Flue relining
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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 Flue Liner Replacement: The Houston Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Famco-compatible flue liner replacement parts across Houston, with most standard liner swaps running between $1,400 and $2,800 installed depending on length, diameter, and access conditions. We keep common Famco sizes on the truck, so in many cases we can complete the replacement the same day we diagnose the issue. Most Houston homeowners find out their Famco liner has failed the hard way: a chimney inspection after years of regular fires reveals cracked tiles or a liner that has separated at a seam, often in homes built before 2000 where the original liner has quietly absorbed two decades of Gulf Coast humidity and heat cycling.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco makes stainless steel liners and connectors in diameters from 4 inches up to 12 inches, but the liners we replace most often in Houston fall in the 6-inch to 8-inch range used on standard masonry fireplaces and wood stoves. If you still have the original documentation, look for a model or size stamp on the liner cap or the first exposed section above the firebox. If the label is long gone, we measure the flue opening directly. One thing that catches Houston owners off guard: a Famco liner that is the right diameter but the wrong gauge can fail years early. Texas humidity plus the sulfur content of oak firewood accelerates corrosion on anything lighter than 316L stainless. We recommend 316L for most Houston installs because it holds up better against the acidic condensation that forms when a wood-burning fireplace cycles hot and cold in humid air. As an independent service provider (not affiliated with Famco), we install OEM Famco liners where the homeowner prefers exact-match replacement, and we also carry aftermarket 316L equivalents that meet the same UL 1777 listing for roughly 15 to 20 percent less.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your Famco Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- Flakes or grit falling into the firebox. When a clay tile liner cracks, small pieces break loose and drop down. With a stainless Famco liner, what you see is usually rust scale or a powdery residue that collects on the damper. Both mean the liner surface is breaking down.
- Visible rust streaks on the exterior of a metal liner. In coastal-adjacent Houston air, rust can form faster than you’d expect. If you see rust lines or pitting on the liner’s exposed sections, corrosion is already working its way into the material.
- Water in the firebox after heavy rain. A liner that has separated at a seam or pulled away from the chimney crown lets rain travel down the inside of the chimney. You’ll typically see dark stains or actual puddles in the firebox floor.
- Smoke smells in rooms far from the fireplace. When a liner breaches, smoke no longer has a sealed path to the top of the chimney. It can find its way into wall cavities and then into bedrooms or hallways. This is a carbon monoxide concern and worth addressing the week you notice it.
- Draft problems that weren’t there before. A liner that has begun to collapse or separate interrupts the chimney’s draw. Fires are harder to light, smoke curls back into the room, and even a well-built fire feels sluggish.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
In Houston, a full Famco-compatible flue liner replacement generally lands between $1,400 and $2,800 installed. Shorter runs, single-story chimneys, and easy roof access sit at the lower end. Taller chimneys, multi-story homes, steep roof pitches, and liners that require removing a damaged clay tile liner before the new one goes in push toward the higher end. Every quote we give includes the liner material, all connectors and top plates, the installation labor, and removal and disposal of the old liner. We hand you a written price before any work begins, and it doesn’t change unless we find something structural that requires a separate conversation first. The installation is covered under our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work isn’t right, we make it right, no fine print and no runaround. Danny Cortes is the one who signs off on every liner install we do in Houston, and he has spent the better part of two decades inspecting chimneys across the area, including older homes near Rice Military where masonry fireplaces tend to hide years of quiet buildup.
See the difference
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AfterDIY or Call Us?
A flue liner replacement is not a weekend project. Even in a single-story Houston ranch house, the work means working at height, handling stainless steel liner sections that weigh 20 to 40 pounds each, and sealing connections correctly so combustion gases cannot escape into the house. Getting a liner wrong isn’t a cosmetic mistake. A poorly seated connection can send carbon monoxide into a bedroom. If you want to inspect before calling, you can safely do this much: put on a headlamp, look up from inside the firebox, and check for visible rust, flaking, or gaps where light comes through. That’s where safe DIY ends. For anything beyond that, call (254) 978-7413. We tell you what we found before we touch a thing, and we’ll only recommend a liner replacement if we can show you exactly why it’s needed.
FAQs
A 316L stainless steel Famco-compatible liner in Houston typically lasts 15 to 25 years, though humidity, fire frequency, and the type of wood you burn all move that number. Light-use fireplaces in well-maintained chimneys can push past 25 years; heavy oak burning in a humid Gulf Coast climate can shorten lifespan to the low teens. Call (254) 978-7413 for a free inspection and we’ll tell you how much life your liner has left.
In some cases, yes. If the damage is a single small seam separation or a corroded connector rather than deep rust along the liner body, a targeted repair or a partial liner splice can buy you several more years. If the liner shows pitting across multiple sections or the damage is in the middle of the flue where access is only possible by removing sections, replacement is cheaper and safer than trying to patch. Call (254) 978-7413 for a straight answer on which situation you have.
A straightforward Famco-compatible liner replacement in a Houston home takes about half a day from setup to final clean-up. We lay drop cloths and wear shoe covers from the moment we walk in, and before we leave you’ll get a photo of the clean-up so you can see exactly how we left the house. More complex jobs, like removing a collapsed clay tile liner first, can stretch to a full day. Call (254) 978-7413 for an estimate.
We stock common Famco sizes on the truck, including 6-inch and 8-inch 316L stainless steel liners in standard lengths, plus the connectors and top plates those installs need. If your chimney needs a less common diameter or a custom length, we may need a day or two to bring in the right part before we install. We also keep DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco parts on hand, so if a Famco-specific liner isn’t the best fit for your chimney, we’ll explain why and give you a comparable option. Call (254) 978-7413 and we’ll confirm what’s on the truck before we head your way.
Get a Free Famco Flue Liner Replacement Estimate in Houston
If your Famco liner is showing rust, flaking, or draft problems, call Kindling Chimney Houston at (254) 978-7413. We’ll come out, show you exactly what we found, and hand you a written price before any work starts. There’s no pressure and no upselling, just a straight answer from a crew that treats your home the way you’d want it treated. Danny Cortes and the team serve Houston and nearby areas with the 365-Day Done Right Promise behind every liner install.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner & Lead Chimney Technician, Kindling Chimney Houston at Kindling Chimney Houston, serving Houston and nearby areas.