Famco Flue Liner Replacement Nationwide

Famco Flue Liner Replacement: The Denver Owner’s Guide

Famco flue liner replacement in Denver typically runs $1,800-$3,400 installed, depending on liner diameter, height, and whether the chase needs reframing. We stock Famco-compatible stainless steel liners and connectors for same-day installation on most standard residential systems. Most Denver homeowners discover the issue during a routine sweep or when they spot water staining on the chase cover after one of our spring freeze-thaw cycles.

Call (720) 674-7312

Corrine Halstead and our crew have swapped Famco liners in everything from 1980s townhomes in Cherry Creek to new builds in Stapleton where the original clay failed early. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we.

Which Famco Models This Applies To

Famco manufactured several liner series over the years, and the replacement part you need depends on what’s currently in your flue. The most common we encounter in Denver are the Famco 316Ti flexible stainless liners (sold in the 2000s through HVAC wholesalers) and the heavier-gauge Famco rigid 304 stainless systems used in commercial and multi-family applications. Check the chase top for a stamped metal tag, or look for a paper label on the liner collar above the firebox. If the tag is gone, we measure inner diameter and wall thickness with a bore gauge during the camera scan.

OEM Famco liners are no longer manufactured, but we source direct-fit equivalents through Haven’s buying network from Olympia Chimney and DuraFlex. The aftermarket 316Ti flexible matches Famco’s original 0.006-inch wall spec and carries the same UL 1777 listing. For rigid systems, we typically upsize to a 0.010-inch wall Olympia equivalent, which handles Denver’s thermal shock better than the original 0.008-inch Famco rigid. The one compatibility gotcha: early Famco flex used a proprietary 4-inch starter collar that doesn’t mate to standard 4.5-inch appliance adapters. We stock both transition fittings on the truck.

Signs Your Famco Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing

• Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney chase. Famco chase covers from the 1990s and 2000s used a galvanized ring that rusts through in 8-12 years in Denver’s semi-arid climate, letting water pool on the liner collar and corrode the top section. We see this pattern constantly in Park Hill and Berkeley bungalows.
• Flaking metallic debris in the firebox or cleanout. This is 316Ti stainless shedding its oxide layer after repeated over-firing or condensate exposure. Once the passive chromium layer is compromised, the liner pitting accelerates fast, especially if you’re burning green lodgepole pine from the Front Range.
• Smoke spillage at startup even with the damper open. A Famco liner that has separated at a joint or collapsed inward (common in 6-inch flex run through offset clay flues) restricts draft. The NFPA 211 Level 2 camera scan shows the gap or ovalization in real time.
• Strong smoke odor when the fireplace is not in use. This usually means the liner has cracked above the smoke shelf, allowing creosote-laden air to leak into the chase cavity. In Denver’s pressure-variable winter inversions, that air finds its way into conditioned space through any chase penetration.
• Your sweep flagged “liner beyond reasonable repair” on the inspection report. Famco flex liners installed before 2010 are at end of life if they’ve seen regular use. We document the failure point with photos and give you a written replacement scope before we discuss scheduling.

Before

After

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

What drives the range: liner diameter (5.5-inch specialty sizes cost more), total vertical run plus any offset, whether we need to remove a damaged clay liner first, and chase access (steep Denver roofs with 12:12 pitches add rigging time). Every quote is itemized in writing before work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1. The liner carries a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty; our installation workmanship is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground here, and then there’s a hard stop. You can verify your Famco model from the chase tag, measure approximate flue height with a tape, and check the firebox for debris or obvious liner collapse. What you cannot safely do: drop a new liner down a two-story flue without proper rigging, cut stainless to length with the wrong tools (work-hardened edges tear), or seal a liner top without verifying proper appliance adapter engagement. A dropped liner that kinks in the offset is a $1,200 mistake, and a poorly sealed top collar vents carbon monoxide into the chase cavity.

We’re not going to pretend this is rocket science. But we’ve also fished out enough homeowner attempts to know where the money gets wasted. If you want the camera footage, the written scope, and the warranty, call (720) 674-7312. Estimates are free, and we bring the right collar adapters for your specific Famco transition.

FAQs