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.
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AfterFamco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in New Rochelle: What to Know First
As an independent Famco service provider, we handle Famco chimney liner and rebuild work across New Rochelle, from Beechmont to Wykagyl, with most jobs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing agreed before we start. A typical Famco stainless steel liner replacement runs $2,800-$4,200 depending on flue height and condition; partial rebuilds start around $1,800. We do not guess at what you need - every job begins with a Level-2 camera inspection, photos you can see, and a plain-English verdict on whether the fix is immediate or can wait.
This page is for homeowners who already know they have a Famco liner, cap, or vent component and need someone in New Rochelle who understands how these specific products age in our freeze-thaw climate. If that’s you, call (516) 927-2678. A live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 stainless flexible liners in pre-1980s New Rochelle chimneys. The 304-grade series was common in retrofits through the 1990s, and we’ve found dozens in Beechmont and Wykagyl where the alloy simply wasn’t spec’d for the acidic condensation produced by modern, efficient appliances. The metal thins from the inside out, not the outside in - so the damage hides until a camera catches it. We replace with 316Ti or higher-grade flexible liner, properly sized to the appliance, not the existing flue.
- Famco rigid stainless tee assemblies on oil-to-gas conversions. When a New Rochelle homeowner switches from oil to gas heat, the existing Famco tee often sits too low or at the wrong angle for proper draft. Soot and condensation pool in the offset. We don’t force the old fitting to work; we measure for a new tee at the correct height and pitch, then seal the joint with proper high-temp sealant rated for the appliance class.
- Famco chimney caps with integral spark arrestors on coastal-exposure homes. Properties near Long Island Sound, especially in the Shore Road area, see accelerated corrosion on the woven mesh. The arrestor rusts through, drops debris into the flue, and blocks draft. We match the cap to the flue diameter exactly - no universal “close enough” substitutes - and use marine-grade 316 stainless on replacements.
- Famco aluminum liner sections in gas fireplace inserts. Aluminum was sold as a cost-saving option for low-temp gas applications, but in New Rochelle’s older homes with exterior chimneys, the material fatigues where it passes through the smoke chamber. We’ve pulled collapsed aluminum runs in three homes on North Avenue alone. We replace with correctly sized flexible stainless, never reusing the damaged chase cover.
- Famco masonry rebuild interfaces - where factory metal meets old brick. On partial rebuilds, the original installer sometimes left a gap between the Famco liner top and the crown, trusting mortar alone to seal it. Freeze-thaw opens that gap within a few winters. We form a proper wash slope, install a drip edge, and bed the liner termination in high-temp silicone so water sheds clear of the masonry.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
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Call and schedule. A live person answers, day or night. We book a Level-2 inspection with camera - not a sales visit disguised as an inspection.
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On-site diagnosis. Our technician runs a camera the full length of the flue, photographs every defect, and records flue dimensions and appliance specs. Russell Haines reviews every Famco job personally before we quote.
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Parts decision. If Famco OEM is available and makes sense for the application, we use it. If lead times stretch past burning season or the OEM part has a known weak point, we specify quality aftermarket from DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco - never builder-grade substitutes - and explain the trade-off in writing.
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The repair. Background-checked, uniformed technicians complete most Famco liner and rebuild jobs in a single visit. We protect floors, contain dust, and haul away old material.
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Post-repair testing. We run a combustion spillage test and a final camera pass to verify liner integrity and proper draft. You see the before-and-after photos.
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Documentation and guarantee. You get a written report, the photos, and our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing. If it’s not right, we make it right.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in New Rochelle
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco flexible liner replacement (single flue, standard height) | $2,800 - $4,200 | Flue length, number of offsets, access difficulty, liner grade (304 vs. 316Ti) |
| Famco rigid liner or tee assembly replacement | $1,800 - $3,400 | Existing tee condition, need for new connector pipe, appliance reconnection complexity |
| Partial chimney rebuild with Famco liner retermination | $3,200 - $5,500 | Courses to replace, crown rebuild, scaffolding needs, Sound-access logistics |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Famco-compatible liner | $8,500 - $14,000 | Height, brick matching, permit requirements, liner diameter and grade |
| Famco liner repair (patch, seal, or sectional replacement) | $850 - $1,800 | Accessibility, extent of damage, whether HeatShield cerfractory seal is applicable |
These are real numbers for the New Rochelle market, not teaser rates. The estimate we give is the invoice you pay - no surprises. Every estimate is free, and we’ll tell you honestly when work can safely wait a season. Call (516) 927-2678 for an exact quote on your Famco system.
Why New Rochelle Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been answering the phone with a live person for over 42 years, and we plan to be here in thirty more. That changes how you treat a customer - no shortcuts, no disappearing acts.
Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if the Famco liner we installed doesn’t perform, we come back. In writing, no arguing. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and trained on Famco’s product line as well as alternatives from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco - so if your Famco part is discontinued or the OEM spec was flawed, we have a professional-grade path forward.
We document everything. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict. No scare tactics, no mystery damage you have to take on faith. Tell me what’s burning, and I’ll tell you what’s wrong.
A square deal: no surprises on the bill. We’ll be there when we say.
FAQs
The original Famco warranty on most residential liners expired years ago; these products were sold with limited lifetime coverage that typically required original-owner registration and annual professional inspection records most homeowners don’t have. As an independent Famco service provider, our work does not activate or extend any manufacturer warranty, but it is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - if it’s not right, we make it right, in writing. Call (516) 927-2678 for a free inspection and honest assessment of your coverage status.
Some Famco components are discontinued, but we maintain supplier relationships for remaining OEM stock and specify quality aftermarket replacements from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco when the original part is unavailable. We never install a substitute without explaining the difference and getting your approval in writing. For a parts check on your specific Famco model, call (516) 927-2678 with the part number if you have it.
A Level-2 camera inspection tells the story. Localized damage - a single corroded section, a failed tee, a cracked cap - often repairs cleanly. Widespread thinning, multiple breaches, or incorrect original sizing usually means replacement is the sounder long-term fix. We show you the camera footage, explain both paths, and quote each so you can decide. Estimates are free; call (516) 927-2678 to schedule.
Most Famco liner replacements we complete in one day. A partial rebuild with liner retermination typically runs two to three days, depending on weather and masonry cure times. Full rebuilds range from four to seven days. We do not rush mortar cure or skip steps to speed the schedule. You’ll know the timeline before we start - call (516) 927-2678 for a specific estimate on your job.
A breached liner lets combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, leak into living spaces, and allows creosote to contact combustible framing. In New Rochelle’s older homes with balloon framing, that risk is real and specific. However, not every crack is an emergency - some can wait a season if monitored. The only way to know is a camera inspection. Call (516) 927-2678 for a free, no-pressure look.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving New Rochelle and nearby areas.