Why does the smoke come in right when I light the fire?

A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. A blockage, a partly closed damper or a tightly sealed house can also work against the chimney. A camera inspection shows which one it is.

Is a little smoke in the room really a problem?

Yes. Any smoke in the room means combustion gases and possibly carbon monoxide are in the room. Put the fire out, open a window, and leave the fireplace alone until it has been checked.

My Champaign house is a newer one. Can it still happen?

Yes. Newer brick-and-vinyl homes on the south and west sides are sealed tightly. The house can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up it. A powerful extractor fan makes this worse.

Will the fix need a permit in Champaign?

Permits in Illinois are issued locally. Installing a stove or insert, relining, or rebuilding above the roofline commonly needs one. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally do not. Ask the local building department before any larger work.

Independent sweeps and masons do the work. One Call Chimney arranges it. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping at the state level, so ask the local building department what applies where you live.

Stop using the fireplace

Smoke in the room in Champaign, IL

Many homes in Old Town Champaign and near downtown date from the early 1900s, and masonry chimneys are common on them. If smoke comes into your room when you light a fire, the chimney is not drawing. Something is blocking the flue, the damper is not fully open, or the flue is too cold to pull the smoke up. The cause needs to be found before you use the fireplace again.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

Phones answered around the clock · free estimate

It happens here for a few reasons. Central Illinois has a long heating season, and the flue gets months of hard use. Freeze-thaw cycles wear on masonry, and spring storms bring hail and straight-line winds that can damage chimney crowns and flashing. Newer brick-and-vinyl homes on the south and west sides are built tight, so the house can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up it.

While you wait — please don't

Put the fire out and open a window. Smoke in the room means combustion gases are in the room, and carbon monoxide comes with them.
Get outside if you feel headachy or dizzy. These can be signs of carbon monoxide, so go outside and call 911.
Do not relight the fire to see if it works now. If the flue is blocked or the damper is stuck, the same thing will happen again.
Do not run a powerful extractor fan while a fire burns. A strong fan can pull air down the chimney and push smoke back into the room.

What the technician does

You call, we arrange the visitOne Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We set you up with an independent sweep or mason who does the work. We are not the contractor.
The flue is swept and camera-inspectedThe technician sweeps the flue and runs a camera through it to find the blockage. Ask to see the footage.
The damper is checkedA damper that is stuck or damaged is freed, repaired or replaced so it opens fully.
Draft is tested and the cause identifiedThe technician tests how the chimney draws and works out why the smoke came back into the room.
Cap, crown and smoke chamber are looked atThe cap and crown are checked, and the smoke chamber is cleaned and parged where needed.
You get the price firstThe estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. You approve it first.

Why this happens in Champaign, IL

Champaign winters are cold, and Illinois freeze-thaw cycles are hard on exposed masonry. Cracked crowns, spalled brick and worn mortar joints let water in and can narrow or foul a flue. Spring brings tornadoes, large hail and straight-line winds that can damage crowns and flashing. A chimney that worked last winter may not draw well this one. Demand rises after storm season, and again in October and November as people prepare their chimneys before the first hard freeze.

Housing here varies a lot. Older homes in Old Town and near downtown often have full masonry chimneys. Many Illinois homes vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney that needs a properly sized liner. Newer subdivision homes are tighter, so a cold flue or an extractor fan can beat the chimney for air. If you are in Garden Hills, Beardsley Park, Savoy, Urbana or anywhere nearby, the first step is the same: stop using the fireplace and get the flue looked at.

Questions people ask

Why does the smoke come in right when I light the fire?: A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. A blockage, a partly closed damper or a tightly sealed house can also work against the chimney. A camera inspection shows which one it is.
Is a little smoke in the room really a problem?: Yes. Any smoke in the room means combustion gases and possibly carbon monoxide are in the room. Put the fire out, open a window, and leave the fireplace alone until it has been checked.
My Champaign house is a newer one. Can it still happen?: Yes. Newer brick-and-vinyl homes on the south and west sides are sealed tightly. The house can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up it. A powerful extractor fan makes this worse.
Will the fix need a permit in Champaign?: Permits in Illinois are issued locally. Installing a stove or insert, relining, or rebuilding above the roofline commonly needs one. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally do not. Ask the local building department before any larger work.
Who does the work?: Independent sweeps and masons do the work. One Call Chimney arranges it. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping at the state level, so ask the local building department what applies where you live.

One call

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

Call now · (866) 576-7943

Nearby

Answers

Free tool

Sweep schedule check

Same problem in nearby cities

Every city we cover in Illinois

Something else in this area

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