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 Flue Liner Replacement: The Lansdale Owner’s Guide
Famco flue liner replacement in Lansdale typically runs $1,800-$3,400 installed, depending on liner diameter, chimney height, and whether the existing liner is stainless or terracotta. We stock Famco-compatible stainless liners and connection kits for most residential models, and we can usually inspect, measure, and quote same-day. Most Lansdale homeowners discover the problem during a routine sweep or after a home inspection flags the liner - sometimes with photos showing gaps, corrosion, or flaking that weren’t visible from the firebox.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco has manufactured venting components for decades, and their flue liner systems fall into several product families. The stainless flexible liners you’re most likely to find in Lansdale homes are from the Famco Flex-Liner series, typically marked with a stamped model number on the top termination collar or on a tag near the thimble connection. Older rigid Famco liners, common in pre-1990 Montgomery County construction, used segmented terracotta or single-wall stainless sections with distinct clamp-band joints.
To identify your exact liner, we need three measurements: the inside diameter of the flue, the total linear feet from appliance collar to termination, and the appliance type (wood, gas, or pellet). The Flex-Liner 316Ti alloy handles solid fuel; the 304 alloy is rated for gas only. Swapping a 304 into a wood-burning application is a compatibility gotcha we’ve caught on camera in Lansdale colonials near the Merrick Road corridor, where previous owners sometimes mixed parts.
We source Famco-compatible liners through Haven’s buying network, alongside OEM Famco parts and quality equivalents from DuraFlex and Olympia Chimney. For most Lansdale replacements, a 316Ti flexible liner with a top plate and rain cap matches or exceeds Famco’s original spec at a lower procurement cost, which we pass through in the written quote.
Signs Your Famco Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing

- White or orange flaking on the liner walls. This is creosote corrosion eating at stainless steel, or spalling terracotta shedding its glazed surface. In Lansdale’s freeze-thaw cycles, moisture trapped behind creosote accelerates the damage every winter.
- Smoke smell in upstairs rooms when the fireplace is cold. A compromised liner allows reverse draft or leakage through gaps between liner sections. The camera usually reveals separation at a joint or a hole burned through by concentrated heat.
- Chunks of clay in the firebox after a fire. Terracotta liners fail from the inside out; falling pieces mean the liner has lost structural integrity and no longer contains combustion gases safely.
- Visible gaps or daylight from the firebox looking upward. This indicates either a collapsed section or a liner that was never continuous to begin with, common in quick flips of Lansdale’s 1950s-1970s housing stock.
- Home inspector flagged “recommend Level 2 inspection” on the report. That language almost always follows visual evidence of liner distress from the roof or firebox. The NFPA 211 Level 2 camera scan is what confirms whether replacement is necessary or if the finding can wait.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Component | Typical Range (Lansdale) |
|---|---|
| 316Ti flexible liner (25-35 ft, 6″ or 8″ diameter) | $900-$1,600 |
| Top plate, rain cap, and termination hardware | $180-$340 |
| Bottom connector and appliance collar adapter | $120-$220 |
| Labor: removal, installation, smoke chamber parge (if needed) | $600-$1,240 |
| Total installed | $1,800-$3,400 |
The range widens with chimney height (two-story colonials on Lansdale’s north side run longer than ranch liners), diameter (8″ for wood stoves vs. 6″ for gas inserts), and whether the smoke chamber needs parging to restore proper clearances. Every quote is itemized in writing before work starts - Haven Standard Clause 1 - with no “plus materials” surprises. The liner carries a lifetime warranty; our workmanship is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
DIY or Call Us?

There’s no safe DIY path for flue liner replacement. The work involves working at height on a steep or slate roof, handling sharp stainless sections in a confined flue, and verifying combustion clearances to combustibles - a measurement error of even an inch can create a house fire or carbon monoxide pathway. We don’t provide step-by-step installation instructions for this reason.
What you can safely check: verify your appliance type against any visible liner markings, note whether smoke or odor travels to other rooms, and collect your home inspection report if you have one. Then call us at (267) 327-4785. We’ll run the camera, show you exactly what we found, and deliver a written price before any work begins. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we.
FAQs
A stainless 316Ti liner properly sized for the appliance typically lasts 15-25 years in Lansdale’s climate, though we’ve seen premature failure at 8-10 years when homeowners burn unseasoned hardwood or skip annual sweeps. Terracotta liners in pre-1980 chimneys often reach 50 years but fail suddenly from thermal shock. Call (267) 327-4785 for a camera inspection - estimates are free.
Localized damage sometimes qualifies for HeatShield cerfractory resurfacing or a stainless sleeve insert, but only if the camera shows intact structure surrounding the flaw. If the liner has multiple gaps, corrosion, or clay spalling, replacement is the only code-compliant fix. We show you the footage and explain which category your chimney falls into before quoting either option.
Most residential Famco liner replacements in Lansdale are completed in one day, occasionally stretching to two for very tall chimneys or when masonry repairs are needed at the crown or smoke chamber. We schedule a firm arrival window, text when the technician is en route, and leave you with photos, a written scope, and warranty documentation - Clause 4 of the Haven Standard.
We stock 6″ and 8″ diameter 316Ti flexible liners and Famco-compatible connection hardware for the most common Lansdale configurations. Less common diameters or rigid segmented systems typically arrive within 2-3 business days through Haven’s supplier network. We’ll confirm availability when we deliver your written quote, not after we’ve started.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Lansdale at Level Two Chimney Lansdale, serving Lansdale and nearby areas.





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