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 Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Baltimore: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service throughout Baltimore, with most jobs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing that matches the final invoice. A typical Famco liner replacement runs $2,800-$4,500 depending on flue length and access, while partial rebuilds start around $1,800. We do not mark up scare tactics - if your liner has another season in it, we’ll show you the camera footage and say so.
This page is for Baltimore homeowners who already know they’ve got a Famco product in their chimney system and need straight answers about what’s failing, what it costs to fix, and who’s qualified to do the work right. We’re Hearthstone Chimney Co., and we’ve been working on Baltimore’s brick chimneys since 1984. Call us at (410) 849-6273 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco stainless steel rigid liner series (3003 and 304 grades) - weld-seam corrosion at the cleanout tee. In Baltimore’s rowhouse chimneys, especially in neighborhoods like Canton and Fells Point where salt air from the harbor penetrates older masonry, we’ve seen the longitudinal weld on Famco’s rigid tees open up after 8-12 years. Moisture gets in, freezes, and the seam splits. We cut back to sound metal and install a DuraFlex or Gelco replacement tee with a full-penetration weld that handles thermal cycling better than the original.
- Famco flexible liner kits (FL series) - premature creosote glazing in the corrugation valleys. The FL series corrugation pattern is shallower than DuraFlex’s equivalent, which means creosote packs tight in Baltimore’s cold-start shoulder seasons when homeowners light intermittent fires. We pull the liner, assess the flue for proper sizing (an oversized flue is usually the real culprit), and reinstall with proper insulation per NFPA 211 - or spec a replacement with deeper corrugation if the flue geometry demands it.
- Famco top-mount chimney dampers (TD series) - frame distortion causing liner-top leakage. The TD series cast-aluminum frame can warp after repeated thermal shock, breaking the seal where the liner terminates. We see this in Patterson Park-area homes with original 1920s chimneys that run hot and cold hard. We replace with a stainless frame damper or, if the liner top is compromised, rebuild the termination with a Gelco or Copperfield cap assembly rated for the actual flue temperature.
- Famco clay-to-stainless adaptors (CSA series) - mortar-bed failure in stepped flues. Baltimore’s older homes, particularly in Highlandtown and Hampden, often have stepped clay flues with irregular courses. The CSA adaptor relies on a uniform mortar bed that cracks as the chimney settles. We remove the adaptor, repoint the step with high-temp refractory, and install a custom-fabricated transition piece that accommodates the actual flue geometry rather than forcing a standard part to fit.
- Famco chimney caps (CC series) - mesh deterioration allowing liner rain intrusion. The CC series uses a lighter-gauge mesh than Copperfield’s equivalent. In Baltimore’s wet springs and the freeze-thaw cycles that follow, we’ve found the mesh rusts through at the weld points, letting water track down the liner and pool at the bottom. We replace with a Gelco or Olympia Chimney cap in 304 or 316 stainless, with a deeper overhang and a proper drip edge that sheds water clear of the flue.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, day or night. We book a Level-2 camera inspection with photo documentation.
- 2
Inspection and verdict. Our technician runs a camera the full length of your Famco liner, photographs every joint, tee, and termination, and explains what we’re seeing in plain English. You get the photos.
- 3
Parts decision. If Famco OEM is available and makes sense for your system, we quote it. If a DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco equivalent offers better longevity for your specific flue - and it often does - we explain why and let you decide. No pressure either way.
- 4
The repair. Background-checked, uniformed technicians complete most liner replacements and partial rebuilds in one visit. We protect your floors, contain the dust, and work methodically.
- 5
Testing and documentation. We pressure-test or smoke-test every liner installation, verify draft performance, and leave you with photos of the completed work and a written invoice matching the upfront quote.
- 6
The guarantee. Every job is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing. If something isn’t right, we come back and make it right.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Baltimore
These are real ranges for Baltimore-area Famco work we performed in the last twelve months. Your exact quote depends on flue length, roof access, and whether we find hidden damage once the camera goes in.
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Famco flexible liner replacement (single flue, standard access) | $2,800 - $3,800 |
| Famco rigid liner replacement with tee rebuild | $3,200 - $4,500 |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline, with liner retermination) | $1,800 - $3,500 |
| Full chimney rebuild with new liner system | $6,500 - $9,000 |
| Famco liner repair (patch, reline short section, cap replacement) | $850 - $1,600 |
What moves the price: three-story rowhouses with steep roof pitches add labor time; terra cotta flue removal requires more demolition than a direct reline; and stepped or offset flues need custom transition fabrication. We quote the full number before we start - no surprises on the bill. Call (410) 849-6273 for a free estimate.
Why Baltimore Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been on Baltimore’s roofs since 1984. Russell Haines learned masonry and ventilation at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, but it’s Baltimore’s older brick chimneys - from Canton to the neighborhoods surrounding Patterson Park - that have kept our crew busy for decades. We know the difference between a Famco FL series and a DuraFlex equivalent because we’ve pulled both out of failed installations and seen what lasts in this climate.
Our Level-2 camera inspections end with photos you can see and a plain-English verdict. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise is backed in writing - if it’s not right, we make it right, no paperwork and no arguing. And when you call (410) 849-6273, a live person answers, 24 hours a day, every day. We’ve found that homeowners who’ve been burned by contractors before appreciate a company that plans to be in town thirty years from now.
FAQs
No - properly documented chimney liner and rebuild work by a licensed, insured professional typically satisfies insurer requirements and may be required after certain claims. We provide photo documentation and written certification of code-compliant installation. Call (410) 849-6273 if your insurer needs specific paperwork.
Some Famco OEM parts are available; others have been discontinued or superseded. We maintain relationships with distributors for Famco, DuraFlex, Gelco, and Olympia Chimney, and we fabricate custom transitions when needed. If your Famco tee or adaptor is obsolete, we’ll show you the exact replacement option and explain why it fits.
The camera tells the story. Isolated damage - a cracked tee, a failed top seal, localized corrosion - often repairs cleanly. Widesdegradation, multiple seam failures, or undersizing relative to your appliance output means replacement is the sounder long-term fix. We show you the footage and give an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch.
Most single-flue Famco liner replacements are completed in one day. Full chimney rebuilds with integrated liner systems typically run two to three days, depending on weather and masonry cure requirements. We schedule start dates we can keep, and we show up when we say we will.
As an independent Famco service provider, we are not affiliated with or authorized by Famco, and we cannot process claims under Famco’s manufacturer warranty. What we provide is our own 90-Day Done Right Promise on all labor and materials we install, backed in writing. If your Famco product is still under manufacturer warranty, we can document the condition for your claim while performing the repair you need now.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Baltimore and nearby areas.