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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterFamco Flue Liner Replacement: The Long Beach Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Famco-compatible flue liner replacement in Long Beach for $1,800-$3,400 installed, depending on liner diameter, height, and whether the existing liner pulls clean or needs demolition. Most Famco swaps we book in Long Beach are completed in a single day, with the new liner sized from our on-truck inventory of 316Ti stainless in 5.5-inch through 8-inch diameters. Homeowners usually discover the failure during a routine sweep when the camera reveals gaps, corrosion pinholes, or separated seams that weren’t visible from the firebox.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco manufactured flue liners under several product lines before shifting focus toward ventilation and chimney cap hardware, so identifying your exact liner series matters. The Famco FL-series smooth-wall liners, common in Long Beach homes built between 1975 and 1995, carry a stamped band near the top collar with a part number starting FL-55, FL-65, or FL-80, indicating 5.5, 6.5, or 8-inch diameter. The older Famco corrugated “accordion” liners, found in bungalows near Belmont Shore and Alamitos Heights, lack this stamping but show a distinctive spiral seam every 18 inches.
We source replacement from Famco where the part number is still active, but we’ve found Olympia Chimney’s 316Ti equivalent matches Famco’s original 304 stainless spec with better salt-air resistance, which matters in Long Beach. The compatibility gotcha: Famco FL-series used a proprietary top plate gasket that doesn’t mate with standard Olympia or DuraFlex collars without an adapter ring. We machine those adapters in-house rather than forcing a universal fit that leaks.
To identify yours: measure the flue tile opening (not the liner itself), note any stamped numbers on the top plate, and check for a termination cap marked with the Famco logo. Bring those three items to the call and we’ll confirm fit before dispatch.
Signs Your Famco Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- White or orange staining on exterior masonry. This is efflorescence and rust bleed from moisture penetrating liner gaps. In Long Beach, the combination of marine layer moisture and salt accelerates the oxidation that produces this staining, often appearing first on the chimney face facing the Pacific.
- Smoke smell in upstairs rooms when the fireplace is cold. A separated liner seam or corroded joint allows negative pressure in the house to pull residual flue gases through wall cavities. The camera finds these separations at the smoke chamber shoulder in about 60 percent of Famco failures we see.
- Chunks of clay tile in the firebox. This means the original clay flue liner behind the Famco stainless insert has deteriorated, often because the Famco liner was undersized and ran too hot, cooking the surrounding terracotta. The fix requires pulling both and re-lining properly.
- Visible gaps or daylight through the liner wall during inspection. Pinhole corrosion in 304 stainless is common after 15-20 years in coastal California air. We document these with the camera and show you the exact frame, since some gaps warrant immediate replacement while others can be monitored for a season.
- Downdraft or difficulty starting fires on mild days. A liner that’s lost structural integrity can deform or settle out of plumb, disrupting the draft column. Famco accordion liners are especially prone to this if the original installer didn’t anchor the bottom register plate.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Scope | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Famco liner pull and 316Ti replacement, straight flue, up to 25 ft | $1,800-$2,400 |
| Same, with clay tile demolition and smoke chamber parging | $2,600-$3,100 |
| Complex flue with offset, custom top plate, or chase modification | $2,800-$3,400 |
What drives the range: height of the flue, diameter (larger liner means more material and harder pull), condition of the existing top plate and termination, and whether we need to rebuild the smoke chamber to meet current NFPA 211 clearance. Every quote is itemized in writing before work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1. The installed liner carries a lifetime warranty on the stainless, and our workmanship is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
What’s included: NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection before and after, documented photo record under Haven Standard Clause 4, removal and disposal of the failed Famco liner, new 316Ti replacement with proper top and bottom termination, combustion analysis to verify draft, and the written warranty. Materials come through our Haven buying network, which keeps Famco, Olympia, and DuraFlex pricing honest rather than marked up to whatever the market will bear.
DIY or Call Us?
There’s a safe middle ground here, and then there’s where it ends. You can verify your liner diameter with a tape measure, check the top plate for Famco markings from the roof (with proper fall protection), and confirm whether your damper opens fully. What you cannot safely do: pull a liner that may be lodged in deteriorated clay tile, work inside a flue without confirming structural integrity, or properly size and seat a replacement without combustion testing afterward.
The real risk isn’t the liner weight. It’s what you don’t see until the old liner is out: spalling flue tile, a compromised smoke chamber, or a hidden nest that blocked the flue and caused the overheating that failed the liner in the first place. We’ve found all three in Long Beach homes where the owner started the job on a Saturday. Corrine Halstead’s rule: the camera doesn’t lie, and neither does the price sheet. We hand you both before you decide.
Call (424) 401-5585 for a written estimate. Estimates are free, and we offer a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written quote.
FAQs
In coastal Southern California, a 304 stainless Famco liner typically shows meaningful corrosion at 15-20 years, sometimes sooner if the termination cap was missing or damaged and salt spray entered directly. The 316Ti replacements we install resist that salt-air degradation significantly better, which is why we spec them for Long Beach specifically. Call (424) 401-5585 and we’ll camera-inspect to assess your liner’s remaining life.
Small, accessible gaps in a otherwise sound liner can sometimes be sealed with HeatShield Cerfractory Foam if the damage is limited to the smoke chamber area and the liner wall itself is intact. Separated seams, widespread pinholing, or deformation mean replacement, since patches in those conditions fail within a season or two. We document the condition and show you the camera footage so you can see which category you’re in.
Most Famco liner replacements in Long Beach are completed in one day, from arrival to final combustion check and photo documentation. Jobs requiring clay tile demolition or smoke chamber rebuild may extend to a second day. We give you a written timeline with the price before anyone starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
We stock 316Ti replacement liners in diameters from 5.5 to 8 inches, along with the adapter rings needed for Famco top plate compatibility. If your flue requires a custom diameter or an unusual offset configuration, we measure, order, and return to install, typically within two business days. We do not stock the original Famco-branded liner, as their production has shifted away from flue products; our replacements meet or exceed the original spec.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Long Beach at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Long Beach, serving Long Beach and nearby areas.