Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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 Inspection in Fresno: What to Know First
Famco chimney inspection in Fresno typically costs $149 – $249 for a Level 1 visual check and $249 – $449 for a Level 2 camera inspection, and we can usually get to your home within 3 – 5 business days. We’re an independent Famco service provider, not a manufacturer warranty center, so we tell you straight what’s failing, what can wait, and what it’ll cost before any work begins. If you own a Famco fireplace or chimney component and want an inspection that gives you real answers, call (559) 215-1714. This page is for Fresno homeowners who want to know exactly what a Famco inspection covers, what we look for, and what problems actually show up in our valley climate.
How Famco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Famco makes solid, contractor-grade chimney components, but every product has a failure pattern we see over and over in Fresno homes. Here’s what we find on inspections:
- Famco chimney caps with worn spark arrestor mesh. The mesh on Famco cap models like the FCC series corrodes faster in Fresno than the manufacturer’s lifespan chart suggests, mostly because our summer dust and valley fog alternate between abrasive and damp. Once the mesh starts to split, embers can pass through. Our fix is a replacement cap or mesh section, and we’ll show you the damage on camera before quoting.
- Famco draft inducers that seize after disuse. In Fresno, fireplaces sit idle for eight months a year. Famco inducer motors mounted on the exterior flue can bind up, and when they fail, the fireplace backdrafts smoke into the house. We inspect the inducer bearings and wiring during every chimney inspection. If it’s seized, we quote a Famco or compatible replacement motor and replace it same day when parts are available locally.
- Famco flashing kits leaking at the roofline. Fresno’s intense summer heat cycles expand and contract roof flashing, and Famco’s standard galvanized flashing can separate at the corners over time. Water stains on your ceiling near the chimney are often traced to this. Our inspection checks the flashing seal and water path before recommending replacement, and we use a high-temp sealant that handles our temperature swings.
- Famco chimney liners showing creosote adhesion in the corrugated grooves. Famco stainless liners hold creosote in the ridges more aggressively than smooth-wall liners. The buildup is flammable, and in Fresno’s dry winter air, it’s a fire risk. We remove it carefully without gouging the liner, then show you before and after camera shots of the flue.
- Famco firestop plates missing or incorrectly installed. A firestop plate separates your chimney chase from living space. When one shifts or was never installed right, heat and carbon monoxide can migrate into wall cavities. We’ve found missing Famco firestops in homes across Fresno, from older Selma-built colonials to newer Clovis Countryside tract homes. The fix is a proper firestop and seal, not a patch job.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Famco Chimney Inspection Process
We don’t do drive-by inspections. A Famco chimney inspection gets the same systematic attention whether it’s a standard cleaning visit or a pre-purchase real estate inspection.
- 1
You call, a live person answers. We ask what you’re seeing: smoke backing up, odd smells, water stains, or just routine maintenance. Tell me what you’re seeing and I’ll tell you what it actually means.
- 2
You get a photo preview. Before the visit, you’ll know the technician’s name and see their photo. They’ll show a photo ID badge at the door.
- 3
The inspection starts outside. We check the Famco cap, flashing, crown, and exterior masonry or chase. Any water entry point or ember risk gets documented.
- 4
We inspect the flue with a camera. This is where Famco-specific problems show up: creosote in liner grooves, cracked firestop plates, separated pipe sections. You see the footage, not just our word for it.
- 5
We test the draft and check the firebox. Draft issues on Famco inducers and firebox panel wear get noted. If the chimney can’t draw safely, we explain the fix and give you a written price before doing anything.
- 6
You get a written report and a written guarantee. Every repair we recommend gets a written price. Every repair we do comes with a written guarantee, and if it fails within the coverage period, the second visit is free.
See the difference
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After
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After
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Inspection Costs in Fresno
A Level 1 Famco inspection in Fresno, which is the standard check when nothing has changed with your fireplace, runs $149 – $199. A Level 2 inspection with a full camera scan of the flue interior runs $249 – $449, and that’s the one we recommend for real estate transactions or after any weather event, chimney fire, or major change to the system. If the inspection turns up a repair, common Famco-specific fixes in Fresno carry these ranges:
- Famco spark arrestor cap replacement: $175 – $350 installed
- Famco draft inducer motor replacement: $300 – $600 installed
- Famco flashing repair or replacement: $250 – $600 depending on roof pitch and access
- Famco liner resurfacing or section replacement: $800 – $2,400 depending on length and diameter
What moves the price is whether parts are available locally or need to ship, how tall your roof is, and whether the damage is isolated or systemic. Call (559) 215-1714 for a free estimate, and we’ll give you a written quote before any tools come out.
Why Fresno Homeowners Call Alcott Chimney Fresno for Famco Work
We’ve served Fresno homeowners since 2002, and we’re the crew that shows up when the last guy’s repair didn’t hold. Ruben Castellano, our owner, built this company on a simple rule: do the job right the first time, and if it’s not right, come back and make it right. That’s our 365-Day Done Right Promise, backed by a written guarantee on every repair and a free second visit if it fails. Every technician is background-checked, identity-verified under the Threshold Standard, and sent to you by name and photo before arrival. We stock and install Famco parts alongside pro-grade materials like DuraFlex liners, HeatShield resurfacing, and Gelco sealants, so we’re not stuck waiting on a single supplier. When your Famco chimney needs work in Fresno, we’re the call that gets a live person at any hour: (559) 215-1714.
FAQs
A Level 1 Famco inspection runs $149 – $199, and a Level 2 camera inspection runs $249 – $449. The price depends on your roof access and whether it’s a standard maintenance check or a real estate inspection. Call (559) 215-1714 for a free estimate with a written quote before any work starts.
No. An independent inspection by a licensed chimney service doesn’t void a Famco manufacturer warranty. As an independent Famco service provider, we document everything with photos and a written report, which is the paper trail warranty claims actually need.
Many Famco repairs, like cap replacements and minor flashing fixes, can be completed during the inspection visit if we carry the part. Motor replacements and liner work may require ordering parts, but we’ll give you a written quote and timeline before you commit to anything.
Once a year, even if you rarely burn. Fresno’s hot summers and damp winters stress flashing, caps, and liners, and the yearly inspection is what catches small problems before they become multi-thousand-dollar repairs or a fire hazard.
A visual check catches what’s visible from the top and firebox. A camera inspection catches what’s inside the flue: hidden creosote buildup in Famco liner grooves, cracked firestops, or separated pipe sections. For real estate transactions or after any chimney event, the camera is the only honest answer.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner, Alcott Chimney Fresno at Alcott Chimney Fresno, serving Fresno and nearby areas.
Ready to schedule a Famco chimney inspection? Call (559) 215-1714 and a live person will answer. You’ll know exactly who’s coming, what we found, and what it costs before any work begins.