Flue relining
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
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 Flue Liner Replacement: The Miami Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Famco-compatible flue liner replacement parts across Miami, with most installs running $1,800 to $3,400 depending on liner length, diameter, and access. We carry the common sizes on our trucks, so a same-week install is typical once we’ve measured your flue. Most Miami homeowners discover they need this part after an inspection shows cracked or separated liner sections, or when rust stains start bleeding through the chimney chase.
Famco builds stainless steel relining components, and in Miami’s salt-heavy air, the failure pattern is predictable. The liner itself rarely fails first. What fails is the connection hardware, the cap, or the insulation wrap. When that happens, hot flue gases find a shortcut, and that’s when you start seeing efflorescence on the chimney exterior or hearing a loose rattle when the wind kicks up off Biscayne Bay.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco’s relining line runs through their stainless flex and rigid series, most commonly the 4-inch through 8-inch diameters used in masonry fireplace retrofits and furnace or water heater venting. The compatibility gotcha Miami homeowners hit most often is this: Famco liners are sized by inside diameter, not outside. A liner labeled 6-inch means a 6-inch interior passage. Measure the existing liner’s inner opening before you order or call us, because pairing a 6-inch Famco liner with a 5.5-inch clay tile flue doesn’t work without breaking out tile first.
We are an independent service provider, not affiliated with Famco, which means we spec the right part rather than defaulting to one brand. When a genuine Famco liner is what the job calls for, we install it. When a DuraFlex or HeatShield component matches the application better, we’ll tell you and write that into the quote. The honest truth: for stainless flex liners in Miami, brand matters less than alloy grade and proper insulation. 316L stainless holds up far better against salt air than 304, and we won’t install anything less for an exterior masonry chimney within three miles of the coast.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your Famco Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- Rust staining on the chimney chase or interior wall. Pinpoint rust usually means the liner’s outer wrap or a connector band has corroded through, letting condensation wick into surrounding framing. We see this most often in Coral Gables bungalows and older Cutler Bay homes with uninsulated chases.
- A metallic rattle when wind gusts hit the chimney. Loose or separated liner sections knock against the flue walls. It sounds like a loose gutter, but it’s coming from inside the chimney, and it means the liner has shifted off its support.
- Draft problems that weren’t there before. A liner with a separated seam or a collapsed section can’t maintain the pull it once did. Fires get smoky, and the smell lingers in the house for hours after you close the damper.
- Condensation or moisture inside the firebox after rain. If the liner or its top plate has failed, rainwater no longer gets directed into the flue. It drips down the liner exterior and shows up as damp spots in the firebox or a musty smell in the room.
- White chalky residue on the exterior brick or stucco. Efflorescence means moisture is moving through the masonry, and a leaking flue liner is one of the prime movers in an otherwise sound chimney.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
In Miami, expect to pay $1,800 to $3,400 for a complete Famco-compatible flue liner replacement. The spread is driven by three things: linear feet of liner, access (roof pitch and chimney height), and whether we need to remove old clay tile to make room for an insulated liner system. A short, straight run with easy roof access lands at the low end. A taller chimney with a steep roof in Brickell or Coconut Grove pushes toward the higher number.
Every quote we write includes the liner, insulation wrap, top plate, cap, labor, and cleanup, itemized line by line. No fuel surcharge, no “we found something else” add-on at the door. The price you approve before we start is the price on the invoice. And every liner replacement we install carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the repair fails within one full year, we return at no charge. You don’t pay for our mistakes, period.
DIY or Call Us?
What you can safely do is identify the problem. Look for rust staining, listen for rattles, check the firebox for moisture. Take photos. Tell me what you saw, I’ll tell you what it costs. That’s how Hank Delano runs every call, and it’s the same approach our crew uses on every job across Miami.
What you shouldn’t do is attempt the liner replacement yourself. This is not a handyman task. The liner runs through a confined flue passage, often past sharp clay tile edges that shred flex liner if it’s not guided properly. Improperly connected liner sections can leak carbon monoxide into the house, which you won’t see or smell until it’s a serious problem. This is work for someone who has done it hundreds of times and stands behind it in writing. If you want to talk through what you’re seeing before committing to anything, call (786) 305-7861 and we’ll walk you through it.
FAQs
In Miami’s salt air, a properly installed 316L stainless liner typically lasts 15 to 25 years, while a lower-grade 304 alloy liner may start showing corrosion in 8 to 12 years. Coastal proximity, how often you burn, and whether the liner is insulated all affect lifespan. Call (786) 305-7861 if you want us to assess what’s currently in your chimney and what condition it’s in.
Small tears near the top or a failed connection band can sometimes be repaired with a splice or coupler, but any repair that doesn’t restore a continuous, gas-tight passage is a gamble with carbon monoxide. If the liner has multiple corroded sections or has separated mid-flue, replacement is the honest fix. We’ll show you camera footage of the liner condition before recommending anything.
A standard Famco liner replacement in a single-story Miami home usually takes 4 to 6 hours from setup to cleanup. Taller chimneys or jobs requiring clay tile removal can stretch to a full day. We’ll give you a completion window in writing before the job starts.
We stock common Famco-compatible sizes in 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch, 7-inch, and 8-inch diameters on our trucks, along with DuraFlex and HeatShield alternatives. For unusual lengths or specialty fittings, we can usually source the part within a day or two from our Miami suppliers. Call (786) 305-7861 and we’ll confirm availability while you’re on the phone.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner, Flint Chimney Co Miami at Flint Chimney Co Miami, serving Miami and nearby areas.