Can I still use my fireplace in Evanston until the liner is fixed?

No. A damaged liner can let heat and carbon monoxide reach the structure of the house. Leave the appliance unused until the flue has been inspected and verified.

Why do older Evanston chimneys end up with cracked liners?

Many homes here are a century old or more, and their flues have been through a great many cold seasons. Freeze-thaw cycles, road salt and damp lake weather are hard on masonry chimneys. Clay tiles also crack in a chimney fire.

I switched to gas. Do I still need a liner?

Often, yes. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry. The technician can tell you what size and type of liner suits your appliance.

Does relining a chimney in Illinois need a permit?

Permits are issued locally, and relining a chimney commonly requires one. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the local building department before work begins.

Who actually does the relining?

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work. Illinois handles requirements locally, so it is worth checking registration and insurance with your building department.

Stop using the fireplace

Liner damaged in Evanston, IL

Many Evanston homes are a century old or more, and the chimneys in them are old too. If you were told the liner is cracked and needs relining, the lining inside your flue has most likely broken down. That means heat, smoke and carbon monoxide now have a path toward the structure of your house. Stop using the fireplace or stove until the flue has been checked.

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It happens here for plain reasons. Illinois has a long heating season, from about October into April, so a flue works for months without a break. Freeze-thaw cycles and road salt are hard on masonry chimneys in Evanston. Old clay tile liners crack with age and especially after a chimney fire. Gas conversions can do it too, when the old flue is never relined.

While you wait — please don't

Do not light the fireplace or stove. A damaged liner lets heat and carbon monoxide reach the framing around the flue, so the appliance should stay off until the flue is verified.
Get outside if a CO alarm sounds. If the alarm goes off, or anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea, leave the house and call 911.
Do not reuse the flue after a chimney fire. Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire, so the flue must be inspected before anyone burns in it again.
Do not assume gas fixes it. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry, so a gas appliance still needs a flue that is sized and lined for it.

What the technician does

Camera inspection firstThe technician sends a camera down the flue to see the actual damage. Ask to see the footage so you know what the cracks look like.
Free estimate, then your approvalThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it. Ask for the reasoning in writing.
A liner sized to the applianceWhere a new liner is the answer, it is usually stainless steel, sized to the appliance and insulated where required. Cast-in-place lining is used where it suits the chimney.
Appliance and flue matchedSize, material and termination are matched between the appliance and the flue, so the whole system works together.
Cap and crown addressed tooThe cap and crown are dealt with at the same time, since water getting in at the top is part of what wears a chimney out.

Why this happens in Evanston, IL

Evanston has a lot of brick and frame houses from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, and many have masonry chimneys and fireplaces. Illinois has many older chimneys with full-height masonry stacks and clay tile liners. Some of those chimneys also vent a gas furnace or water heater, and an older flue may need a properly sized liner for that job. Condos and multi-unit buildings are common near downtown and the lakefront. If you share a building, tell the technician which appliance vents into which flue.

Winter is hard on chimneys here. Evanston has cold, snowy winters, repeated freeze-thaw and heavy road salt, and the lake brings damp, windy weather. Water working into the crown, flashing and cap can reach the masonry and the liner below. Demand picks up in late fall and again in spring after freeze-thaw damage and storms. Masonry work usually waits for warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. Illinois permits are issued locally, and relining commonly needs one, so confirm with your building department before work begins.

Questions people ask

Can I still use my fireplace in Evanston until the liner is fixed?: No. A damaged liner can let heat and carbon monoxide reach the structure of the house. Leave the appliance unused until the flue has been inspected and verified.
Why do older Evanston chimneys end up with cracked liners?: Many homes here are a century old or more, and their flues have been through a great many cold seasons. Freeze-thaw cycles, road salt and damp lake weather are hard on masonry chimneys. Clay tiles also crack in a chimney fire.
I switched to gas. Do I still need a liner?: Often, yes. Converting to gas without relining leaves acidic condensate attacking the masonry. The technician can tell you what size and type of liner suits your appliance.
Does relining a chimney in Illinois need a permit?: Permits are issued locally, and relining a chimney commonly requires one. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the local building department before work begins.
Who actually does the relining?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor and we do not perform the work. Illinois handles requirements locally, so it is worth checking registration and insurance with your building department.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a technician for your Evanston chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.

Call now · (866) 576-7943