Level 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.
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AfterFamco Fireplace Services in Hicksville: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco fireplace services in Hicksville, with most repairs completed in a single visit and upfront pricing agreed before any work begins. A typical Famco gas fireplace service runs $180-$320; firebox or damper repairs on wood-burning units range $340-$780 depending on parts and access. Every job ends with a live fire test and our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
This page is for Famco owners in Hicksville who’ve noticed their pilot won’t stay lit, their blower’s gotten loud, or their damper’s stuck half-open - and who want the repair done correctly without being sold a whole new system they don’t need. We’ve worked on Famco units in the split-levels near Broadway Mall and the older colonials off Jerusalem Avenue for over 42 years. Call us at (516) 259-3797. A live person answers, 24 hours a day.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco FMI Direct Vent gas fireplaces: pilot assembly carbon buildup. The FMI’s pilot orifice sits close to the burner pan, and in Hicksville’s hard water zone the mineral content in pilot gas lines accelerates crusting. We see this every November when homeowners first fire up after summer. We pull the pilot assembly, sonic-clean the orifice rather than reaming it out (which changes the gas flow spec), and replace the thermopile if millivolt output has dropped below 325 mV. OEM pilot assemblies are available, though we’ve had equal longevity with the SIT 0.982.524 aftermarket unit.
- Famco wood-burning fireboxes: refractory panel cracking at the rear wall. The 36-inch and 42-inch Famco wood boxes use a three-panel refractory system that expands at different rates during Hicksville’s freeze-thaw cycles if the homeowner’s been burning unseasoned oak from Nassau County tree services. Hairline cracks under 1/8 inch we fill with HeatShield cerfractory foam; anything wider and the panel’s compromised - we source the exact Famco panel by serial number, not a universal cut-to-fit substitute that leaves gaps at the corners.
- Famco chimney-top dampers: cable seizure in galvanized housings. The Famco top-sealing damper with the 3/16-inch aircraft cable looks smart until Hicksville’s coastal humidity gets inside the housing. The cable frays where it passes through the guide sleeve, and homeowners end up with a damper that won’t fully open or close. We replace with a stainless cable and lubricate the guide with high-temp silicone, not standard WD-40 that gums up at 400 degrees. If the cast-aluminum frame is cracked from thermal cycling, we move to a Gelco damper with a lifetime warranty on the housing.
- Famco gas insert blowers: bearing noise after 8-10 seasons. The FMI insert blowers run at fixed speed and collect dust from Hicksville’s pollen-heavy spring seasons. Bearing noise starts as a whine, becomes a rattle, then seizes. Famco’s OEM blower (Jakel J(516) 259-3797) runs $280-$340; we also fit a Rotom R7-RB67 equivalent with ball bearings instead of sleeve bearings for about $40 less. Both carry our 90-Day Done Right Promise. The real fix includes pulling the convection jacket and vacuuming the squirrel cage - half the noise comes from imbalance from dust cake.
- Famco vent-free log sets: sooting from incorrect air shutter setting. Hicksville’s basements and converted garages often have negative pressure from clothes dryers or kitchen exhausts. The Famco vent-free system’s designed for 99.9% combustion efficiency, but pull the air shutter too far closed (or let the burner ports clog with ceramic fiber debris) and you get yellow tipping, odor complaints, and carbon monoxide risk. We check with a digital manometer, set the shutter to OEM spec by elevation, and we will not sign off on a vent-free unit that’s pulling negative pressure below -0.02 inches water column. Sometimes the fix is a makeup air duct, not a fireplace repair.
Our Famco Fireplace Services Process
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Call and schedule. A live person answers, asks the model number if you have it, and books a window. We’ll be there when we say.
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Level-2 camera inspection and diagnosis. Our technician arrives in uniform, background-checked, with a chimney camera and combustion analyzer. For Famco units, we pull the manufacturer’s spec sheet from our archive by model number - not guesswork. You get photos you can see and a plain-English verdict.
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Parts decision: OEM or quality aftermarket. We show you the exact part, explain the price difference, and note any warranty implications. No builder-grade substitutes. A square deal: no surprises on the bill.
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The repair, with live testing. We complete most Famco jobs in a single visit. Gas pressure gets checked with a manometer. Wood-burning units get a draft test. The chimney doesn’t care what you hoped it was - it shows you what it is.
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Written guarantee and cleanup. The 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, no arguing. If it’s not right, we make it right. Then we vacuum, lay down fresh drop cloths, and walk you through what was done.
What Famco Fireplace Services Costs in Hicksville
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco gas fireplace tune-up & safety check | $180-$260 | Accessibility of burner assembly; whether logs need re-positioning |
| Famco pilot assembly replacement | $220-$340 | OEM vs. aftermarket; thermopile included or separate |
| Famco blower motor replacement | $340-$480 | OEM vs. ball-bearing upgrade; convection jacket removal difficulty |
| Famco refractory panel repair (HeatShield) | $280-$420 | Number of panels; crack width and depth |
| Famco refractory panel replacement | $580-$920 | Panel size; serial-number match vs. field-cut |
| Famco top-sealing damper repair | $240-$380 | Cable only, or housing replacement with Gelco upgrade |
| Famco fireplace insert removal & re-install | $480-$720 | Flue liner condition; surround trim work needed |
These are Hicksville-market ranges based on our last 18 months of Famco jobs. The number on your estimate is the number on your invoice. Call (516) 259-3797 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Why Hicksville Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Famco Work
We’ve been in Hicksville long enough to know which Famco models the builders installed in the 1987-2004 subdivisions off South Oyster Bay Road, and which corners they cut on venting. Russell Haines and our crew carry the full Famco parts cross-reference, plus backup from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco when the original design needs improving.
Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if a Famco blower we installed starts rattling on day 89, we come back. In writing, no arguing. Background-checked, uniformed technicians. Most jobs done in a single visit. And when you call (516) 259-3797, a live person answers - not a callback queue, not an app.
FAQs
No, as an independent Famco service provider we do not void your warranty, though we recommend you keep your original purchase documentation. Famco’s warranty covers manufacturing defects, not wear items like thermopiles or blower bearings. We use OEM or equivalent-quality parts and document everything with photos, so if a defect claim arises you have clear evidence of proper maintenance. Call (516) 259-3797 if you’d like us to review your warranty status before booking.
Common Famco parts - pilot assemblies, blowers, refractory panels for current models - we stock or can source within 3-5 business days. Discontinued FMI series from the 1990s may take 7-10 days or require a quality aftermarket equivalent. We never let a job sit waiting for a part we could have ordered the day you called. Call (516) 259-3797 and we’ll check availability for your specific model before scheduling.
Repair if the firebox is sound, the flue is properly sized, and repair costs are under 40% of replacement. Replace if the unit has had multiple component failures, the heat exchanger is cracked, or you’re looking at $3,000+ in repairs on a 20-year-old builder-grade insert. We’ll show you the camera footage and give you both numbers so you decide. No pressure - we’re not selling fireplaces, we’re fixing them. Call (516) 259-3797 for an honest assessment.
Gas Famco units need annual inspection and cleaning of the burner, pilot, and blower; wood-burning Famco fireplaces need sweeping after every cord of wood burned, or annually if used occasionally. Hicksville’s oak and maple produce more creosote than the softwoods out west, so we see heavier buildup here than the manufacturer specs assume. Annual service prevents the expensive surprises. Call (516) 259-3797 to schedule before burning season.
Gas units accumulate dust and debris that cause pilot failure, sooting, and eventually combustion chamber damage. Wood-burning units build creosote that can ignite in the flue, and cracked refractory panels let heat reach combustible framing. We’ve pulled bird nests, deteriorated chimney caps, and once a full squirrel cache out of Hicksville Famco flues. The risk is real, but we won’t scare-sell you - we’ll show you what we found and what it costs to fix. Call (516) 259-3797 for a free estimate.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Hicksville and nearby areas.