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 Naperville: What to Know First
We provide independent Gelco chimney cap and crown service in Naperville, typically scheduling within a week and completing most jobs in a single visit. Every Gelco job starts with a camera-scan inspection and ends with a written price, written scope, and written warranty - no verbal estimates, no surprises after we’re on your roof. If you own a Gelco cap or crown and you’re seeing rust streaks, water in the firebox, or mortar debris on the ground, call (331) 265-1700. We’ll send a written estimate before any work begins, and you’ll keep the photo record under Haven Standard Clause 4.
How Gelco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Multi-Flue Caps: Screen Separation at the Weld - Gelco’s multi-flue caps with the built-in screen enclosure use spot welds at the corner seams that fatigue faster than fully seam-welded alternatives. In Naperville, the freeze-thaw cycle between late November and March accelerates the crack. We see this most on the 5/8-inch mesh models installed 2015-2019. Our fix: we remove the cap, assess whether the screen can be re-welded in our shop or if the cap body is too far gone, and quote both paths in writing. If we replace, we source either Gelco OEM or a compatible multi-flue cap through our Haven buying network, depending on flue spacing.
- Single-Flue Caps: Base Ring Corrosion Under the Clamp - Gelco single-flue caps with the standard base ring design trap condensation where the stainless clamp meets the galvanized ring. The ring looks fine from the yard, but lift the cap and you’ll find pitting that lets water run down the flue tile. We’ve found this on dozens of Naperville homes near the DuPage River where humidity runs higher. We don’t just swap the cap - we inspect the flue tile top for spalling, document it with the camera, and install a Gelco or Olympia Chimney replacement with a fully stainless base ring if the flue condition supports it.
- Crown Coatings: Gelco’s Brush-On Application Over Active Cracks - Gelco’s crown coating products are solid material, but they’re often applied by homeowners or general roofers over hairline cracks that are still moving. The coating bridges the crack temporarily, then delaminates in sheets the following winter. We see this on ranch-style crowns in the Cress Creek area where the crown was poured thin to begin with. Our approach: we map the crack pattern with the camera from below (water entry points often don’t line up with visible crown damage), grind out active cracks, and apply a flexible crown coating only after structural repairs. We don’t sell coating as a standalone fix when the crown substrate is failing.
- Chimney Crown: Gelco Cap Overhang Creating Drip-Edge Rot - Gelco caps with the 2-inch overhang spec can funnel water directly onto the crown surface if the flue extends too far above the crown course. The water runs back under the cap lip, saturates the crown, and in Naperville’s clay-heavy soils, that moisture wicks into the brick below. We’ve rebuilt crowns on homes near Naper Boulevard where this went unaddressed for three seasons. We fix it by resetting the flue height, installing a cricket or saddle if the chimney is on the downhill side, and specifying a cap with adequate drip edge clearance.
- Custom Caps: Misordered Gelco Sizing from Original Installers - Gelco’s custom cap program requires exact flue OD, flue height above crown, and pitch measurement. When the original installer eyeballed it, the cap arrives with a skirt that’s too short or a screen height that interferes with the damper. We carry the full Gelco sizing chart and measure with a story pole, not a tape measure from the ladder. On a recent job near the Riverwalk corridor, we found a “custom” Gelco cap that was actually a stock size with the mesh cut down - the homeowner had been fighting draft issues for two winters. We re-measured, re-ordered correctly, and documented the before and after draft readings.
Our Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
Call and schedule - A live person answers, checks our calendar, and books a 90-minute arrival window. You’ll get a text when your tech is en route.
- 2
Camera-scan inspection - We run the camera down the flue before touching the cap or crown. Water damage from a failed cap often shows as efflorescence on the flue liner or rust on the damper frame. We photograph everything.
- 3
Roof-level assessment - The tech measures flue dimensions, crown pitch, and existing cap fit with a story pole. We identify whether your cap is Gelco OEM, a competitor’s cap, or a mislabeled aftermarket part.
- 4
Written quote on site - You get a written price, written scope, and written warranty before we start. If Gelco OEM is back-ordered, we quote a compatible Olympia Chimney or Famco alternative with equivalent specs and warranty terms.
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Repair or replacement - We complete cap installation, crown repair, or crown coating per the quoted scope. Multi-flue caps are level-checked; single-flue caps are clamp-torqued to spec.
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Final camera pass and documentation - We re-run the camera to confirm no debris entered the flue during work, then deliver your photo record and signed warranty. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we.
Before
AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Naperville
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Gelco single-flue cap replacement (standard stainless) | $340-$520 |
| Gelco multi-flue cap replacement | $580-$890 |
| Crown crack repair with flexible coating | $420-$680 |
| Crown rebuild (partial, up to 2 ft²) | $780-$1,340 |
| Custom Gelco cap (measured, ordered, installed) | $720-$1,180 |
What moves the price: flue accessibility (steep roof pitch adds rigging time), crown condition beneath the cap (spalled flue tile requires repair before capping), and whether the existing cap was improperly installed (frozen bolts, stripped threads, or a cap that was silicone-caulked instead of clamped). We don’t know which category you’re in until we inspect. Call (331) 265-1700 for a free estimate - we’ll give you the written price before any work starts, and our Free Second Opinion applies to any competitor’s written quote you’ve already received.
Why Naperville Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Naperville for Gelco Work
We’ve completed more than 38,000 chimney inspections and cleanings since 2009, every one with a written price before work started and a documented record when done. Corrine Halstead and our crew have been servicing Naperville for several years, including jobs out near the Riverwalk corridor where older homes tend to hide the most interesting flue conditions. We know Gelco’s product lines because we specify them regularly - and we know when a DuraFlex or HeatShield solution fits better. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not done right, we make it right. Background-checked, uniformed technicians. License number on every page. Live phone support, 24 hours a day.
FAQs
No - Gelco’s limited warranty covers manufacturing defects, not installation, and does not require authorized service for the warranty to remain valid on the product itself. As an independent Gelco service provider, we document the cap or crown serial number and install date on every job so you have proof of purchase if a manufacturing claim arises. If you need warranty support directly from Gelco, we provide the documentation; we do not process manufacturer claims on your behalf. Call (331) 265-1700 and we’ll explain what’s covered by Gelco versus what’s covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Yes - Gelco maintains parts availability for current and recently discontinued lines, and we stock common replacement components (base rings, clamp assemblies, mesh sections) through our Haven buying network. For caps discontinued more than 10 years ago, we measure your flue and quote a compatible replacement from Gelco, Olympia Chimney, or Famco with equivalent or improved specifications. We never leave you with a “call Gelco yourself” answer - we source the part or the replacement and put the written price in your hand.
Repair is viable when cracks are surface-level, the crown still sheds water to all edges, and the reinforcing mesh inside the concrete is not exposed. We make this determination with the camera from below - water intrusion patterns tell the real story - and we show you the footage. Replacement is necessary when the crown is spalling (surface concrete flaking off), the crack pattern indicates structural movement, or the crown was poured less than 2 inches thick at any point. We quote both paths when both are possible, and we tell you plainly when repair would be a waste of money.
Most single-flue cap replacements take 45-90 minutes on site; multi-flue caps and custom installations typically run 2-3 hours including removal of the old unit and final camera verification. We book a half-day window and usually finish well within it. We do not promise same-day dispatch - we promise a scheduled arrival, a text when we’re en route, and no waiting around wondering if we’ll show. Call (331) 265-1700 to check this week’s availability.
The crown and the cap work together - the crown sheds bulk water, the cap blocks debris, animals, and driving rain from entering the flue. A repaired crown without a cap will last longer than a cracked crown, but you’ll still get water down the flue during Naperville’s spring storms and fall wind events, plus squirrel and raccoon entry that can block the flue entirely. We document the flue condition after crown repair and quote the cap separately so you can decide with full information. Many homeowners do both; some stage them by season. Either way, you get the written price for each scope before we start.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Naperville at Level Two Chimney Naperville, serving Naperville and nearby areas.