuraFlex or HeatShield equivalent that meets or exceeds the original UL 1777 listing, with your approval in writing.
- 5
Repair and test. We install to manufacturer torque specs, seal with rated materials, and run a smoke test or draft gauge verification depending on the appliance type. The work gets photographed at three stages: before, during, after.
- 6
Cleanup and record delivery. Your documented photo record uploads same-day. The warranty, the scope, and the final invoice live in one folder. If something’s not right in the next 365 days, we make it right.
Before
AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Arlington Heights
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gelco liner top plate and storm collar replacement | $380 - $650 | Chase height, access difficulty, collar material (galvanized vs. stainless) |
| Partial Gelco flexible liner replacement (section) | $1,200 - $2,400 | Linear feet, insulation type, whether the tee is reusable |
| Full Gelco stainless liner replacement | $2,800 - $5,500 | Flue length, diameter, number of appliances venting, chase demolition if needed |
| Gelco system partial rebuild (liner + crown + several courses) | $4,500 - $8,000 | Scaffolding requirements, brick matching, extent of water damage below the crown |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Gelco-compatible liner | $8,500 - $14,000 | Height, footing condition, liner diameter and insulation class, Arlington Heights permit fees |
These are real Arlington Heights numbers based on jobs we’ve completed in neighborhoods from Scarsdale to the older homes near Recreation Park. The only way to know your exact price is to get the camera down the flue. Call (331) 202-2419 - estimates are free, and we honor our Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote.
Why Arlington Heights Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights for Gelco Work
We’ve inspected over 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a healthy share of those were Gelco systems in northwest suburban homes where the original builder spec’d for price, not longevity. Corrine Halstead and her technicians know the difference between a Gelco UltraPro and a Gelco TempGuard without reading the stamp - the wall thickness, the seam pattern, the failure history in local soil and weather conditions.
Because we source through the Haven buying network across DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, we’re not locked into one brand’s lead time or pricing. If Gelco OEM is six weeks out and your fireplace is your primary heat source, we have alternatives that keep you warm without voiding your appliance warranty. Every tech is background-checked, uniformed, and carries a license number you can verify. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every Gelco job we touch.
FAQs
No, if the work is performed by a qualified professional using OEM or equivalent-listed parts. As an independent Gelco service provider, we document every part number and UL listing in your photo record so warranty claims remain valid. If your liner is still under Gelco’s original warranty, we note that in our scope and flag any manufacturer-required installation details. Call (331) 202-2419 and we’ll check your install date against Gelco’s coverage terms.
Yes, in most cases. We maintain salvage relationships and cross-reference Gelco part numbers against DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney equivalents daily. For the Gelco flexible liner kits discontinued after the 2019 supply-chain shift, we typically transition homeowners to a DuraFlex Pro or HeatShield Cerfractory system with equal or better temperature ratings. We never install a part we can’t warranty ourselves under the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
The camera decides, not a calendar. A single cracked tee snout or localized corrosion spot often repairs cleanly. Multiple pinholes along a run, insulation saturation, or any separation in a gas-venting liner means replacement. We show you the footage, mark the timestamps, and explain which finding triggers which recommendation. If work can safely wait a season, we say so plainly. Call (331) 202-2419 for the camera inspection - estimates are free.
Most residential Gelco liner replacements are completed in one working day. Full rebuilds involving masonry demolition, footing repair, or Arlington Heights permit inspection scheduling extend to two or three days. We don’t promise same-day dispatch, but we do promise you’ll know the timeline in writing before we start. Burning season in Arlington Heights runs October through March; we recommend booking your inspection by September to avoid the queue.
A compromised liner vents combustion gases into your home’s structure instead of up the flue. Carbon monoxide risk rises with any separation in a gas-venting system. For wood-burning, creosote can leak through liner gaps and ignite in the chase cavity - a chimney fire you won’t see until it’s through the wall. We don’t scare-sell, but we do flag what the camera found. If the liner’s failed, we explain exactly which hazard is present and why. Call (331) 202-2419 for the inspection - we’ll show you what we found and what it costs to fix it right.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights at Level Two Chimney Arlington Heights, serving Arlington Heights and nearby areas.