Do I need a permit to reline a chimney in Rockford?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally, and a permit is commonly required for relining a chimney. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the local building department before work begins.

Why would a clay tile liner crack in a Rockford home?

Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire, and decades of Illinois freeze-thaw can also damage the chimney. Older Rockford homes often have clay tile liners that have been through many heating seasons.

We switched to a gas furnace. Does the chimney still need a liner?

It may. Many Illinois homes vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner. Without one, acidic condensate can attack the masonry.

Is One Call Chimney the company that does the work?

No. We are a referral and scheduling service that arranges chimney work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor. Illinois leaves licensing requirements to cities and counties, so ask the technician what applies in your area.

What does the free estimate include?

The technician inspects the chimney, usually with a camera for a liner problem, and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first, and you can ask to see the footage and get the reasoning in writing.

Stop using the fireplace

Liner damaged in Rockford, IL

Rockford's housing skews older, with many pre-1940 Victorians and bungalows in the historic districts and masonry chimneys and fireplaces widespread across the city. If someone has told you the liner in your Rockford chimney is cracked, it almost certainly means the flue lining no longer does its job. That lining is meant to keep heat, smoke and carbon monoxide inside the flue and away from the structure of your house.

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It happens here for plain reasons. Illinois has a long heating season, about October into April, so a flue sees months of continuous use. Rockford's repeated freeze-thaw cycles and road salt are hard on masonry chimneys. Older clay tile liners also crack in a chimney fire, and many Illinois homes still vent a gas furnace or water heater through an old masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace or stove. A damaged liner lets heat and carbon monoxide reach the structure of the house, so the appliance should not be used until the flue is verified.
Get outside and call 911 if you feel unwell. Headache, dizziness, nausea or a carbon monoxide alarm going off means you should leave the house first and call 911.
Do not use the flue after a chimney fire. After any chimney fire the flue must be inspected before it is used again, even if everything looks fine from the room.
Do not patch the liner yourself. You cannot see the full extent of the damage from the firebox, and a patch can hide a problem instead of fixing it.

What the technician does

Camera inspection firstThe technician runs a camera through the flue to see the cracks for themselves. Ask to see the footage.
Liner matched to the applianceThe appliance and flue are matched for size, material and termination. A stainless steel liner is sized to the appliance and insulated where required.
Cast-in-place lining where it fitsWhere appropriate, a cast-in-place lining may be used instead. The technician explains why one option suits your chimney.
Cap and crown looked at togetherThe cap and crown are addressed at the same time, because water getting in at the top works against a new liner.
Estimate and approval before workThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first. Ask for the reasoning in writing.

Why this happens in Rockford, IL

Many of Rockford's older neighborhoods have original masonry chimneys that have been through decades of winters. Freeze-thaw and road salt make tuckpointing and chimney crown repair routine maintenance here, and a cracked crown lets water down toward the liner. Humid summers can also leave moisture trapped in masonry and in rarely used flues, which speeds liner corrosion. That is why a liner problem is often found alongside crown or mortar work.

Rockford's seasons shape when people call. Demand rises in early fall as homeowners prepare chimneys before heating season, and again in spring when winter ice and storm damage show up. Spring and summer thunderstorms in northern Illinois can also damage chimney caps. If you convert a Rockford fireplace or furnace to gas, ask whether the flue needs relining. Without a liner, acidic condensate attacks the masonry.

Questions people ask

Do I need a permit to reline a chimney in Rockford?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally, and a permit is commonly required for relining a chimney. Rules vary between jurisdictions, so confirm with the local building department before work begins.
Why would a clay tile liner crack in a Rockford home?: Clay tiles crack in a chimney fire, and decades of Illinois freeze-thaw can also damage the chimney. Older Rockford homes often have clay tile liners that have been through many heating seasons.
We switched to a gas furnace. Does the chimney still need a liner?: It may. Many Illinois homes vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner. Without one, acidic condensate can attack the masonry.
Is One Call Chimney the company that does the work?: No. We are a referral and scheduling service that arranges chimney work with independent sweeps and masons. We are not the contractor. Illinois leaves licensing requirements to cities and counties, so ask the technician what applies in your area.
What does the free estimate include?: The technician inspects the chimney, usually with a camera for a liner problem, and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first, and you can ask to see the footage and get the reasoning in writing.

One call

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

Call now · (866) 576-7943