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 Sweep in Woodland Hills: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney sweep service in Woodland Hills, typically completed in 90 minutes to two hours depending on flue condition and creosote volume. Most Famco fireplace and venting system sweeps in this area run between $189 and $349, with the final written price confirmed before any brush touches your flue. If you own a Famco wood-burning fireplace, gas log set, or venting component and it’s been more than a year since the last cleaning, call (559) 249-1347 and we’ll get you on the schedule.

This page is for Woodland Hills homeowners with Famco equipment who want specifics, not generic chimney talk: how Famco fireplaces accumulate creosote, which components tend to fail first, and exactly what our techs do differently on a Famco job.
How Famco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Famco builds solid, middle-market hearth products across several lines, but after two decades of chimney work in the San Fernando Valley, we see the same failure patterns repeat on specific models. Here’s what actually shows up when we open a Famco fireplace in Woodland Hills:
- Famco direct-vent gas fireplaces (common in late-90s and early-2000s Woodland Hills construction): The vent termination cap screens clog with soot and spider webs, which backs combustion gases into the living space. We pull the cap, clean the screen and interior vent run, then confirm draft with a smoke test before we call it done.
- Famco wood-burning zero-clearance units in older Warner Center tract homes: These fireplaces run hot and build up glassy, hardened creosote faster than masonry fireplaces because the flue is narrower. Standard flat-wire brushing misses the corners. We use rotary chain whip heads sized to the specific Famco flue diameter, then camera-verify the walls are clean.
- Famco gas log sets with ceramic fiber logs: If the burner ports aren’t cleaned annually, the logs soot up unevenly and you get yellow tipping on the flame, which means incomplete combustion and carbon monoxide inside the house. We pull the logs, clear the burner ports, and reset the log placement to Famco’s original spec.
- Famco refractory panel deterioration in prefab units: The back and side refractory panels crack after years of heat cycling, and gaps expose the firebox metal to direct flame. During a sweep, we inspect panel seams and recommend replacement when cracks exceed hairline, using compatible refractory panels rated for Famco fireboxes.
- Famco chimney caps and chase covers on two-story Woodland Hills homes: We see a lot of rust-through and animal intrusion where caps were never replaced after the original galvanized unit failed. Birds get in, nests block the flue, and the first sign is smoke rolling back into the room. As an independent Famco service provider, we fit aftermarket stainless caps that match air-kit clearance dimensions rather than waiting weeks on OEM parts that aren’t always available.
Styles & brands we work with





Our Famco Chimney Sweep Process
- 1
Call and book. A live person answers 24/7. We ask which Famco unit you have, when it was last swept, and any symptoms like smoke backup or odor.
- 2
Arrival with a tracked window. You get live arrival tracking, not a four-hour guess. Our tech shows up uniformed and background-checked.
- 3
Pre-work inspection. We examine the firebox, damper, flue, and cap, and run a camera up the liner if anything looks questionable. That camera footage is part of your photo report.
- 4
Written price before work. You approve the sweep at the quoted number before we lay drop cloths. No surprise add-ons at the door.
- 5
The sweep itself. Brushing, HEPA vacuuming, creosote removal from the smoke shelf and firebox, plus glass and log set cleaning on gas units. We use brushes and rods matched to your Famco flue size.
- 6
Proof and guarantee. You receive before-and-after photos and a digital invoice you can pay from a link. Every repair or component replacement carries a written guarantee, and if anything we fix fails, we return free within 365 days.
See the difference
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After
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Sweep Costs in Woodland Hills
Here’s what you’re realistically looking at for Famco-specific sweep work in Woodland Hills, based on our current pricing:
- Standard Famco fireplace sweep (gas or wood, single flue): $189-$249
- Sweep with heavy creosote buildup or glazed creosote removal: $275-$349
- Sweep plus gas log set cleaning and burner port clearing: $220-$290
- Sweep with camera inspection add-on (we include photos on every job): $249-$329
- Cap or chase cover replacement (aftermarket stainless, fitted to Famco dimensions): $180-$420 depending on flue size and roof access
Price moves on flue height, creosote stage, and whether we’re also pulling gas logs or replacing panels. You’ll always have the written number in hand before work starts. Call (559) 249-1347 for an exact quote: estimates are free.
Why Woodland Hills Homeowners Call Hadley Chimney Woodland Hills for Famco Work
Cory Mitchell, our owner and lead technician, has spent the better part of two decades working on chimneys across the West San Fernando Valley, including plenty of Famco units in Woodland Hills’ Warner Center corridor. He learned the technical side at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where combustion safety and venting systems were the core curriculum, and he’s kept that focus through every job since. “I’d rather show you the problem on your phone screen than hand you a bill you don’t understand.”
Every Famco job includes a written price before work starts, photo documentation of what we found and what we did, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if a repair we make fails within a year, we return and fix it free. We also work with DuraFlex flexible liner systems, HeatShield ceramic repair compound, and Gelco sealants when a Famco unit needs more than a sweep, so we’re not limited to whatever happens to be on the truck. The Relay Visibility Guarantee backs every visit: live arrival tracking, before-and-after photos, and digital invoicing, on every job, not just the big ones.
FAQs
No. Regular professional chimney sweeping is a maintenance activity Famco expects, not a modification, and it does not void warranty coverage. What can void a Famco warranty is using unlisted replacement parts or altering the venting configuration. We only install components rated for your specific Famco model, and we document everything with photos so your maintenance history is easy to prove if a warranty claim ever comes up.
If you burn wood, sweep annually or after every cord of wood, whichever comes first. Gas Famco units can often go 2-3 years between full sweeps, but we recommend an annual inspection of the burner, logs, and vent termination. Woodland Hills’ dry summers mean creosote doesn’t absorb moisture and flake off the way it might in more humid climates, so it tends to harden in place, which makes annual removal more important here, not less.
For most chimney sweep work, aftermarket components are functionally identical to Famco OEM when they’re built to the same dimensional and material specs. We use aftermarket stainless caps and refractory panels where they fit properly and carry the right temperature ratings. For gas valves and burner assemblies, we prefer OEM or manufacturer-approved replacement parts because the clearances and gas flow are model-specific. We’ll always tell you which we’re using and why, before you approve any work.
The short answer: creosote accumulates, and creosote is the flammable tar-like residue that makes chimneys a fire risk. On a Famco gas fireplace, skipping service means blocked burner ports, improper flame patterns, and the potential for carbon monoxide to enter the house. If you’re unsure when your last sweep was, call (559) 249-1347 and we’ll book an inspection: the quote is free, and the photos we take show you exactly what you’re working with.
Most chimney sweeps in Woodland Hills can be scheduled within 3-5 business days, and we typically run closer to 2-3 days during non-peak months. The busy season here runs October through January, so if you want a fall sweep before burning season, booking in September saves you the wait. Call (559) 249-1347 and a live person will get you on the calendar.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner & Lead Chimney Technician, Hadley Chimney Woodland Hills, serving Woodland Hills and nearby areas.