Is a damp ceiling next to the chimney always a chimney leak?

Not always, but it is a common cause. Flashing, the crown and the cap are the usual suspects. The technician traces the entry point so the repair goes to the real source.

Why do leaks seem worse in Bloomington after winter?

Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds, so small gaps in the crown, brick and mortar grow over the season. Wind-driven rain then gets in where ordinary rain runs past. Late fall and winter are also when chimneys are under the most strain.

Do I need a permit for a chimney leak repair in Bloomington?

Permits in Illinois are issued locally. They are commonly required for relining a chimney or rebuilding one above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Ask the building department for your city, village or county before work begins.

Does Illinois license chimney repair contractors?

Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed at the state level. Many municipalities and counties ask contractors to register or hold a local license. Check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and your local building department.

Can I still use the fireplace while I wait for the visit?

No. Stop using it until a technician has inspected it, because water damage can hide a damaged liner. Ask the technician to explain what they found and to put the reasoning in writing.

Water coming in in Bloomington, IL

Many of the older brick and frame houses near downtown Bloomington and in the Davis-Jefferson Historic District have masonry chimneys. A damp patch on the ceiling next to one is a common sign of trouble. Water is almost certainly getting in somewhere above that spot. The likely places are the flashing, the crown, the cap, or the brick and mortar joints. It has found a path and is following it down into your house.

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The weather in Bloomington makes this likely. Winters regularly dip below zero, and freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds. The city sits on flat, open prairie, so wind-driven rain gets in where ordinary rain runs past. Spring and summer storms with hail and strong straight-line winds add to the strain on the roof line.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace until it is checked. A chimney that is wet may also have a damaged liner, and smoke and gases may not leave the house the way they should.
Get outside and call 911 if anyone feels unwell. Headache, dizziness or nausea while a fire or furnace is running can mean carbon monoxide, and that cannot wait.
Do not climb up to patch it yourself. A wet or icy roof and a loose chimney make a fall far more likely than a lasting repair.
Keep clear of the base of the chimney. A chimney that has been wet for years can become structurally unsound, and falling brick is a hazard at the bottom.

What the technician does

You call, we arrange the visitOne Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange for an independent sweep or mason to look at your chimney. We are not the contractor and we do not do the work.
The technician traces the entry pointThe aim is to find where the water actually gets in, not to seal over the stain. The inspection covers the flashing, crown, cap and masonry.
You get the price before work startsThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price, and you approve it first.
Flashing and crown are put rightFlashing is replaced and counter-flashed into the mortar joint. A damaged crown is repaired or recast, and a cap is fitted.
Brick and mortar are repairedRepointing is done and spalled brick is replaced. Where it suits the chimney, a breathable water repellent goes on.

Why this happens in in Bloomington, IL

Illinois has a long heating season, typically from about October into April, so flues see months of continuous use. Then repeated freeze-thaw cycles work on exposed masonry. In Bloomington that shows up as spalled brick, cracked crowns and tired mortar joints. Wind-driven rain and snow off the open prairie get in at the crown, the flashing and the cap.

Housing here varies a lot from one block to the next. Older neighborhoods near downtown have aging chimneys and original hardware. Newer subdivisions in places like Normal, Hudson, Towanda and Downs are mostly wood-framed and vinyl-sided. Many Illinois homes also vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney, so a leak can affect more than the fireplace. Masonry repairs are usually done in the warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing, so a leak found in winter may need a plan for both.

Questions people ask

Is a damp ceiling next to the chimney always a chimney leak?: Not always, but it is a common cause. Flashing, the crown and the cap are the usual suspects. The technician traces the entry point so the repair goes to the real source.
Why do leaks seem worse in Bloomington after winter?: Freeze and thaw widens every crack it finds, so small gaps in the crown, brick and mortar grow over the season. Wind-driven rain then gets in where ordinary rain runs past. Late fall and winter are also when chimneys are under the most strain.
Do I need a permit for a chimney leak repair in Bloomington?: Permits in Illinois are issued locally. They are commonly required for relining a chimney or rebuilding one above the roofline, while routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Ask the building department for your city, village or county before work begins.
Does Illinois license chimney repair contractors?: Chimney sweeping, inspection and masonry repair are not separately licensed at the state level. Many municipalities and counties ask contractors to register or hold a local license. Check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and your local building department.
Can I still use the fireplace while I wait for the visit?: No. Stop using it until a technician has inspected it, because water damage can hide a damaged liner. Ask the technician to explain what they found and to put the reasoning in writing.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange an independent technician to look at your Bloomington chimney. The estimate is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.