Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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Before
AfterFamco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep in Long Beach: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney cleaning and sweep services in Long Beach, typically scheduling within a week and completing most jobs in two to three hours. A standard Famco sweep and Level 1 inspection runs $195-$275; a Level 2 camera inspection with full documentation runs $325-$450, and you’ll have a written price before we start any work. This page is for homeowners with Famco chimney caps, dampers, or venting components who need cleaning, inspection, or repair without the runaround of calling around for mystery pricing. If you’re in Belmont Shore, Bixby Knolls, or anywhere from the traffic circle down to the Peninsula, call us at (424) 401-5585 for a free written estimate.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco WC wind-directional chimney caps seize in the Pacific salt air. The WC series uses a rotating hood to block down-drafts, but the marine layer in Long Beach deposits salt that crystallizes in the bearing race after three to five years. We see this constantly on homes west of Redondo Avenue. Our fix: disassemble the cap on-site, clean the race with a non-corrosive degreaser, relubricate with high-temp marine grease, and document whether the bearing is salvageable or needs replacement. If it’s gone, we quote an OEM Famco replacement or a Gelco equivalent that fits the same flue tile.
- Famco BD barometric dampers stick open or closed due to creosote buildup on the blade edge. The BD series is common on oil-fired systems in older Long Beach homes near California Heights. Class III creosote, the hard, tar-like deposit that forms with incomplete combustion, accumulates on the thin aluminum blade and throws off the weight calibration. We remove the damper, ultrasonic-clean the blade in our truck, reweight it to factory spec, and reinstall with a new gasket. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither does the price sheet - you’ll see the creosote thickness before we quote anything.
- Famco RC round chimney caps warp at the mesh seam after repeated thermal cycling. The RC series uses a rolled mesh screen that’s spot-welded at the seam; in Long Beach, where fires burn sporadically through cool winters, the heat-up/cool-down cycle fatigues that weld. We find this most on second-story flues in Bluff Park where the cap sits in direct sun, adding UV stress. Our repair: if the mesh is intact, we reweld with stainless filler and repaint with high-temp black. If the frame is distorted, we source a replacement through our Haven buying network, usually from Famco or Olympia Chimney depending on lead time.
- Famco SD sliding dampers lose their seal when the felt gasket degrades. The SD series uses a felt track gasket that shrinks in dry Santa Ana conditions, common in Long Beach September through November. Smoke leaks into the room when the gasket gap exceeds 1/8 inch. We stock three gasket densities and match to the damper age - original felt for pre-2015 units, upgraded silicone-impregnated for newer ones. The work takes about 45 minutes and we test with a smoke pencil before we leave.
- Famco chimney fans (model 507 and 512) draw erratically when the impeller coats with soot. These inline fans, popular on low-drafting fireplaces in the Alamitos Heights area, depend on precise blade balance. Soot accumulation from infrequent sweeping throws that balance off, causing vibration and premature motor wear. We pull the fan, clean the impeller in a solvent bath, check runout with a dial indicator, and reinstall. If the motor bearings are already damaged, we quote a replacement - we carry both Famco OEM and DuraFlex compatible units.
Our Famco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Process
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Call and schedule. A live person answers, checks Famco part availability against our truck stock, and books a two-hour window. You get a text when your tech is en route.
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Arrival and setup. Your assigned technician, in uniform with license number visible, lays protective sheeting and reviews any prior Famco documentation you’ve got.
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Inspection and documentation. We run a camera scan per NFPA 211 Level 2 standards - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job. For Famco components, we specifically check cap rotation, damper blade travel, and fan amp draw.
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Written price, written scope. Before any work begins, you get a single-page estimate with line-item pricing, parts source (OEM Famco, Olympia Chimney, or quality aftermarket), and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. No surprises, no pressure.
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Cleaning and repair. We sweep to NFPA 211 standards, remove creosote by class, and perform agreed Famco repairs. All work is photographed and added to your documented record.
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Final test and walkthrough. We run a smoke test or draft measurement, hand you the photo packet and warranty paperwork, and clean up. Payment is due only when you’re satisfied.
Before
AfterWhat Famco Chimney Cleaning & Sweep Costs in Long Beach
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco Level 1 sweep and inspection | $195 - $275 | Flue height, creosote class, accessibility |
| Famco Level 2 camera inspection | $325 - $450 | Number of flues, liner material, documentation needed for insurance |
| Famco cap removal and service (WC/RC series) | $140 - $220 | Seized fasteners, bearing replacement, reweld needed |
| Famco damper cleaning and reseal (BD/SD series) | $175 - $260 | Gasket type, blade condition, frame alignment |
| Famco chimney fan service (507/512) | $220 - $340 | Impeller clean vs. motor replacement, electrical testing |
Prices include the documented photo record and written warranty. We don’t charge extra for “finding something” - the inspection is the inspection. Salt-air corrosion in Long Beach can accelerate wear beyond inland timelines, so we flag anything that’s fine now but worth watching. Call (424) 401-5585 for your exact written estimate - estimates are free.
Why Long Beach Homeowners Call Emberly Chimney Cleaners Long Beach for Famco Work
We’ve cleaned and inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a significant share of those have been Famco-equipped homes from Naples to the Zaferia district. Corrine Halstead built this crew on one habit: hand the customer the camera footage and the written estimate before asking for a decision. That became Clause 4 of the Haven Standard, and we haven’t skipped it once.
Our technicians carry Famco, DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco parts on the truck, so we’re not ordering blind and charging you twice. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every repair. And if another company handed you a scary estimate, bring it in - our Free Second Opinion is exactly that, free, with no obligation.
FAQs
No. As an independent Famco service provider, we use OEM or equivalent parts and document everything, which satisfies warranty requirements if your component is still covered. Famco warranties parts against manufacturing defect, not against normal wear or installation issues. We note serial numbers and install dates in your record so any future claim is straightforward. Call (424) 401-5585 if you need help determining coverage.
Five to eight years for the WC rotating series, eight to twelve for stationary RC caps, assuming annual inspection and cleaning. Salt air off the Pacific accelerates corrosion on any metal chimney component, Famco included. We see premature failure when caps go unswept and salt builds under the grease. Our camera inspection spots this before the bearing seizes completely.
Most common Famco caps, dampers, and fan components are in our Long Beach warehouse or on our trucks. Specialty sizes or discontinued series may take three to five business days through our Haven buying network. We always quote both OEM Famco and compatible alternatives from Olympia Chimney or Gelco so you can choose based on price and lead time.
Usually cleaning and resealing. A stuck Famco BD or SD damper is most often creosote binding the mechanism or a degraded gasket adding friction. We diagnose this in the first fifteen minutes of inspection. Replacement only makes sense if the frame is warped from over-firing or the blade is cracked. We’ll show you the camera image and explain which category you’re in before any work starts.
Once per year for wood-burning systems, per NFPA 211. Oil and gas systems with Famco venting can often go two years if draft tests clean, but the cap and damper still need annual inspection for salt corrosion. Homes in Belmont Shore or on the Peninsula, where salt exposure is highest, sometimes benefit from a mid-year cap check we perform at no charge during a sweep.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Long Beach at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Long Beach, serving Long Beach and nearby areas.