Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement Nationwide

Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement: The Baltimore Owner’s Guide

Olympia Chimney flue liner replacement in Baltimore typically runs $1,800-$3,400 installed, depending on liner diameter, chimney height, and whether the chase needs opening up. We stock Olympia Chimney-compatible stainless steel liners in 5.5″, 6″, and 8″ diameters on our trucks, and most replacements are completed in a single visit. If the flue is right, the fire takes care of itself.

Call (410) 849-6273

Most Baltimore homeowners discover their Olympia flue liner is failing during a routine sweep, or after a chimney fire that cracked the clay tiles beneath the liner. In Federal Hill and Fells Point rowhouses, we see the problem most often in systems installed 15-20 years ago, when flexible liners were still transitioning to the heavier-gauge alloys Olympia now uses. The liner itself is a stainless steel sleeve that protects your masonry from corrosive flue gases and protects your house from heat transfer through cracked tile. When it fails, you’re burning with a false sense of security.

Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To

Olympia Chimney manufactures flexible stainless steel liners in the 316Ti and AL29-4C alloys, and the replacement must match both the alloy grade and the original diameter. The 316Ti handles standard wood-burning and gas appliances; the AL29-4C is required for high-efficiency gas and oil systems where condensation is aggressive. We see the 6″ diameter most commonly in Baltimore’s pre-war brick colonials, while the 5.5″ turns up in smaller flues found in Canton and Highlandtown rowhouses.

To identify your liner, check the top termination for an embossed stamp, or measure the inner diameter with a tape measure if accessible. The critical gotcha: Olympia’s earlier 316Ti liners (pre-2010) used a slightly different corrugation pitch than current production, which can affect collar and connector compatibility. We carry adapters for both generations. Hearthstone Chimney Co. is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Olympia Chimney. For homeowners weighing OEM against aftermarket, we install Olympia-spec liners from DuraFlex and Gelco that meet the same UL 1777 listing at a lower parts cost, and we warranty the work identically either way.

Signs Your Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing

• White or green powder on the liner walls. This is chloride corrosion, accelerated by Baltimore’s humid summers and freeze-thaw cycles. The 316Ti alloy resists it well, but after 15-20 years the passive layer breaks down. Once you see the powder, the metal is thinning and pinholes will follow.
• Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney breast. A compromised liner allows acidic condensation to reach the masonry, which wicks moisture into surrounding plaster. In Patterson Park-area homes with shared chimney walls, this often shows up as bubbling paint two rooms away from the fireplace.
• Smoke smell when the system is not in use. This means gases are leaking through gaps in the liner and settling in the smoke chamber or attic space. It’s not just an odor problem; it’s an indication that carbon monoxide could follow the same path under the right pressure conditions.
• Visible gaps or separations in the liner at the thimble or termination. Thermal cycling loosens the top collar and bottom connector first. We find this most often in systems where the original installer didn’t use an Olympia-specific locking band.
• Chunks of clay tile in the firebox after a sweeping. The liner was supposed to protect those tiles. If they’re coming down, the liner has either detached or corroded through in sections, exposing the original masonry to direct flue gas contact.

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

The spread depends on three things: liner diameter and alloy grade, whether your chimney is straight or has offsets that require additional labor, and if we need to open a drywall chase or exterior chase cover to access the flue. Every estimate includes a Level-2 camera inspection with photos you can see and a plain-English verdict. No work proceeds without your approval of the exact number, which is the number on the invoice. The 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation in writing, no arguing.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground here, and then there’s a hard stop. You can verify your liner diameter with a flashlight and tape measure from the firebox, and you can check the termination cap for visible corrosion or looseness from the roof if you’re comfortable on a ladder. What you cannot safely do is remove and replace a flue liner yourself.

The liner is suspended from a top plate under tension, and the old liner often comes out in sections that bind against the masonry. Without proper rigging, a section can drop unpredictably. More critically, the new liner must be continuously supported, properly insulated to maintain UL 1777 clearance ratings, and pressure-tested for gas-tightness at connections. We’ve corrected three DIY liner jobs in Baltimore in the past two years where the homeowner saved $800 on labor and created a carbon monoxide pathway that required full reinstallation. Call (410) 849-6273 and we’ll price it honestly. Most jobs are done in one visit.

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