Why does smoke come in only when I first light the fire?

A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. A blockage, a damper that is not fully open or a damaged flue can also be the cause. The technician finds out which with a camera inspection and a draft test.

Could my Evanston house be too airtight for the fireplace?

It can be. A tightly sealed house or a powerful extractor fan can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up. The draft test is how the technician checks whether this is part of the problem.

Do I need a permit in Evanston for this repair?

In Illinois, permits are issued locally by the building department. Relining a chimney or installing a new venting system commonly needs one. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally do not. Ask the local building department before work begins.

Who checks a sweep's credentials in Illinois?

The state does not license chimney sweeping or inspection as a separate trade. Requirements are set locally, and many municipalities ask contractors to register and carry insurance. Check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the local building department.

Who does the work, and what does the estimate cost?

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we do not perform it. The estimate is free on every job, and you approve the price before any work starts.

Stop using the fireplace

Smoke in the room, booked with one call, in Evanston, IL

Many Evanston homes are a century old or more, and a lot of them still have the original masonry chimney and fireplace. If smoke comes into your room when you light a fire, the chimney is not pulling the smoke up and out. Something is wrong in the flue, the damper, the smoke chamber or the air in the house. The repair is planned work, but it starts with a technician finding the cause. Plan to stop using the fireplace until that is done.

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In Illinois the heating season runs from about October into April, so a flue gets months of steady use. Freeze-thaw cycles wear on exposed masonry, and wind-driven rain and snow can get in at the crown, flashing and cap. Humid summers leave moisture in rarely used flues. Any of these can leave a flue that is blocked, damaged or slow to draw.

While you wait — please don't

Stop using the fireplace. Smoke in the room means combustion gases are in the room, and carbon monoxide comes with them.
Put the fire out and open a window. Fresh air clears the room while the fire is out and the cause is still unknown.
Get outside if anyone feels headachy or dizzy. Those can be signs of carbon monoxide, so go outside and call 911.
Do not relight it to test it. Another fire before the flue is checked can put more smoke and gas into the house.

What the technician does

Sweep and camera inspectionThe technician sweeps the flue and runs a camera through it to find the blockage. Ask to see the footage.
Damper freed, repaired or replacedA damper that will not open fully can choke the draft. It is freed, repaired or replaced, depending on what the technician finds.
Draft test and causeThe draft is tested so the cause is identified, not guessed. Ask for the reasoning in writing.
Cap and crown checkThe cap and crown are checked for damage that lets in water or debris.
Smoke chamber cleaned and pargedThe smoke chamber above the firebox is cleaned and parged so smoke is guided into the flue.
Price first, then your approvalThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it.

Why this happens in Evanston, IL

Evanston's housing runs from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. There are brick and frame houses with masonry chimneys, and many multi-unit buildings and condominiums near downtown and the lakefront. Illinois homes built before 1940 often have full-height masonry chimneys with clay tile liners. Many homes also vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older chimney that needs a properly sized liner. A century-old chimney is worth a close look when smoke starts coming back.

Evanston winters are cold and snowy, with repeated freeze-thaw cycles and heavy road salt use that are hard on masonry chimneys. Lake Michigan adds damp, windy conditions and sharp temperature swings. A cold flue draws badly until it warms, and a tightly sealed house or a powerful extractor fan can beat the chimney for air. Demand is highest in early fall, before the first cold snap, and again in midwinter. Masonry repairs such as tuckpointing and crown work tend to happen in warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing.

Questions people ask

Why does smoke come in only when I first light the fire?: A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. A blockage, a damper that is not fully open or a damaged flue can also be the cause. The technician finds out which with a camera inspection and a draft test.
Could my Evanston house be too airtight for the fireplace?: It can be. A tightly sealed house or a powerful extractor fan can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up. The draft test is how the technician checks whether this is part of the problem.
Do I need a permit in Evanston for this repair?: In Illinois, permits are issued locally by the building department. Relining a chimney or installing a new venting system commonly needs one. Routine sweeping and basic inspection generally do not. Ask the local building department before work begins.
Who checks a sweep's credentials in Illinois?: The state does not license chimney sweeping or inspection as a separate trade. Requirements are set locally, and many municipalities ask contractors to register and carry insurance. Check with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the local building department.
Who does the work, and what does the estimate cost?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we do not perform it. The estimate is free on every job, and you approve the price before any work starts.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange a technician for smoke coming back into the room in Evanston. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you 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.