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 Boulder: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service in Boulder, typically quoting and scheduling within 24 hours of your call. Most Famco liner replacements take one day; full rebuilds run two to three days depending on height and access. Every job starts with a written price before any work begins - no exceptions, no surprises.
This page is for Boulder homeowners who’ve been told their Famco chimney liner needs replacement, or who’ve spotted rust staining, drafting problems, or bits of liner tile in the firebox. If you own a Famco chimney cap, damper, or liner system installed between 1995 and 2015, you’re in the group we see most. Call us at (970) 598-0453 - a live person answers, 24/7.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco SL-Series flexible liners (pre-2010) developed crevice corrosion at the flex joints where condensation pools during Boulder’s freeze-thaw cycles. The SL-6 and SL-8 in particular show pinhole leaks at the third corrugation from the top. We pull the damaged section, match the diameter to current DuraFlex or Olympia Chimney spec, and pressure-test the new run before we button it up.
- Famco galvanized chimney caps on masonry flues rust through at the seam in five to seven years here - faster than the manufacturer rates, because Boulder’s 5,400-foot altitude and low humidity create wider temperature swings than coastal installs. We replace with stainless or copper equivalents, never another galvanized unit, and document the cap-to-flue clearance with photos per Haven Standard Clause 4.
- Famco top-sealing dampers with the cast-aluminum frame (TD-2000 through TD-2200 series) warp where the cable anchor sits. The damper doesn’t seal fully, and you lose conditioned air up the flue. We inspect the smoke chamber with a camera to confirm the frame isn’t cracked, then either rebuild the anchor point or spec a Gelco replacement if the throat’s too far gone.
- Famco terra cotta flue liners in 1960s-1980s Boulder builds, especially in Mapleton Hill and University Hill, spall from the inside when gas appliances vent through clay sized for wood. The thermal shock flakes the glaze, then the clay absorbs moisture and cracks in winter. We sleeve with a stainless liner sized to the appliance, not the existing flue, and seal the gap with HeatShield Cerfractory foam where code allows.
- Famco connector pipes from factory-built fireplaces in Chautauqua-area homes often show separation at the collar where the pipe meets the firebox. It’s not always visible from below. We run the camera up the connector before we quote anything, because a loose collar behind a surround can look like a liner failure and cost you a replacement you don’t need.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process

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Call and schedule. A live person answers. We book your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection, assign a named technician, and text you when they’re en route.
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Camera-scan inspection. We run a chimney camera the full length of the flue, document every joint, liner segment, and connection. You see the footage. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do I.
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Written estimate with parts specified. We note whether your job needs OEM Famco components or if a quality aftermarket part from our Haven buying network (DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney) meets or exceeds spec at lower cost. No generic “labor and materials” lump sums.
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Repair or rebuild. Liner replacements get pulled and replaced same day in most cases. Full rebuilds stage materials, protect your roof and landscaping, and proceed in documented phases.
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Pressure test or smoke test. Every liner installation gets a pass/fail test before we call it done. Results go in your photo record.
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Written warranty and photo archive. You get a written scope, written warranty, and permanent access to your inspection photos. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires it; we’ve done it since 2009.
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Boulder
| Job Type | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco stainless liner replacement (single flue, standard height) | $2,800 - $4,200 | Flue diameter, number of bends, insulation wrap required by code |
| Famco flexible liner with insulation (gas appliance conversion) | $1,900 - $3,400 | Appliance BTU rating, connector length, whether the smoke chamber needs parging |
| Partial rebuild (crown, top courses, cap) | $3,500 - $6,000 | Scaffolding needs, brick matching, extent of spalling below the crown |
| Full chimney rebuild (above roofline) | $8,500 - $14,000 | Height, accessibility, permit requirements for Boulder historic districts |
| Famco damper repair or replacement | $450 - $1,200 | Top-sealing vs. throat mount, frame condition, cable routing |
These are real ranges for Boulder - not national averages padded up or down. We adjust for actual conditions once we’ve seen your flue. Call (970) 598-0453 for a free written estimate; we also provide free second opinions on any competitor’s written quote.
Why Boulder Homeowners Call Emberly Chimney Cleaners Boulder for Famco Work

We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, every one with a written price first and a photo record after. Corrine Halstead and our crew know Famco hardware from decades of hands-on work - from the old SL flex lines to current cap profiles - and we source replacement materials through our Haven buying network to keep pricing honest. If a DuraFlex liner outperforms a discontinued Famco spec at lower cost, we tell you. If only an OEM part will do, we say that too.
Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and named on your appointment. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every job: if it’s not right, we make it right. No voicemail loops, no surprise invoices, no work without a signature on a written scope.
FAQs
Famco warranties on pre-2010 liners have largely expired; current coverage typically runs 10-15 years from install with proof of annual NFPA 211 inspection. We document your inspection history to support any claim, but as an independent Famco service provider, we don’t process warranty claims on Famco’s behalf. Call (970) 598-0453 and we’ll review what paperwork you have.
We stock common Famco caps, dampers, and connectors, and we source specialty items through our Haven network. When Famco OEM is discontinued - the SL-series flex, for example - we spec equivalent or superior aftermarket from DuraFlex, Olympia Chimney, or Gelco, with written justification before you approve anything.
A liner repair fixes an isolated failure: one cracked tile, a separated joint, a rusted cap. A rebuild is necessary when the masonry shell is compromised - spalled brick, shifted courses, or a crown that no longer sheds water. The camera shows the difference. We never recommend rebuild work without photo evidence you can see yourself, and we’ll tell you plainly when a repair can safely wait a season.
Most single-flue Famco liner replacements are complete in one working day. Two-story homes in Boulder’s hillside neighborhoods, or jobs requiring extensive smoke chamber parging, may run into a second day. We give you a day count in writing before we start.
A failed or missing flue liner lets heat, sparks, and combustion gases contact combustible framing. In Boulder, where many homes have tight construction and supplemental wood heat, that means elevated risk of chimney fire and carbon monoxide intrusion. The fix is straightforward and documented; the risk of waiting is not. Call (970) 598-0453 for a free camera inspection and written estimate.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Boulder at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Boulder, serving Boulder and nearby areas.





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