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.
Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Jose: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service throughout San Jose, with most liner replacements completed in one day and full rebuilds typically finished within three to five business days. Every job starts with a camera-scan inspection and ends with a written price, photo documentation, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Famco; we are an independent service provider who stocks Famco-compatible parts and has worked on hundreds of their units in Santa Clara County.
This page is for San Jose homeowners who own a Famco chimney component, suspect liner damage or masonry failure, and want to know what it actually costs before anyone shows up with tools. If that’s you, call us at (669) 291-2770 or read on.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 Stainless Steel Rigid Liners: We see these most often in Willow Glen and Naglee Park homes built between 1960 and 1985. The 304 alloy holds up well to dry heat but corrodes at the weld seams when San Jose’s winter temperature swings cause condensation cycling inside an uninsulated flue. Our fix: pull the damaged section, inspect the full run with a camera, and replace with 316Ti alloy or a properly insulated Famco-compatible system that handles the condensation.
- Famco Flexible Liners (pre-2015 production): The early corrugated flex liners developed longitudinal creases at stress points where they bend around smoke chamber shoulders, especially in taller San Jose chimneys with offset flues. Those creases trap creosote and eventually crack through. We replace with a current-generation flexible liner rated for the appliance, or switch to rigid where the flue geometry allows.
- Famco Top-Mount Dampers integrated with liner tops: The cast-aluminum damper frames fatigue after a decade of thermal cycling, and the cable housing fills with Santa Clara Valley dust that binds the mechanism. We can rebuild the damper with OEM parts or retrofit a quality aftermarket top-sealing damper that mates to your existing Famco liner collar, whichever gives you the longer service life for your budget.
- Famco Clay-to-Metal Transition Plates: These are common in San Jose’s Eichler and mid-century modern homes where a metal liner was retrofit into a clay tile chimney. The plate corrodes at the interface, and we’ve found several in Almaden Valley where the original installer used plain steel instead of stainless. We fabricate a replacement transition in 316 stainless or source a Famco-compatible unit through our Haven buying network.
- Famco Chimney Caps and Spark Arrestors: The mesh on older Famco caps is 5/8-inch, which meets California code but clogs with bay area leaf debris faster than 1/2-inch mesh. When we’re doing liner work, we evaluate whether the cap is worth saving or if a Gelco or Olympia Chimney replacement with better airflow geometry makes more sense for your flue size.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process

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Camera-scan diagnosis: Corrine Halstead or one of our technicians runs a Level 2 inspection per NFPA 211, camera down the full flue length. We document liner condition, joint integrity, and any spalling or gaps in the surrounding masonry. The photo record goes to you the same day.
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Written scope and price: Before any work starts, you get a written price, written scope, and written warranty. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard. No exceptions.
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Parts decision: We stock Famco-compatible liners and components, but we also carry DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco systems. If an aftermarket part meets or exceeds OEM spec and saves you money without voiding any remaining warranty, we tell you plainly. If OEM is the right call, we source it.
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Repair or rebuild: Liner replacements are typically same-day. Full rebuilds involving masonry, crown work, and new liner installation take three to five days. We protect your property, work contained hours, and clean thoroughly.
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Post-work testing and documentation: We pressure-test or smoke-test the system, verify draft performance, and add the completed job to your documented photo record. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this archive; we’ve done it on every job since 2009.
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365-Day Done Right Promise: If something isn’t right, we make it right. The promise is stamped on every job.
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in San Jose
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco liner repair (patch, seal, or partial section) | $850 - $1,400 | Height of chimney, access difficulty, creosote removal required |
| Famco flexible liner replacement | $2,200 - $3,800 | Liner diameter, insulation requirement, number of appliance connections |
| Famco rigid stainless liner replacement | $2,800 - $4,500 | 316 vs. 316Ti alloy, number of sections, offset complexity |
| Partial rebuild (crown, top courses, liner) | $4,500 - $7,500 | Scaffolding needs, brick matching, extent of water damage below |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Famco-compatible liner | $8,500 - $14,000 | Chimney height, foundation condition, permit requirements for San Jose |
These are real San Jose market ranges based on jobs we’ve completed in neighborhoods from Willow Glen to Almaden Valley to Berryessa. Every estimate is free, written, and delivered before work begins. Call (669) 291-2770 for your exact quote.
Why San Jose Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney San Jose for Famco Work

We’ve inspected and serviced more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a significant share of those have been Famco components in San Jose’s older housing stock. Corrine Halstead grew up in Queens, trained at Apex Technical School in Long Island City, and has spent the better part of two decades doing this work up and down the West Coast. Her crew knows the specific failure patterns of Famco’s pre-2015 flex liners and the corrosion susceptibility of their 304 rigid systems in our local climate.
We don’t sell you a liner you don’t need. The camera tells you what it found. The quote tells you what it costs. Everything else is just conversation. Our documented photo record, included on every visit under Haven Standard Clause 4, means you see what we see. And our Free Second Opinion on any written estimate means you can verify a competitor’s quote with us at no charge.
FAQs
No, provided we use Famco-compatible parts that meet or exceed OEM specifications. As an independent Famco service provider, we are not bound to use only Famco-branded components, and we will tell you explicitly if a remaining OEM warranty requires genuine parts. Bring us your warranty paperwork and we’ll match the requirement.
Most flexible or rigid liner replacements are completed in one day. Full rebuilds requiring masonry work typically take three to five business days. We schedule a firm start date and text you when your technician is en route.
We stock Famco-compatible liners and components through our Haven buying network, which includes DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield materials. You do not need to source parts yourself. If you want a specific Famco OEM component, we can procure it, though lead times vary.
Yes. Our Free Second Opinion on any written estimate means we will inspect your chimney with our camera, show you what we find, and give you our assessment with no obligation. We’ve found that some “full rebuild” recommendations in San Jose are driven by sales pressure rather than structural necessity. The photo record lets you decide.
NFPA 211 recommends annual inspection for all chimney systems, including Famco liners. In San Jose, where temperature swings between dry summers and cool, damp winters accelerate thermal cycling, we particularly recommend annual camera inspection for any liner over ten years old. Call (669) 291-2770 to schedule; estimates are free.
Ready to know what your Famco chimney actually needs? Call (669) 291-2770 for a free, written estimate with no pressure and no surprises. We’ll run the camera, name the price, and let you decide.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney San Jose at Level Two Chimney San Jose, serving San Jose and nearby areas.



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