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 Bellevue: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service in Bellevue, typically quoting and scheduling within 24 hours of your call. Most Famco liner replacements and partial rebuilds are completed in a single day; full rebuilds usually take two to three days depending on weather and permit timing. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, a camera-scan inspection with photo record, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise on every job.
This page is for Bellevue homeowners who’ve found a Famco liner, cap, or venting component in their chimney system and need to know whether it can be repaired, must be replaced, and what it’ll actually cost. If that’s you, call us at (425) 696-0387 and we’ll get a Level 2 inspection scheduled.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 stainless flex liners in pre-2016 installs: We see these cracked at the flex points in Bellevue’s older Lakemont and Newport Hills homes, especially where the chimney run has an offset. The 304 alloy holds up poorly against the acidic condensation from modern, efficient appliances burning at lower flue temperatures. We replace with 316Ti or 316L stainless from DuraFlex or Olympia Chimney, matched to the appliance’s BTU output and venting category.
- Famco rigid liner sections in oil-to-gas conversions: When a Bellevue homeowner switches from oil to natural gas, the existing Famco rigid 304 or AL29-4C liner is often sized wrong for the new appliance’s lower exhaust temperature and volume. The liner sweats, the joints leak. We pull a camera to confirm, then spec a correctly sized flex or rigid replacement with proper insulation per NFPA 211.
- Famco chimney caps with integral spark arrestors: The mesh on older Famco caps corrodes through faster than you’d expect in the Pacific Northwest, especially within a mile of Lake Washington where salt air drifts. Once the mesh is gone, water enters the flue and attacks the liner from the top down. We document the cap condition during every Level 2 inspection and can source a direct Famco replacement or a Gelco equivalent with better mesh gauge.
- Famco tee connections and cleanout assemblies: The tee body on Famco flex installations can separate at the weld seam after 10-15 years of thermal cycling. We find this most often in Bellevue homes with wood inserts that get burned hard November through February. The fix is a new tee with proper support brackets, not just sealant, because the joint will reopen.
- Famco factory-built chimney chase enclosures: The metal chase cover that ships with some Famco systems is stamped steel with a baked finish. In Bellevue’s wet season, that finish fails at the fastener holes first, then the steel rusts through underneath. We fabricate a replacement chase cover in copper or 24-gauge stainless with proper diverter flashing, or source a Copperfield equivalent with a real warranty.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process

- 1
Level 2 camera inspection: We run a chimney camera the full flue length, document liner condition, joint integrity, and creosote class. You see the footage. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do I.
- 2
Written scope and price: Corrine Halstead or a senior tech delivers a written scope, line-item pricing, and warranty terms before any work is scheduled. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard: have it in writing.
- 3
Parts decision: For Famco systems, we evaluate whether OEM Famco parts are still available for your series or whether a quality aftermarket replacement from DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco offers better longevity. We explain the trade-off and let you decide.
- 4
Repair or rebuild: Liner replacement happens top-down through the chimney crown; partial rebuilds address spalling brick, failed mortar, or compromised smoke chambers; full rebuilds include tear-down to the roofline and reconstruction with proper clearance to combustibles.
- 5
Post-work test and documentation: We run a smoke or pressure test per manufacturer’s requirements, then deliver your photo record, written warranty, and maintenance timeline. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires that documented record on every job.
- 6
365-Day Done Right follow-up: If anything’s not right, we make it right. No charge. No argument.
Before
AfterWhat Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Bellevue
| Service | Typical Range in Bellevue |
|---|---|
| Famco liner repair (patch, reline short section) | $1,200 - $2,400 |
| Famco stainless flex liner replacement | $2,800 - $5,500 |
| Famco rigid liner replacement with insulation | $3,500 - $6,800 |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline, with liner) | $4,500 - $9,000 |
| Full chimney rebuild to foundation | $12,000 - $22,000 |
What moves the price: chimney height, roof pitch and access, whether the existing liner is stuck and requires extraction tools, and whether the appliance connection needs reworking. Bellevue’s steep roofs in neighborhoods like Somerset and Cougar Mountain add labor time that flat-land crews don’t face.
Every estimate is free. Bring us a competitor’s written quote and we’ll give you a free second opinion. Call (425) 696-0387 to schedule.
Why Bellevue Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Bellevue for Famco Work

We’ve inspected over 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a meaningful share of those have been Famco components in Bellevue homes built during the 1990s and 2000s housing booms. Our techs know which Famco series used 304 versus 316 stainless, which caps are still available, and which are better replaced with Gelco or Copperfield equivalents.
Background-checked, uniformed crews. License number on every page. A text when your tech is en route. Live phone answer 24 hours a day. And every job leaves with photos, a written warranty, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stamped on the invoice.
We also stock and service DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco systems, so if your Famco install is part of a mixed-brand setup, we’re not guessing at compatibility.
FAQs
The original Famco warranty on most residential liners expired after 10-15 years from manufacture date, and Famco requires authorized dealer service for warranty claims in any case. As an independent Famco service provider, our work carries its own 365-Day Done Right Promise and material warranties from DuraFlex, Olympia Chimney, or Gelco when we install their products. Call (425) 696-0387 and we’ll check your install date and series.
We make that call after the camera inspection, not before. A single crack in a straight run can sometimes be sleeved; multiple cracks, offset separation, or corrosion at the tee means replacement. You’ll see the footage and we’ll explain which category you’re in before you decide. Free estimates - call (425) 696-0387.
Some Famco caps and tee assemblies are still distributed through HVAC supply houses, but many liner sizes and flex configurations have been discontinued. We source compatible replacements through our Haven buying network, often with better alloy specs than the original. We never mark up parts mystery - you see the part number and price on the written estimate.
Partial rebuilds with liner replacement are usually two days: one for teardown and liner installation, one for brickwork and crown. Full rebuilds run three to five days depending on height, scaffolding needs, and weather. We don’t pour crowns in the rain, and Bellevue’s November through February schedule fills fast. Call (425) 696-0387 to book ahead of burning season.
A failed or missing flue liner lets combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, leak into wall cavities and living spaces. It also allows creosote to build on combustible framing, which is how chimney fires start. The risk is real and specific, not theoretical. We can tell you exactly what condition your system is in and whether it can wait - but only after the camera goes down. Call (425) 696-0387 for a free Level 2 inspection.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Bellevue at Level Two Chimney Bellevue, serving Bellevue and nearby areas.





Before
After
Before
After
Before
After