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 Kirkland: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner and rebuild service in Kirkland, with most inspections booked within a few days and liner replacements typically scheduled once parts are confirmed in stock. Every job starts with a written price before any work begins, backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise. This page is for Famco owners who need straight answers about liner failure, rebuild scope, and what it actually costs - no authorization claims, no pressure, just camera evidence and line-item pricing. Call (425) 642-3485 for a free estimate or to schedule your NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 stainless flexible liners in pre-1990 Kirkland chimneys often fail at the collar weld where the flue meets the smoke chamber. The weld zone fatigues from decades of thermal cycling in our wet Pacific Northwest winters, and moisture working its way down from a cracked crown accelerates the crack. We cut back to sound metal, sleeve with a DuraFlex or Olympia Chimney equivalent rated for the appliance, and document the joint with pre- and post-repair camera footage.
- Famco rigid 316Ti liner sections in two-story Juanita and Finn Hill homes separate at the telescoping joint during freeze-thaw cycles. The expansion gap that worked in drier climates closes up here, and the joint pops. We find this most often in homes with exterior chimneys on north-facing walls. Our fix is a full rigid re-run with proper expansion hardware, or a switch to flexible liner if the flue has offsets that rigid sections can’t navigate.
- Famco poured-in-place refractory liners (1980s factory-built fireplace retrofits) spall and expose the metal shell underneath. The refractory was never meant to last 40 years, and Kirkland’s acidic wood smoke from Douglas fir and western red cedar speeds the surface loss. We strip the loose material, assess the steel wrapper, and either re-pour with HeatShield Cerfractory foam or install a stainless insert if the wrapper itself is compromised.
- Famco chimney caps with integrated spark arrestors on homes near Bridle Trails clog with needle drop from Douglas fir and cedar, trapping moisture against the liner top. The cap was designed for eastern hardwood country; out here it becomes a bathtub. We replace with a Gelco or Copperfield cap with a larger mesh and proper lid overhang, and inspect the top three feet of liner for water damage while we’re on the roof.
- Famco direct-vent co-linear liners in 1990s gas fireplace conversions collapse at the flex point where the liner drops through the damper throat. Homeowners assumed gas meant no maintenance, but condensate from high-efficiency units eats the aluminum from the inside. We pull a camera to confirm the breach, then reline with an appropriate flexible stainless product sized to the appliance BTU rating and vent configuration.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process

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Call and schedule. A live person answers 24/7. 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 diagnosis. We run a chimney camera the full flue length, record the footage, and note liner condition, creosote class, and any spalling or breach locations. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job - we’ve done it since 2009.
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Written scope and price. Before any work starts, you get a written price, written scope, and written warranty. No exceptions. If you have a competitor’s written estimate, we’ll give you a free second opinion.
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Parts decision. We source Famco-compatible materials through our Haven buying network - DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, or Copperfield as the job requires. We explain OEM versus aftermarket trade-offs and warranty implications in plain terms.
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Repair and test. We complete the liner replacement or rebuild, perform a smoke or pressure test per manufacturer spec, and run the camera again to document the finished work.
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Documentation and follow-up. You leave with printed findings, camera footage, your warranty, and our direct line. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers everything we’ve touched.
Before
AfterWhat Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Kirkland
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco liner inspection (Level 2 with camera) | $249-$349 | Roof access difficulty, number of flues, creosote class |
| Partial Famco liner repair (collar weld, local sleeve) | $680-$1,200 | Height of chimney, liner diameter, access to smoke chamber |
| Full Famco flexible liner replacement | $2,400-$4,800 | Flue length, diameter, offsets, appliance type (wood vs. gas) |
| Famco rigid liner re-run with expansion hardware | $3,200-$5,600 | Story height, exterior vs. interior chimney, scaffolding needs |
| Partial chimney rebuild (crown, top courses, liner) | $4,500-$8,500 | Brick matching, crown extent, liner integration complexity |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Famco-compatible liner | $12,000-$22,000 | Foundation condition, height, hearth extension, permit requirements |
These are Kirkland-specific ranges based on our 38,000+ jobs since 2009. Every estimate is free, itemized, and delivered in writing before you commit. Call (425) 642-3485 for your exact quote.
Why Kirkland Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Kirkland for Famco Work

Corrine Halstead and our crew have inspected chimneys throughout Kirkland, including that stretch of older homes near Juanita Beach where creosote buildup surprises people who assumed gas inserts had solved everything. We know which Famco series were installed here, how they fail in wet winters, and which parts cross-reference to quality alternatives when OEM lead times stretch out.
Our background-checked, uniformed technicians arrive with license information visible, a camera scope in hand, and a printed price before any tool touches your chimney. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not right, we make it right. And the documented photo record on every visit - Haven Standard Clause 4 - gives you evidence you can show your insurer, your home inspector, or yourself in five years.
We also service DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco systems, so if your Famco setup needs a cross-brand solution, we can source it honestly through our buying network rather than pushing a single manufacturer’s line.
FAQs
No - Famco warranties the liner material and original factory workmanship, not the chimney structure around it. As an independent Famco service provider, we use Famco-compatible parts and document everything so any valid material claim remains intact. We warranty our own installation separately under the 365-Day Done Right Promise. Call (425) 642-3485 if you need help interpreting your original warranty paperwork.
Most flexible liner replacements are completed in one day once parts are confirmed; rigid re-runs or jobs requiring masonry repair typically run two days. We don’t promise same-day dispatch, but we do keep common Famco-compatible diameters in our local inventory through our Haven buying network. Weather and roof access in Kirkland’s winter months can add a day for safety. Call (425) 642-3485 to check current scheduling.
We repair when the damage is localized and the remaining liner passes NFPA 211 standards - typically a collar weld crack or top-section breach with sound metal below. Full replacement is necessary when we find multiple failure points, section separation, or corrosion thinning below manufacturer minimums. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither does the invoice: we show you the footage and quote both options when both are viable. Call (425) 642-3485 for a free inspection.
We stock common Famco-compatible diameters and fittings through our network, but some specialty sizes ship from regional distribution. We confirm parts availability before we book the work, not after we arrive. If your liner is an unusual size, we’ll tell you the lead time in the written estimate so you can decide. Call (425) 642-3485 to check your specific model.
NFPA 211 recommends annual inspection for all chimney systems, and we agree - especially in Kirkland, where wet winters and Douglas fir creosote accelerate wear. If you burn more than three cords a year, or you’ve had water intrusion or a chimney fire, inspect sooner. Our Level 2 camera inspection catches liner breaches before they become carbon monoxide risks or structural failures. Call (425) 642-3485 to schedule.
Ready to see what your Famco chimney actually needs? Call (425) 642-3485 for a free estimate. We’ll run the camera, name the finding, and give you a written price before any work starts - that’s Haven Standard Clause 1, and it’s how we’ve operated since 2009.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Kirkland at Level Two Chimney Kirkland, serving Kirkland and nearby areas.





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