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 Henderson: What to Know First
We sweep and service Famco fireplace chimneys throughout Henderson, Nevada, as an independent Famco service provider. A standard Famco chimney sweep in Henderson runs $189 to $340 and takes about 45 to 75 minutes. We give you a written price before any work starts, and the person who answers the phone when you call (775) 485-5516 will tell you straight what to expect.
This page is for Henderson homeowners with a Famco fireplace, stove, or insert who want to know what a sweep actually involves, what it costs here, and whether their Famco unit needs anything beyond routine cleaning. If that’s you, you’ll find real numbers, real failure patterns we see in this valley, and no pressure to buy anything but what the camera shows you.
How Famco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
- Famco Zero-Clearance Boxes (common in Green Valley and Anthem builds, 1990s – 2010s): These prefab units often hide creosote buildup behind the damper plate and in the smoke shelf. We see homeowners in Henderson who burn pine and cedar during December and January, stop for six months, then light up again without a sweep. The creosote has hardened into a glaze that a basic brush-and-vacuum can’t remove. Our fix is a Level 1 inspection with camera verification, then mechanical removal of the glazed creosote using flat-wire brushes sized to the flue, never chemicals that could leave residue inside the box. This isn’t a scare issue. It’s just a “you haven’t burned in six months” issue.
- Famco Wood Stoves with Cast-Iron Doors: The door gasket on older Famco stoves compresses over time, especially in Henderson’s dry air, which causes the stove to over-draft and pull heat up the flue faster than it should. You get a weak flame, a cold house, and excessive air movement that dries creosote into flakes that drop back down into the stove. During a sweep, we check the gasket, point out visible wear, and if the door isn’t sealing, we replace it with an OEM-spec gasket kit before we sweep. Sweeping a stove with a failing gasket just means the creosote comes back faster.
- Famco Inserts in Masonry Fireplaces: Famco inserts are common in older Henderson homes, particularly in the Pittman and Valley View areas. The weak point we find most often is the connection between the insert’s flue collar and the existing masonry liner. When the connector pipe wasn’t sealed properly at install, smoke leaks into the fireplace cavity and soot deposits build up behind the insert. A straight chimney sweep misses this because the soot is behind the unit. We perform a Level 2 inspection, pull the insert forward enough to inspect the connection, and reseal it with high-temperature sealant before reinstalling. The sweep happens after, not before, on these jobs.
- Famco Gas Log Sets and Vent-Free Lines: Henderson homes with Famco gas log sets accumulate a fine white soot that’s not creosote at all. It’s mineral residue from the gas itself, and in Henderson’s hard-water valley air, it can coat the logs and the flue interior within two seasons. We see it more often in homes near Lake Las Vegas where humidity plays a role. Our sweep for gas Famco sets includes brushing the soot from the logs, inspecting the burner ports for blockage, and checking that the chimney drafts correctly even when the fire is low. This is a different clean than a wood-burning sweep, and it should be.
- Famco Chimney Caps and Terminations: The cap that ships with many Famco prefab units is a galvanized steel model that holds up for about 8 to 12 years in Henderson’s sun and wind. When it rusts through, you get birds, rain, and ember issues. We inspect the termination on every sweep, and when we find rust-through or missing mesh, we replace with a stainless cap from Gelco or Olympia Chimney, which we’ve found lasts noticeably longer in this climate. It’s a small part that does a big job.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Famco Chimney Sweep Process
- 1
You call (775) 485-5516. A live person answers, asks about the fireplace and when it was last serviced, and gives you a real price range for the sweep. No voicemail. No call later.
- 2
We arrive and lay down protection. Shoe covers go on at the door, drop cloths go down around the work area, and we ask before moving anything near the fireplace. The C.A.R.E. values are not a slogan to us. The “C” is covers, and it happens first.
- 3
We inspect before we sweep. On a Famco unit, this means opening the damper, looking at the smoke shelf, checking the gasket or the cap, and running the camera if you have never had one run or if it’s been more than two years.
- 4
We sweep to the flue, not just the firebox. Brushes sized to your specific Famco flue diameter, vacuum running the whole time, no chemicals inside the firebox or flue.
- 5
We show you what we found. A photo of the flue after the sweep. If we found a part that should be watched or replaced, we show you the camera image and give you a written price for the repair. You decide. Nothing is pushed.
- 6
We clean up and photograph it. The fireplace area is wiped down, the vacuum is run back over the drop cloth before we pull it up, and you get a photo of the clean-up. Then we review the written report with you before we leave. That’s the Cedarwell Care Promise, every time.
What Famco Chimney Sweep Costs in Henderson
Most standard Famco chimney sweeps in Henderson fall between $189 and $340. Here’s what moves the number:
- Single-story Famco prefab fireplace: $189 to $240. This is the most common job we do, and it includes the inspection, the sweep, the clean-up, and the written report.
- Famco wood stove or insert: $240 to $320. More disassembly, gasket check, and internal access mean more labor.
- Two-story or steep-roof access: Add $50 to $150 depending on roof pitch and chimney height. We’ll tell you before we schedule, not after.
- Heavy glazed creosote removal: Add $80 to $180 if the creosote has hardened. This takes longer and uses different tooling.
- Level 2 camera inspection: $99 to $149 when added to a sweep. We recommend it every two years for wood-burning Famco units and any time you buy a home with an existing fireplace.
Those are real Henderson prices, not bait. Call (775) 485-5516 for an exact quote. The estimate is free, and it’s a written price before work begins, which means what we quote is what you pay.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterWhy Henderson Homeowners Call Kindling Chimney Henderson for Famco Work
Danny Cortes and his crew have worked on enough Famco fireplaces in Henderson to know that the problem is rarely what the homeowner thinks it is. A homeowner will call about smoke backing into the room and assume the flue is clogged. More often, the damper plate inside the Famco box has warped from heat cycling, or the cap screen is plugged with pine needles from a windstorm. We don’t guess and we don’t start replacing parts until we’ve looked. That’s the whole job description, really.
Every sweep, inspection, and repair is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work isn’t right, we make it right. Every tech is background-checked, uniformed, and follows the C.A.R.E. values on every visit. And when a Famco component needs replacement, we install professional-grade materials from brands we trust: DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco, Olympia Chimney, and Copperfield. One of those is probably the right part for your fireplace. We’ll explain which one and why we picked it.
FAQs
No. Sweeping and inspecting your Famco fireplace does not void a manufacturer warranty. In fact, most Famco warranty documents require regular cleaning and inspection. What matters is that the work is done correctly, which is why we document every sweep with photos and a written report. We are an independent Famco service provider, not a Famco-authorized shop, and we’ll tell you plainly if a repair is one that Famco should handle directly.
For wood-burning Famco fireplaces used regularly during the cooler months, once a year. If you burn resinous woods like pine or cedar, or if you only burn occasionally but the fireplace sits for months between uses, once a year is still the right schedule. For gas Famco log sets, every two years is typical, and that visit is more about inspecting the burner and the venting than removing soot. Call (775) 485-5516 and we’ll give you a straight recommendation for your specific unit.
That depends on what the camera shows. If the firebox has surface rust but the flue is solid, a repair like a HeatShield resurfacing job can extend the fireplace’s life for years. If the firebox has warped or cracked panels, replacement is usually the honest answer. We’ll show you the images and give you a real cost comparison so you can decide from facts, not a sales script.
Most Famco sweeps in Henderson can be scheduled within a week, and often sooner. Chimney work in Southern Nevada is seasonal, so if you’re calling in September or October, plan a little further ahead. If you’re calling in March, we’ll likely be out within a few days. Call (775) 485-5516 and we’ll give you a firm date on that first call.
We use whichever part is the better choice for the specific fireplace. Some Famco components should be replaced with OEM parts, like door gaskets and damper assemblies. For other parts, like chimney caps and certain connectors, we’ve found that professional-grade aftermarket brands like Gelco and Olympia Chimney match or exceed the original. We won’t install a part that compromises the safety or function of the fireplace, and we’ll show you exactly what we’re putting in and why.
Contact Kindling Chimney Henderson for Famco Service
Know what’s in your flue before you light the first fire of the season. If you own a Famco fireplace in Henderson, call us at (775) 485-5516. A live person answers, every time. We’ll give you a written price before any work starts, and the crew will leave your home cleaner than they found it. That’s the Cedarwell Care Promise, and it applies to every Famco chimney sweep we do.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner, Kindling Chimney Henderson at Kindling Chimney Henderson, serving Henderson and nearby areas.