Chimney Sweep in Boulder Hill, IL

Boulder Hill is a mid-century subdivision, and that history shows up in its chimneys: many are original 1950s and 60s masonry now pushing seventy years old. United Chimney Sweepers knows this neighborhood’s housing and keeps those aging flues clean and safe, seven days a week.

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The chimneys of a 1950s planned community

Boulder Hill was one of the area’s earliest large tract developments, built on the former Boulder Hill Stock Farm with the first home going up in 1956, as nearby Caterpillar and Western Electric plants drew workers to the area. That means a lot of the neighborhood — the streets around SuzanJohn Park and the old Playhouse barn-theatre site — shares a similar vintage of construction. These original masonry chimneys and their clay tile liners have done seven decades of service. At that age the crown, the mortar joints, and especially the liner deserve a careful look, and our chimney inspection gives you a clear read on where yours stands.

Aging liners are the thing to watch

The clay flue liners common in homes of this era can crack over time from heat cycling and from settling, and a cracked liner is a real safety issue — it lets heat and combustion gases reach places they should not. If an inspection turns up a failing liner, we will lay out your options honestly. Alongside that, a yearly chimney sweep removes the creosote that builds up with use, which is the single most common cause of flue fires. We work to the NFPA 211 standard throughout.

Repairs that fit the neighborhood

Seventy-year-old masonry eventually needs attention: repointing open joints, rebuilding a weathered crown, or fitting a proper cap where the original is long gone. Our masonry and repair work handles all of it, and because so many Boulder Hill chimneys are of a kind, we know what to expect here. United Chimney Sweepers is family-owned by brothers Michael and Mark Lloyd, bonded and insured, and voted Best Company in Illinois in 2021.

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FAQ

Boulder Hill chimney questions

My Boulder Hill home is from the original 1950s build. Is the chimney a concern?

It is worth inspecting rather than assuming. Chimneys from Boulder Hill’s original construction are around seventy years old now, and the clay tile liners inside them can crack with age and heat cycling. The masonry crown and mortar joints also weather over that long. None of that means the chimney is unusable — many are fine with routine care — but a one-time thorough inspection tells you exactly what you have, and it is the responsible first step before relying on an older fireplace.

How do I know if my flue liner is cracked?

You usually cannot see it from the fireplace — the damage is up inside the flue. Signs that something is wrong include pieces of clay tile in the firebox, a smell of smoke in the house, or a draft that has gotten worse. The reliable way to know is an internal inspection, where we examine the liner along its length. Because liner cracks are common in Boulder Hill’s vintage of homes, we always check this carefully here.

Can you fit a new chimney cap on an older Boulder Hill chimney?

Yes. Many original chimneys here either never had a proper cap or have lost it over the decades. A correctly sized stainless cap keeps rain, snow, and animals out of the flue and helps protect the crown and liner from water damage. We measure the flue, fit the right cap, and make sure it seats securely. It is an inexpensive step that prevents a lot of the moisture problems older masonry chimneys develop.

Is Boulder Hill inside your service area?

Yes. Boulder Hill is a census-designated community in Oswego Township, and it is well within our area — we are based in Yorkville just down the road. We are out in this part of the Fox Valley regularly and are open seven days a week, so finding a time that suits you is usually easy. Give us a call to get on the schedule.

Book chimney service in Boulder Hill

Call United Chimney Sweepers any day of the week. We will check your chimney’s condition and get you booked for a sweep, inspection, or repair.

Call (630) 604-3104

Bonded & insured • We work to the NFPA 211 standard