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
After
Before
AfterFamco Chimney Repair in Flushing: What to Know First
We’re an independent Famco service provider in Flushing, and we repair Famco chimney components including dampers, caps, chase covers, and related masonry. Most Famco repairs in Flushing are completed in a single visit once the part is in hand, with common jobs running between $180 and $650 depending on what failed and whether the flue needs any masonry work around it. That price is written down before anyone starts, not estimated after the fact.
This page is for homeowners in Flushing, Queens who own a home with Famco chimney components and need straight answers. If your Famco damper is stuck, your chase cover is leaking, or a Flushing contractor told you to replace something you want verified first, you’re in the right place. Call (516) 240-9191 and we’ll schedule a camera-scan inspection, give you a written price, and show you exactly what we found before any tool touches your chimney.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco top-mount dampers that seize closed. We see this on fireplace dampers in older Flushing colonials especially. The cast aluminum housing collects soot at the pivot points, and the cable or handle mechanism jams. The fix is usually a full disassembly, cleaning of the seating surface, and replacement of the pivot hardware if it’s pitted. Sometimes the damper plate itself has warped from years of heat cycling and needs to be swapped. We stock common Famco replacement plates and can usually do this same visit.
- Famco chase covers that rust through at the seams. This is the single most common Famco failure we see on Flushing homes with prefab chimneys. The factory seam welds on steel chase covers give out first, and once water gets under the cover, it runs down the chase and into the attic or ceiling. With Flushing’s wet winters and salt air from the East River corridor, we recommend stainless steel replacement covers with a full perimeter sealed flange, not another painted steel cover that will fail the same way in five years.
- Famco multi-flue caps with torn screening. The mesh screening on Famco caps tears at the tack welds, usually along the top band. Once the screen is open, you’re inviting birds and rodents into the flue. On a Famco cap from the 2000s or earlier, the screen is often not worth repairing because the aluminum has thinned. We replace the cap with a correctly sized unit and re-seat it on a fresh bead of high-temperature sealant.
- Famco damper cables and handles that snap at the chimney wall. On older Flushing row houses, we pull Famco damper cables that rusted through inside the wall channel. The handle breaks off right where it enters the masonry, and the damper is now stuck in whatever position it was last. We replace the cable with a new Famco-compatible unit, and if the damper plate itself is compromised, we swap the whole damper assembly rather than patching a cable that will fail again next season.
- Famco foundation vents and cleanout doors with failed gasketing. These smaller components get overlooked until they start leaking flue gases back into the home. The fiber gaskets on Famco cleanout doors shrink and crack, and the cast doors warp slightly. We replace the gasket, re-seat the door, and verify the seal with a draft test before calling the job done. It’s a small repair, but it matters for air quality in a Flushing basement.
Our Famco Chimney Repair Process
- 1
You call (516) 240-9191 and describe the issue. We ask a few questions about your Famco component, your chimney type, and when you first noticed the problem. We schedule a time that works for your Flushing household, and you get a text when your technician is on the way.
- 2
We inspect the full chimney, not just the Famco part. Every visit includes a Level 2 camera scan down the flue. The failing Famco damper or cap is the symptom; the camera tells us if there’s water damage, spalling brick, or creosote buildup elsewhere that needs attention.
- 3
You see the footage before any pricing happens. Our techs show you the camera feed on the spot. Corrine Halstead made this the standard practice at Level Two Chimney Flushing, and it’s now Clause 4 of the Haven Standard. The camera doesn’t negotiate - it just shows you what’s there.
- 4
You get a written price with a written scope. We source the Famco part or a quality aftermarket equivalent like DuraFlex or HeatShield, and the written quote reflects the actual cost. No surprise add-ons after the tech is already in your home.
- 5
We do the repair, then test it. Dampers get cycled open and closed. Caps get seated and sealed. Covers get checked with a water test if accessible. You see the finished work, and we document everything with photos.
- 6
You walk away with a documented record. Photos of before and after, the parts used, and the written warranty. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies: if it’s not done right, we make it right.
BeforeAfterWhat Famco Chimney Repair Costs in Flushing
Here’s the honest price posture for Famco work in Flushing. These are the common ranges we quote, in writing, before any work starts:
- Famco damper cable/handle replacement: $180-$320
- Famco top-mount damper plate replacement: $280-$520
- Famco chase cover replacement (stainless steel): $450-$750
- Famco multi-flue cap replacement: $350-$580
- Famco cleanout door gasket and re-seating: $150-$240
What moves the price: access to the chimney on a Flushing roof, the height of the chase, whether masonry repairs are needed around the component, and whether the part is available from our local supplier or needs to be ordered. We don’t charge for the estimate, and we won’t recommend a repair you don’t need. Call (516) 240-9191 to get a written quote on your specific Famco repair.
Why Flushing Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Flushing for Famco Work
Because you get the price on paper before anyone starts. Because the technician who shows up is background-checked and uniformed, with their license number on file. Because we don’t do a five-minute flashlight look and call it an inspection - we run the camera, show you the footage, and document it. We’ve inspected more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and every single one came with a written price and a photo record when we finished.
For Famco work specifically, we work with the component that failed, not the one we wish you had. If a repair is the right call, we tell you that and price it honestly. If replacement makes more sense, we show you why and give you comparative options using materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco sourced through Haven’s buying network to keep prices honest. And if you’ve got a written estimate from another Flushing company, bring it to us for a Free Second Opinion.
FAQs
Repairing a Famco component with aftermarket parts does not automatically void the original manufacturer warranty, but Famco’s warranty terms generally cover the part itself, not the labor or the installation. As an independent Famco service provider in Flushing, we repair famco dampers, caps, and covers using parts that meet or exceed original specifications. We’re not authorized by Famco, so we don’t claim warranty coverage on their behalf. But our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers our workmanship regardless of the part manufacturer.
Most Famco damper repairs are completed in one visit if the part is in stock at our local Flushing supplier. Common components like cables, handles, and plate assemblies are usually available same week. For less common Famco parts, ordering adds two to four business days. We’ll tell you the timeline when we give you the written price, not after you’ve already scheduled. Call (516) 240-9191 and we’ll check current parts availability for your specific component.
If the chase cover seam welds are rusted through, replacement with a stainless steel cover is almost always the better call in Flushing’s climate. Patching a rusted steel cover buys you a season or two, and then you’re back with water damage in the chase. We quote both options if repair is technically possible, and we’ll show you photos of the rust so you can see what we’re seeing. The decision is yours, but if the cover has active rust at the seams, replacement is what we’d recommend.
A seized-open damper lets conditioned air escape up the flue year-round, which raises your heating and cooling bills. A seized-closed damper turns your fireplace into a wall decoration until it’s fixed. Neither is a fire hazard on its own, but a damper stuck closed during a fire could trap smoke in the house. A rusted chase cover, though, is different: water gets into the chase, and that’s how you end up with mold in the attic or a rusted-out flue pipe behind the wall. Skip that one long enough in Flushing and you’re looking at a much bigger repair. Call (516) 240-9191 for a free camera inspection and we’ll tell you exactly what you’re dealing with.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Flushing at Level Two Chimney Flushing, serving Flushing and nearby areas.