Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in San Francisco: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service throughout San Francisco, with most inspections scheduled within 24 to 48 hours and liner replacements typically completed in a single day. Our technicians carry Famco-compatible stainless steel and flexible liner inventory for the Pacific 2000 series and Universal models most common in San Francisco’s pre-war housing stock, so we rarely need to order parts and return. We’re not affiliated with or authorized by Famco. We’re an independent Famco service provider who has worked on enough of these systems in the Richmond, Noe Valley, and Outer Sunset to know where they fail and how to fix them right.
This page is for homeowners who have a Famco liner or chimney component that needs attention, aren’t sure whether to repair or replace, and want a straight answer from someone who will still be in business when they need us again. Call (855) 408-5567 - a live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Pacific 2000 Series: creosote bridging at the flex joints. The corrugated flex sections on early Pacific 2000 liners trap more creosote than smooth-wall alternatives, especially in San Francisco’s fog-cooled chimneys where incomplete combustion is common. We see this most in Sea Cliff and Forest Hill homes where owners burn Duraflame-style logs. We remove the compromised section and replace with a smooth-wall stainless liner, or in some cases reline with DuraFlex if the chimney run has multiple offsets.
- Universal Rigid Liner: thermal expansion cracks at the collar weld. The collar-to-body weld on Universal rigid liners from the 1998-2006 production run can open under thermal cycling. It’s not always visible from below. We catch this with our Level-2 camera inspection, document it with photos you can see, and replace the collar assembly or the full rigid run depending on crack propagation.
- Famco Cast-in-Place Systems: spalling from salt air intrusion. Cast-in-place liners in homes within three blocks of the Pacific, particularly in the Outer Sunset where Warren Eckhart grew up, absorb airborne salt that accelerates surface spalling. We remove the degraded cast material and reline with a stainless system, or apply HeatShield cerfractory foam if the flue geometry allows and the structural clay is sound.
- Pre-1990 Famco Clay Tile Liners: flue gas leakage at mortar joints. Older Famco clay installations in Mission District Victorians often used high-lime mortar that deteriorates faster in San Francisco’s marine climate than inland formulations. We perform a partial rebuild of the affected courses or a full relining, depending on joint failure percentage and whether the chimney serves a converted gas insert or a wood-burning fireplace.
- Famco Chimney Caps: galvanized steel corrosion at the lid seam. The original galvanized caps on many Famco systems rust through at the lid-to-skirt seam in 8-12 years in this climate. Water enters, freezes in winter, and accelerates liner damage below. We replace with a Gelco or Copperfield stainless cap with a lifetime warranty, sized to the existing flue without the overhang errors we see from box-store substitutes.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, asks what you’re burning, what you’re seeing, and when you’re available. We book Level-2 inspections within 24-48 hours in most San Francisco neighborhoods.
- 2
Camera inspection and documentation. Our technician runs a camera the full flue length, captures photos of every defect, and explains the findings in plain English before any work is proposed. You see what we see.
- 3
Parts decision: OEM Famco versus quality aftermarket. If Famco still produces the exact component, we present that option. If the part is obsolete or the OEM lead time exceeds two weeks, we specify DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco equivalents that meet or exceed UL 1777 standards and do not void any remaining system warranty.
- 4
The repair, completed in one visit when possible. Our background-checked, uniformed technicians carry the inventory to replace most Famco liners and rebuild chimney sections above the roofline without a return trip. Upfront pricing means the estimate number matches the invoice number.
- 5
Post-repair test and documentation. We run a smoke test or draft measurement, verify clearances to combustibles, and provide written documentation of the work performed for your records and any future home sale.
- 6
The 90-Day Done Right Promise. If the draft doesn’t draw, the liner doesn’t fit, or anything else isn’t right, we come back. In writing, no arguing. That’s the Keystone Standard.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in San Francisco
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco Pacific 2000 flex liner replacement (single flue) | $2,800 - $4,200 | Chimney height, number of offsets, access difficulty |
| Famco Universal rigid collar repair or replacement | $1,400 - $2,600 | Weld repair versus full collar swap, scaffolding needs |
| Famco cast-in-place removal and stainless reline | $4,500 - $7,000 | Flue diameter, debris removal, chimney pot modification |
| Partial chimney rebuild (above roofline, Famco system) | $3,200 - $5,800 | Courses affected, matching historic brick, permit requirements |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Famco-compatible liner | $8,500 - $14,000 | Height, lining material, hearth extension modifications |
These are real San Francisco numbers for 2024-2025, reflecting our labor rates, permit costs, and the reality of working on steep roofs in Pacific Heights or tight lots in Bernal Heights. Every job gets a free, itemized estimate before work begins. Call (855) 408-5567 for yours.
Why San Francisco Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. of San Francisco for Famco Work
We’ve been on San Francisco roofs since 1984. Warren Eckhart learned this trade at City College of San Francisco and spent his early years alongside a sweep who had worked Mission District fireplaces since the 1970s. That grounding shows in how we approach Famco systems: we know which parts are still manufactured, which have reliable aftermarket equivalents, and which jobs are worth doing versus replacing.
Our 90-Day Done Right Promise is in writing, not a handshake. Our phones are answered by a live person, not a callback queue. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and equipped to finish most Famco liner and rebuild jobs in a single visit. And because we also work with DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco, we have options when a Famco component is back-ordered or discontinued. If the flue isn’t right, the fire isn’t right. Everything else follows from that.
FAQs
No - provided we use Famco OEM parts or UL-listed equivalents and follow manufacturer installation clearances. As an independent Famco service provider, we document every step so any remaining warranty stays intact. Call (855) 408-5567 and we’ll review your system’s age and coverage before scheduling.
Most Famco liner replacements are completed in one day, start to finish. Jobs requiring scaffolding permit approvals in historic districts, or full chimney rebuilds with structural modifications, may extend to two days. We tell you the realistic timeline in your free estimate, not after we’ve started.
Repair is cheaper when the damage is localized - a cracked collar, a single failed joint, minor spalling. Replacement becomes the better value when corrosion is widespread, the liner is past 20 years, or previous repairs have compromised the flue geometry. We show you the camera footage and give you both numbers, with our recommendation and the reason for it.
We source Famco OEM parts when they are available and cost-competitive. For obsolete Pacific 2000 flex sections or discontinued cast-in-place formulations, we specify DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco equivalents that meet UL 1777 and NFPA 211 standards. We never install builder-grade substitutes in a chimney we expect to stand behind.
Partial rebuilds above the roofline and any full chimney rebuild require a permit from the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. We handle permit submission and inspection scheduling as part of the job. Liner-only replacements inside an existing, sound chimney typically do not require permitting. We’ll tell you which category applies before you commit.
Written by Warren Eckhart, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. of San Francisco at Hearthstone Chimney Co. of San Francisco, serving San Francisco and nearby areas.