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.
Before
After
Before
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Before
AfterFamco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Naperville: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service in Naperville, with most liner replacements booked within a week and full rebuilds scheduled after a written scope and price are agreed on site. A typical Famco stainless liner job runs $2,800-$4,200; partial rebuilds start around $3,500 and scale with height and access. Every visit includes an NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection, a written price before any work starts, and a documented photo record under Haven Standard Clause 4.
This page is for Famco product owners in Naperville and nearby suburbs who’ve been told they need a liner replacement or rebuild and want a second opinion backed by camera evidence they can see themselves. If you’ve got a written estimate from another company, we’ll review it free. Call (331) 265-1700 to book or to send us that quote.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco FL series flexible liners develop circumferential cracking at the first elbow below the thimble in Naperville’s freeze-thaw cycles. The 316Ti alloy handles corrosion well but fatigues where it flexes most. We sleeve the damaged section with a DuraFlex compatible insert or replace the full run if the crack propagates past 18 inches, always documenting the failure mode in your photo record.
- Famco rigid stainless flue liners in homes near the Riverwalk corridor often show crevice corrosion at the male-female joint seams. Older Naperville masonry holds moisture longer than new construction, and the joint sealant degrades from the inside out. We disassemble to the sound section, reseal with HeatShield Cerfractory foam where appropriate, or switch to a fully welded rigid run if the pitting exceeds NFPA 211 allowable depth.
- Famco chimney caps and chase covers - especially the galvanized steel line sold through big-box retailers in the 2015-2019 period - rust through at the drip edge in 6-10 years. Water tracks down the flue and saturates the liner surround. We replace with a Gelco or Copperfield stainless cap, inspect the liner for water damage with our camera, and rebuild the top course if spalling has started.
- Famco smooth-wall liners delaminate at the weld seam when exposed to sustained Class III creosote fires. The inner wall separates from the corrugation and restricts draft. We find this most often in Naperville homes burning unseasoned oak or running stoves overnight. Replacement is the only safe option; we spec DuraFlex Pro for the replacement and show you the delamination on camera before we quote.
- Famco terra-cotta flue tile adapters crack at the mortar bed where the metal sleeve meets clay. The differential expansion between materials works the joint every heating season. We remove the adapter, reline with a properly sized flexible liner, and pack the annular space with insulating mix to keep the new liner from seeing the same thermal stress.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Camera inspection first. We run the chimney cam the full flue length before we name any work. You see what we see. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job - we’ve done it since 2009.
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Written price, written scope. Corrine Halstead reviews the footage and specs the repair. You get a single-page scope with line-item pricing, parts specified by brand and model, and a completion date. No verbal estimates. No “we’ll see once we start.”
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Parts decision: OEM or quality aftermarket. Famco OEM liners are available through Haven’s buying network, but we also stock DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco equivalents when the original spec is discontinued or overpriced. We explain the trade-off - warranty terms, alloy grade, expected service life - and you choose.
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The rebuild or reline. Our crew arrives in uniform, license number visible, with a text 30 minutes out. We protect floors, set containment, and work to the written scope. For full rebuilds, we course-bond new brick to old and flash to existing siding without disturbing more than necessary.
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Smoke test and draft measurement. Every liner replacement gets a post-install draft reading at operating temperature. Rebuilds get a water-test of the new crown. We don’t leave until the numbers are in range.
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Photo record, written warranty, Done Right Promise. You receive the completed inspection report, before-and-after photos, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Before
AfterWhat Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Naperville
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco flexible liner replacement (single flue) | $2,800-$4,200 | Flue height, number of offsets, insulation wrap required |
| Famco rigid liner replacement | $3,200-$5,000 | Diameter, welded vs. slip-joint, access for assembly |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline) | $3,500-$7,500 | Linear feet, brick match, scaffold or boom access |
| Full chimney rebuild | $8,500-$15,000 | Height, foundation condition, liner included or separate |
| Liner repair (localized sleeving) | $1,200-$2,400 | Location of damage, accessibility, material compatibility |
These are Naperville-market prices based on jobs we’ve completed in neighborhoods from Cress Creek to Ashbury. Every estimate is free, in writing, and valid for 30 days. Call (331) 265-1700 for an exact quote on your specific Famco setup.
Why Naperville Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Naperville for Famco Work
We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a growing share of our Naperville calls are Famco product owners who’ve learned the hard way that not every sweep stocks the parts or knows the failure patterns. Corrine and her crew have worked the Riverwalk corridor long enough to recognize which Famco series were sold through which local suppliers, and what that means for warranty status and parts availability.
The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we. Every Famco job starts with footage you can watch, includes a written price before anyone picks up a tool, and ends with documentation your insurer or home buyer can review. If another company has already given you a written estimate for Famco liner or rebuild work, we’ll review it free and tell you where we agree, where we differ, and what the camera says about who got it right.
We’re independently owned and operated, not a franchise, and we source materials through Haven’s buying network specifically to keep customer prices honest - DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield, depending on what your job actually needs.
FAQs
No, provided the liner is reinstalled per Famco’s clearance and support requirements and not modified in the field. As an independent Famco service provider, we follow the installation manual precisely and document with photos so warranty claims remain valid. If you’re unsure whether your original installer followed spec, we’ll check during our camera inspection. Call (331) 265-1700 to schedule.
Yes, in most cases. We maintain stock of compatible DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney fittings that mate with Famco termination points, and Haven’s buying network can often source NOS Famco components for 5-7 years after a line is discontinued. If your model is older, we’ll show you the aftermarket equivalent and explain any warranty trade-off before you decide.
Localized damage under 12 linear inches - a single crack, isolated corrosion pitting, or a failed joint - often qualifies for sleeving or spot repair. Damage exceeding that, multiple failure points, or delamination means replacement is the safer and more cost-effective choice. We make the distinction with camera footage and measure on screen so you can see the cutoff yourself. Call (331) 265-1700 for a free inspection.
Partial rebuilds above the roofline typically finish in 2-3 days. Full rebuilds from the foundation up run 5-8 days depending on height, weather, and whether we’re also installing a new liner. We don’t rush mortar cure times, especially in Naperville’s spring and fall when overnight temperatures can drop below 40°F. Your written scope includes a completion date we intend to keep.
A damaged Famco liner or deteriorating chimney shell rarely improves with time. Class III creosote buildup, water infiltration through a cracked crown, or a compromised flue liner can escalate from repair to full rebuild, and the incremental cost is usually $2,000-$4,000 more. That said, we won’t recommend work that can safely wait - if the camera shows stable conditions, we’ll say so plainly and note it in your file for next year’s inspection. Call (331) 265-1700 and we’ll tell you where you stand.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Naperville at Level Two Chimney Naperville, serving Naperville and nearby areas.