Excel Fireplace & Chimney

11/06/2026

Here are a couple of pictures from the job we posted yesterday. I wanted to specifically point out the black staining on the wood panels. What you're seeing is actually not staining; it's the wood being heated and charred due to the lintel not being properly sealed.

The lintel is the joint between the brick facing and the firebox. This joint should be properly sealed using high-temperature fireplace mortar. This is an issue we come across regularly during our inspections.

Luckily, this customer avoided a serious situation, but I personally know of at least one case where a house caught fire because the fireplace lintel was not properly sealed.

When this joint is left open, heat can rise into the gap and become trapped between the fireplace and the brick facing, with nowhere to escape. Over time, this can create an extremely dangerous situation and potentially lead to a house fire. Thankfully, we were able to catch this issue before something bad happened.

Not sure if your fireplace lintel is properly sealed? Give us a call! We can perform a thorough inspection of your fireplace and chimney to help identify potential hazards and keep your home safe.

Don't wait until there's a problem. Schedule your inspection today!

📞 309-339-3425

🌐 excelfireplace.com

11/05/2026

Here's something we don't do very often, but when we're asked, we're happy to help!

This customer experienced a catastrophic water leak in their basement, resulting in significant damage. Nearly half of the basement had to be gutted to address the mold issue. Our friends over at Illinois Home Solutions stepped in and took care of all the mold remediation.

We were then asked to come in and remove the fireplace and chimney. While removal wasn't the customer's original plan, after evaluating the condition of the fireplace and explaining that the unit was no longer manufactured and replacement parts were no longer available, they decided removal was the best option.

We got to work removing the fireplace, masonry facing, framing, and venting. Once everything was removed, we cleaned up all the debris, patched the roof, and installed new shingles to close everything up.

Now our friends over at Remodel It will be coming in to finish off the basement. Once the renovation is complete, the customer plans to install one of our beautiful electric fireplace units to put the finishing touch on the space!

We may specialize in fireplaces and chimneys, but don't hesitate to give us a call if you have a project you think we can help with. We're always happy to see what we can do!

Excel Fireplace & Chimney

📞 309-339-3425

🌐 Excelfireplace.com

11/05/2026

11/04/2026

A camera scan of your masonry chimney is extremely important! While major defects can often be spotted with the naked eye, hairline cracks, deteriorating mortar joints, and other hidden issues can easily go unnoticed without a camera inspection.

Recently, we implemented a new protocol: Every masonry chimney we sweep receives a camera scan. Many companies charge an additional fee for this service, but we believe it should be part of a thorough inspection. That's why we include it in our standard chimney sweeping price at no extra cost!

Our goal is to provide our customers with the most thorough and detailed inspection possible to ensure their fireplace and chimney are safe and in tip-top shape.

Here are a few pictures from a camera scan we completed yesterday. From the naked eye, the flue appeared to be in good condition. However, once we got the camera inside, it told a much different story!

Don't assume everything is okay just because you can't see a problem. Sometimes the most important issues are the ones hiding out of sight!

Call today to schedule your chimney cleaning and inspection!

📞 309-339-3425
🌐 Excelfireplace.com

11/03/2026

Here’s one that really makes you scratch your head!

The customer originally called us because her fireplace surround was getting extremely hot, to the point where you could barely touch it. This was obviously concerning, considering the surround is constructed of drywall and wood.

During our inspection, we discovered two pieces of cardboard and the owner's manual sitting directly on top of the fireplace. Apparently, when the house was being built, these items were left sitting on top of the fireplace and then covered up when the fireplace was drywalled in.

This customer is extremely lucky. Those combustible materials had been sitting there for 22 years of fireplace use! As you can see from the discoloration, they were getting dangerously close to catching fire.

We also discovered that the termination cap was installed too close to the vented soffit. This was causing the hot exhaust gases from the fireplace to be pulled right back into the chimney chase, preventing the system from cooling and venting as intended. This condition could potentially cause the fireplace to overheat and create a fire hazard.

A direct-vent termination installed in this configuration must be positioned at least 18 inches below the vented soffit. Fortunately, because this termination is currently 12 inches below the soffit, we can replace the existing soffit with non-vented soffit to bring the installation into compliance with the manufacturer's specifications.

This is exactly why annual fireplace and chimney inspections are so important!

Things can be overlooked during construction, and problems can develop over time. Making sure you and your family can safely enjoy a nice, warm fire is our top priority.

Don't wait until something goes wrong. Give us a call and schedule your inspection today!

Excel Fireplace & Chimney

📞 309-339-3425

🌐 Excelfireplace.com

11/02/2026

Check out the newest addition to our fleet!

We were due for another service vehicle, and a van just felt right! This new addition allows us to carry more products and supplies on hand, helping us get your repairs completed quicker and more efficiently.

If you see us out and about, don't hesitate to give us a honk and a wave! We'd love the opportunity to help get your fireplace and chimney ready for the cold weather ahead.

Call us today to schedule your service!

📞 309-339-3425
🌐 excelfireplace.com

Excel Fireplace & Chimney — Keeping your home warm and safe!

10/16/2026

You wanna talk about a project? This one was a challenge!

We don’t always repair fireplaces and chimneys. Sometimes, the customer decides it’s time to remove them completely.

That was the case with this project. The homeowner decided the cost of repairs was more than she wanted to spend and wanted to reclaim the living space. She had already had the chimney removed above the roofline a while back and was ready to have the rest taken out.

We quickly learned this job wasn’t going to be easy!

When the chimney was removed above the roofline, the homeowner was under the impression that the material had been hauled away. Some may have been, but whoever did the work had filled every void with loose brick and mortar. From the floor all the way to the ceiling, this chimney was packed solid—including the flue!

It didn’t take long to realize this job was going to be A LOT more work than we had anticipated.
Luckily, we have a great crew. The guys put their heads down and got to work. When it was all said and done, we had removed 10,180 pounds of material by hand in a day and a half! That’s just over 5 TONS!!! Bucket by bucket and brick by brick.

To make things even more challenging, there was no way to get the trailer close to the house. Everything had to be carried out the back of the house and through the yard.

I’m thankful to have a crew that’s willing to roll up their sleeves and get the job done, no matter what it takes!

This project is now complete and behind us. As you can see in the finished photos, we took great care to make sure the homeowner was left with a clean, dust-free living room.

Need your fireplace or chimney inspected or cleaned? Don’t wait—call us today!

📞 309-339-3425
🌐 excelfireplace.com

09/14/2026

It was a long day but we got it done. On to the next one!

07/22/2026

Check out this awesome Modern Flames Redstone electric fireplace we installed in Tremont! This customer had a zero-clearance prefabricated fireplace that the chimney had ripped off of. She didn’t want to replace it with a wood or gas fireplace, so she went with one of our electrics. This fireplace changes colors, produces heat, and even has a timer so you don’t have to worry about shutting it off! These units are nice! Interested in one? Give us a call!

309-339-3425
Excelfireplace.com

07/21/2026

More storm damage inspections today in Morton, IL. This customer's chase cover had come unscrewed in the recent storms, leaving their chimney chase fully exposed. We were able to get up there and got it set back in place and reconnected for the time being. Measurements were taken for a new stainless steel chase cover, and a recommendation for a level three inspections to ensure no further damage is done lower in the chase. We have been dealing with a ton of lifted chase covers, missing chimney caps, and even leaning chimney pipes. Take a second and look up at your chimney. Does anything look off? If so, give us a call!

309-339-3425
Excelfireplace.com