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.
Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown in Crystal Lake: What to Know First
We provide independent Olympia Chimney chimney cap & crown service in Crystal Lake, typically scheduling within a few business days and completing most jobs in a single visit. Every repair starts with a camera-scan inspection and ends with a written price you saw before we started, a photo record of what was done, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Olympia Chimney; we are an independent service provider who sources their caps and components through Haven’s buying network alongside DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco.
This page is for Olympia Chimney owners in Crystal Lake, Lakewood, and the older neighborhoods near Three Oaks Recreation Area who need a cap replaced, a crown rebuilt, or a multi-flue system resealed. If you are seeing rust streaks, mortar crumbs on your roof, or water in the firebox, call us at (815) 923-3185. The inspection is free, and the written estimate has no expiration date.
How Olympia Chimney Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Olympia Chimney stainless single-flue caps (SL series): The 304-grade mesh on early SL units can sag after five to seven winters of Crystal Lake’s freeze-thaw cycling, creating gaps that let starlings and squirrels nest directly in the flue. We document the mesh deformation with the camera, then source a replacement cap through Haven’s network with heavier 18-gauge lid stock and stainless mesh rated for Midwest temperature swings.
- Olympia Chimney galvanized multi-flue caps: The galvanized coating on budget multi-flue models thins at the weld points first, showing orange bloom along the seams before the lid itself fails. In Crystal Lake, we see this accelerated on homes within a mile of the lake where wind-driven moisture sits longer. We replace with stainless or aluminum equivalents, never re-galvanizing, and we show you the weld corrosion on camera before quoting.
- Olympia Chimney concrete crowns on masonry chimneys: The factory-poured crowns that shipped with Olympia’s masonry component systems through 2018 were mixed at 4:1 sand-to-cement, which is porous by modern standards. Water wicks in, freezes, and spalls (chips off in layers) from the top down. We grind back to sound concrete, then pour a new crown at 3:1 with acrylic fortifier, or apply a CrownCoat flexible membrane if the substrate is sound but cracked.
- Olympia Chimney chase covers on prefab chimneys: The stamped steel chase covers on older Olympia prefab units pool water at the center seam, especially on chimneys without a cricket (the small peaked diverter behind the chimney on sloped roofs). We fabricate a replacement with cross-breaks to shed water, or install a Gelco aluminum chase cover with welded seams and a proper diverter if the roof geometry demands it.
- Olympia Chimney flue-top dampers integrated with caps: The cable-operated top-sealing dampers in Olympia’s combination cap-damper units seize when the stainless cable sheath fills with creosote dust and Crystal Lake’s fine limestone grit. The fix is not always a full replacement; sometimes we can extract the cable, clean the guide tube, and reseat the damper plate if the cast-aluminum frame is not warped. We test the operation three times before we leave, and we show you the video.
Our Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown Process

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Camera inspection first. We run the chimney scan (NFPA 211 Level 2) before touching the cap or crown. The camera shows us whether the flue liner is sound, whether the damage is cosmetic or structural, and whether water intrusion has already reached the smoke chamber.
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Written scope and price. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard requires a written price, written scope, and written warranty before any work begins. You get all three on paper or by text. The camera doesn’t argue - and neither does a written price.
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Parts decision with documentation. For Olympia Chimney components, we check availability of OEM-spec replacements through Haven’s buying network. If lead times stretch past what your weather situation allows, we source equivalent-grade aftermarket from Famco or Copperfield and note the substitution on your warranty card.
- 4
The repair. Crown work gets formed, poured, and cured with a bonding agent. Cap replacements get sealed with high-temp silicone at the flue tile interface. Multi-flue systems get measured to 1/8-inch and fabricated with proper overhang and mesh height per NFPA 211.
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Post-repair verification. We run the camera again to confirm no debris fell into the flue during the cap removal. We test damper operation if applicable. We photograph the finished work from the roof and from the ground.
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Documentation delivered. Your photo record, warranty card, and paid invoice are emailed before we leave the driveway. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires it.
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AfterWhat Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Crystal Lake
These are the ranges we have written on actual estimates for Crystal Lake homes in the past eighteen months. Your exact price depends on roof access, flue count, and what the camera finds.
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Olympia Chimney single-flue cap replacement (stainless) | $340 - $520 |
| Olympia Chimney multi-flue cap (custom measured, stainless) | $680 - $1,150 |
| Crown repair (crack sealing, CrownCoat) | $450 - $720 |
| Crown rebuild (grind and pour new concrete) | $1,200 - $2,100 |
| Chase cover replacement (prefab, aluminum) | $580 - $940 |
| Cap-damper combination unit repair | $280 - $560 |
What moves the price: steep roof pitch requiring additional safety rigging, multiple flues with different diameters, hidden rot in the chimney shoulder found after crown removal, and travel outside our standard Crystal Lake/Lakewood/Three Oaks service radius. We do not start work when the price might change; if we find something unexpected, we stop, show you the camera image, and write a revised scope.
Call (815) 923-3185 for a free estimate. Estimates are free, written, and valid for sixty days.
Why Crystal Lake Homeowners Call Emberly Chimney Cleaners Crystal Lake for Olympia Chimney Work

Corrine Halstead and her crew have been inspecting chimneys across Crystal Lake since moving the operation out from Chicago, including repeat work in the neighborhoods near Three Oaks Recreation Area where the 1960s and 70s masonry tends to show its age. We have completed more than 38,000 chimney inspections and cleanings since 2009, every one with a written price first and a documented record after.
Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and assigned by name; you get a text when yours is en route. Calls are answered by a live person, 24 hours a day. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if the cap leaks or the crown cracks through our work, we return and make it right at no charge. And our Free Second Opinion on Any Written Estimate means you can bring us a competitor’s quote and we will tell you straight whether the scope matches what your chimney actually needs.
We source materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield through Haven’s buying network, which keeps our prices honest and our options open. If your Olympia Chimney component is discontinued, we have already cross-referenced the aftermarket equivalent.
FAQs
No, proper repair by an independent service provider does not void your warranty, though Olympia Chimney’s original warranty on factory components is typically limited to material defects and short-term coverage. We document our work with photos and part numbers so any future warranty claim on the original component is traceable. Call (815) 923-3185 if you need help interpreting your warranty card.
Most single-flue cap replacements are completed in ninety minutes to two hours, including the camera inspection and documentation. Multi-flue custom caps or crown rebuilds can run four to six hours depending on cure time. We schedule enough time that we are not rushing your job to get to the next one. Call (815) 923-3185 to check availability.
Repair with a flexible crown coating is appropriate when cracks are hairline to 1/8-inch and the underlying concrete is sound. Rebuild is necessary when you can flake off pieces with a screwdriver, when the crown has pulled away from the flue tile, or when water has saturated the chimney shoulder beneath. We show you the camera image and the scratch test result, then write both options with prices. Call (815) 923-3185 for an inspection.
We source through Haven’s buying network, which includes both Olympia Chimney OEM and equivalent-grade aftermarket from Famco and Copperfield. If OEM is available at reasonable lead time, we quote it. If your cap or crown is leaking now and OEM is back-ordered, we quote the aftermarket equivalent with the same gauge, mesh, and finish, and we note the substitution on your warranty. Call (815) 923-3185 to discuss current availability.
Water enters the flue, accelerates liner deterioration, damages the smoke chamber, and can rot adjacent framing. In Crystal Lake’s freeze-thaw climate, a small crown crack in October becomes a spalled, leaking surface by March. Carbon monoxide risk increases if the liner fails, and chimney fire risk rises if moisture mixes with creosote to form acidic compounds. The repair cost typically doubles if you wait two years. Call (815) 923-3185 for a free inspection and written estimate.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Crystal Lake at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Crystal Lake, serving Crystal Lake and nearby areas.





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