Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Los Angeles: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service across Los Angeles, with most jobs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing before any work begins. A typical Famco liner replacement runs $2,800-$4,500 depending on flue count and height, while partial rebuilds start around $3,200 and full rebuilds range $6,500-$12,000 in this market. We’re not here to sell you a new chimney you don’t need - we’ll show you photos, explain what we found, and let you decide.
This page is for Los Angeles homeowners with a Famco liner, cap, or venting component that’s failing, leaking, or no longer meeting code. Maybe you’ve noticed water stains near the hearth, or a home inspector flagged creosote buildup in a stainless liner that wasn’t installed with proper clearance. Maybe you’re in a 1960s Spanish Revival in Los Feliz or a postwar ranch in the Valley, and the original terracotta flue has finally given out. Wherever you are in Los Angeles, call (844) 803-1545 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 stainless single-wall liners in coastal zones. We see this in beach-adjacent Los Angeles neighborhoods like Venice and San Pedro. The 304-grade stainless resists standard flue gases fine, but salt air accelerates exterior pitting where the liner terminates above the roofline. Once pitting breaches the wall, condensation wicks through and stains the chimney face. We replace with 316Ti alloy or a Famco-compatible flexible liner with a proper rain cap - not another 304 that’ll fail the same way in eight years.
- Famco rigid oval-to-round adapters in pre-1980 masonry chimneys. These show up constantly in Mid-Century homes around Eagle Rock and Highland Park. The adapter seam is a stress concentrator; thermal cycling eventually cracks the weld where oval meets round. Our fix is a custom-fabricated transition or a full flexible liner replacement that eliminates the joint entirely. We’ve learned that patching the crack just buys you two seasons before it opens again.
- Famco B-vent connectors in furnace-only flues. In older Los Angeles homes where the water heater and furnace share a chimney, the B-vent’s inner aluminum liner corrodes from the outside in when the outer wall develops a gap at a joint. Homeowners smell “something funny” but can’t place it. We run a Level-2 camera inspection to confirm, then replace with a Famco-compatible B-vent section or convert to a dedicated flexible liner if the flue is oversized for the combined load.
- Famco chimney caps with undersized mesh in heavy debris areas. The standard 5/8-inch mesh clogs with jacaranda blossoms in spring and eucalyptus bark year-round - common in Los Angeles neighborhoods with mature canopy. The cap dams water, which runs down the flue and rusts the liner from the top. We upsize to 3/4-inch or 1-inch mesh, or specify a Famco cap with a wider overhang and drip edge, depending on what’s overhead.
- Famco Heat-Fab Saf-T Liner systems with missing insulation wrap. These were sold as zero-clearance systems, but the insulation blanket is what makes that claim valid. In homes where a previous installer skipped the wrap or used compressed fiberglass instead of the specified ceramic blanket, the liner overheats adjacent framing. We’ve found this in hillside construction around Mount Washington and Glassell Park where tight clearances were already marginal. We pull the liner, install proper insulation, and document the repair for the homeowner’s insurance file.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, day or night. We ask about the appliance type, chimney age, and what you’re seeing. If it’s an active leak or backdraft, we prioritize.
- 2
Level-2 camera inspection. Our technician arrives in uniform, runs a video scan from top to bottom, and photographs the exterior. You see the footage on a tablet. We explain what’s wrong, what caused it, and what happens if you wait.
- 3
Parts decision - OEM Famco or compatible. If your system is under warranty, we use Famco OEM to preserve coverage. If not, we may recommend DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco components that match or exceed Famco spec, with the price difference explained plain as day. No surprises on the bill.
- 4
The repair. Most Famco liner replacements and partial rebuilds finish in one day. Full rebuilds take two to three. Our crews work clean - drop cloths, HEPA vacuums, and a walkthrough before we leave.
- 5
Testing and documentation. We pressure-test or smoke-test every liner installation, depending on fuel type. You get photos, a written verdict, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing.
- 6
Cleanup and follow-up. We haul away old materials, sweep the work area, and check in by phone within two weeks. If something’s not right, we come back. That’s the K.E.Y.S. code: Krafted right, Every time, Your home first, Standing behind it.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Los Angeles
These are real numbers for Los Angeles, based on jobs we’ve completed in the last eighteen months. Every home is different, but this gives you a frame:
| Job Type | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco flexible liner replacement (single flue) | $2,800 - $4,200 | Flue length, roof pitch, access |
| Famco rigid liner replacement with oval adapter | $3,500 - $5,000 | Custom fabrication, number of offsets |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline) | $3,200 - $6,000 | Brick matching, scaffolding needs |
| Full chimney rebuild | $6,500 - $12,000 | Height, foundation condition, seismic strap code |
| Famco B-vent connector replacement | $1,800 - $2,800 | Number of appliances, vent routing |
| Chimney cap / crown repair with liner inspection | $650 - $1,400 | Crown size, mesh specification |
Prices include materials, labor, permit fees where required, and haul-away. We don’t charge separately for “diagnostic time” - the inspection fee applies to the job if you move forward. Call (844) 803-1545 for a free estimate at your Los Angeles home. The number on the estimate is the number on the invoice.
Why Los Angeles Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been answering the phone with a live person for over 12 years, and we’ve learned that Famco owners in Los Angeles want someone who knows the difference between a 304 and 316Ti liner without looking it up. Our technicians carry both Famco OEM and compatible DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco stock on the truck, so we’re not ordering parts while your chimney sits open. The 90-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not right, we make it right - in writing, no paperwork, no arguing. Russell Haines still checks jobs personally when the diagnosis is unusual, and his daughter’s learning the trade the same way he did: hands-on, starting with the basics. Find what’s wrong, say it plainly, fix it right.
FAQs
No - as an independent Famco service provider, we follow manufacturer installation specs and use OEM parts when warranty coverage is active. We document every step so your warranty stays intact. If your system is out of warranty, we’ll show you compatible alternatives that may cost less without sacrificing safety. Call (844) 803-1545 and we’ll check your install date against Famco’s coverage terms.
We stock common Famco liners, caps, and connectors at our Los Angeles warehouse, so most standard jobs need no ordering delay. Specialty sizes or discontinued series take two to four business days - we’ll tell you upfront before you commit. If your chimney is unsafe to use in the meantime, we’ll explain your options clearly. Call (844) 803-1545 to check availability for your specific model.
Repair makes sense for isolated damage - a cracked cap, a loose joint, or minor pitting caught early. Replacement is the better value when the liner has multiple failure points, is past 15 years in coastal Los Angeles air, or was improperly sized from the start. We show you the camera footage and price both paths so you can decide. Estimates are free - call (844) 803-1545.
Yes - we carry DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco products that integrate with Famco systems where mixing brands is structurally sound. We never mix incompatible materials in the same flue, and we’ll explain exactly what’s Famco, what’s compatible, and why. All of it meets Los Angeles building code and our own standard for a job done right. Call (844) 803-1545 to discuss your setup.
Most Famco liner and rebuild appointments are scheduled within three to five business days. Emergency situations - active water intrusion, carbon monoxide backdraft, or structural instability - get same-day or next-day response. A live person answers the phone 24 hours a day to triage your situation. Call (844) 803-1545 and we’ll get you on the calendar.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Los Angeles and nearby areas.