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

A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. In a Rockford winter the chimney can be very cold, so smoke may spill into the room before the draft starts. If it keeps happening, or happens even after the flue is warm, the chimney needs inspecting.

Can a tight house or an exhaust fan cause smoke in the room?

Yes. A tightly sealed modern house or a powerful extractor fan can beat the chimney for air and pull smoke back into the room. The technician tests the draft to find out whether that is the cause.

Could my older Rockford home's chimney be the problem?

It can be. Older masonry chimneys here deal with decades of freeze-thaw, road-salt weather and moisture, which can lead to cracked crowns, loose mortar and debris in the flue. A camera inspection shows what is going on inside.

Is it safe to use the fireplace again after smoke came into the room?

Not until the cause has been found and the technician says it is safe to use. If anyone felt headachy or dizzy, get outside and call 911.

Who does the work, and does it need a permit?

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we are not the contractor. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping at the state level, and permits are handled locally. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly needs one, so confirm with the local building department.

Stop using the fireplace

Smoke in the room in Rockford, IL

Rockford's housing stock skews older, with many pre-1940 Victorians and bungalows in the historic districts and large numbers of post-war ranches and Cape Cods, and masonry chimneys are widespread across all of them. If smoke is coming into your room when you light a fire, the chimney is not drawing the way it should. Something is blocking the flue, the damper is not open far enough, or the flue cannot pull enough air.

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It happens here for a few reasons. Illinois winters run long, from about October into April, so a flue gets months of steady use. Freeze-thaw cycles break down brick, mortar and crowns, and water gets in. Debris, soot and loose material can then build up in the flue or the smoke chamber. A cold flue also draws badly until it warms, and a tightly sealed house can starve the fire of air.

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. Those can be signs of carbon monoxide, so go outside and call 911.
Do not light another fire to test it. Until the cause is found, each fire can push more smoke and gas into the house.
Do not run an extractor fan or vent to clear the air. A powerful fan can pull air down the chimney and make the smoke worse.

What the technician does

Sweep and camera inspection of the flueThe technician sweeps the flue and runs a camera up it to find the blockage. You can ask to see the footage.
Damper freed, repaired or replacedA damper that is stuck or only partly open chokes the draft. The technician frees it, repairs it or replaces it.
Draft test and cause identifiedThe draft is tested so the actual cause is named, whether that is a blockage, a cold flue or the house pulling air the wrong way. Ask for the reasoning in writing.
Cap and crown checkedRockford's freeze-thaw cycles and storm winds are hard on chimney caps and crowns, so both get a close look.
Smoke chamber cleaned and pargedThe smoke chamber is cleaned and parged so smoke has a smooth path up into the flue.
Price first, then your decisionThe technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it.

Why this happens in Rockford, IL

Rockford's cold, snowy winters and sub-zero snaps are hard on masonry chimneys. Road salt, repeated freezing and thawing, and wind-driven rain and snow all work on brick, mortar joints and crowns. In older neighborhoods on both sides of the Rock River, tuckpointing and chimney crown repair are routine maintenance. When water gets past a worn crown or a damaged cap, the chimney can draw badly long before you see damage from the street.

Many Illinois homes still vent a gas furnace or water heater through an older masonry chimney, and that chimney may need a properly sized liner. Spring and summer thunderstorms in northern Illinois can damage chimney caps, and humid summers can leave moisture and odors in a flue that sits unused. Demand tends to climb in early fall, when people prepare chimneys before heating season, and again in spring after ice and storm damage shows up. Whether you are in the North End, Edgewater, Rolling Green or out in Cherry Valley, the first step is the same. Stop using the fireplace and have the flue looked at.

Questions people ask

Why does the smoke only come in when I first light the fire?: A cold flue draws badly until it warms up. In a Rockford winter the chimney can be very cold, so smoke may spill into the room before the draft starts. If it keeps happening, or happens even after the flue is warm, the chimney needs inspecting.
Can a tight house or an exhaust fan cause smoke in the room?: Yes. A tightly sealed modern house or a powerful extractor fan can beat the chimney for air and pull smoke back into the room. The technician tests the draft to find out whether that is the cause.
Could my older Rockford home's chimney be the problem?: It can be. Older masonry chimneys here deal with decades of freeze-thaw, road-salt weather and moisture, which can lead to cracked crowns, loose mortar and debris in the flue. A camera inspection shows what is going on inside.
Is it safe to use the fireplace again after smoke came into the room?: Not until the cause has been found and the technician says it is safe to use. If anyone felt headachy or dizzy, get outside and call 911.
Who does the work, and does it need a permit?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the work with independent sweeps and masons, and we are not the contractor. Illinois does not license chimney sweeping at the state level, and permits are handled locally. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly needs one, so confirm with the local building department.

One call

Call (866) 576-7943 and One Call Chimney will arrange an independent 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

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