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.
Famco Chimney Cap & Crown in Pasadena: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney cap and crown service throughout Pasadena, from Bungalow Heaven to the Arroyo Seco foothills. Most Famco cap replacements and crown repairs are completed in a single visit after our NFPA 211 Level 2 camera inspection, with a written price delivered before any work begins. We’re not affiliated with Famco - we source parts through our Haven buying network and install what the chimney actually needs, not what a brand catalog suggests.
This page is for homeowners who already know they have Famco components on their chimney and want to understand what fails, what it costs, and who can fix it without the runaround. Call (213) 459-6058 for a free estimate, or read on for the specifics.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 304 stainless single-flue caps: The mesh on these corrodes faster than the cap body in Pasadena’s combination of marine moisture and Santa Ana heat cycles. We see this most on homes south of the 210 near Linda Vista, where the afternoon sun hits the stack hard. We replace with matching 304 stainless mesh or upgrade to 316 marine-grade when the flue gases run acidic.
- Famco galvanized multi-flue caps: The galvanized coating on older Famco multi-flue units fails at the weld points first, showing rust streaks down the crown before the cap itself looks bad. By the time you notice the staining, water’s already working into the crown masonry. We pull the cap, assess crown integrity with a hammer test and camera check of the flue interior, then replace with powder-coated steel or stainless depending on budget and exposure.
- Famco wind-directional caps: The rotating collar seizes after two to three seasons of Pasadena’s dust and occasional ash from nearby wildfires. Once frozen, the cap can’t draft properly and actually creates backpressure. We disassemble, clean the pivot, and if the collar’s warped from heat cycling, we source a replacement rotor through our network - OEM when available, machined equivalent when it’s not.
- Famco crown-mounted caps with integrated drip edges: The drip edge itself is fine; the failure is in how the crown was originally poured around it. In Pasadena’s 1920s craftsman stock, especially north of Washington near Bungalow Heaven, the crown was often poured thin to begin with. The Famco drip edge outlasts the crown, then water runs behind the cap flange. We remove the cap, rebuild the crown with proper slope and thickness, and reinstall - or upgrade to a larger overhang if the chimney configuration allows.
- Famco chase covers on prefab chimneys: The corners split where the pan folds, a manufacturing stress point that worsens with thermal expansion. Pasadena’s temperature swings - 45°F mornings to 85°F afternoons in spring - accelerate the fatigue. We spot-weld and seal only as a temporary measure; the proper fix is replacement with a heavier-gauge chase cover, typically 24-gauge galvanized or .032 aluminum, fabricated to the exact chase dimensions we measure on site.
Our Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Process

- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, checks availability, and notes your Famco model if you know it. We don’t require the model - we’ll identify it on the roof.
- 2
NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection. Corrine or one of our techs runs the camera down the flue before touching the cap or crown. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires this photo record on every job - we started that practice in 2009. The camera doesn’t negotiate - it just shows what’s there.
- 3
Written price, written scope. We show you the footage, name the failure, and deliver a written price before any work starts. Haven Standard Clause 1: have it in writing. No exceptions, no “let me check with the office.”
- 4
Parts decision. For Famco components, we check OEM availability against our aftermarket equivalents from Gelco and Olympia Chimney. We explain the trade-off - warranty coverage, gauge thickness, lead time - and you choose. We don’t upsell; we document the option.
- 5
Repair or replacement. Cap installations get a water test. Crown repairs get a curing period with follow-up photo documentation. Multi-flue caps get checked for level and proper clearance to all flues.
- 6
Cleanup and record. We leave the roof and yard clean, text you the photo record, and stamp the 365-Day Done Right Promise on your invoice. If it’s not done right, we make it right.
Before
AfterWhat Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Pasadena
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco single-flue cap replacement | $280 - $450 | Flue size, mesh grade (304 vs. 316), roof access difficulty |
| Famco multi-flue cap replacement | $520 - $890 | Number of flues, cap material, crown condition underneath |
| Crown repair (partial, with Famco cap reinstall) | $340 - $620 | Crack extent, need for bonding agent, height of chimney |
| Crown coating (HeatShield or equivalent) | $480 - $750 | Crown square footage, number of coats, flue proximity |
| Custom cap fabrication (non-standard flue or chase) | $650 - $1,200 | Material choice, complexity of fabrication, finish |
These are real Pasadena market ranges based on jobs we’ve completed in the last 24 months, not national averages. Steep roofs, tight access between bungalows, or additional masonry work will land above the midpoint. We deliver your specific number in writing after inspection - never before we’ve seen it. Call (213) 459-6058 for a free estimate; estimates include the camera scan and carry no obligation.
Why Pasadena Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Pasadena for Famco Work

We’ve inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, and a meaningful subset of those were Famco caps and crowns in Pasadena’s varied housing stock - from 1910s masonry in Garfield Heights to 1970s prefabs in the Hastings Ranch area. Corrine Halstead and our crew know the difference between a cap that needs replacement and a cap that needs reinstallation on a rebuilt crown, because we’ve done both hundreds of times.
Our Haven Standard means background-checked, uniformed technicians with license numbers you can verify, a text when we’re en route, and a documented photo record you keep. If you have a competitor’s written estimate, we’ll give you a free second opinion - no charge to look, no pressure to switch. We also stock and service DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco components, so if your Famco part is obsolete or the wrong fit for your flue condition, we don’t pretend otherwise.
FAQs
Famco’s warranty covers manufacturing defects, not installation or field modifications. As an independent Famco service provider, we use practices that don’t compromise any remaining factory coverage - we document the original part serial when present and install replacements to Famco’s published clearances. If your cap failed due to defect and is within warranty period, we’ll note that in our report so you can pursue a parts credit directly. Call (213) 459-6058 if you want us to assess warranty status during your free estimate.
Most single-flue Famco cap replacements take 90 minutes to two hours from ladder set to water test, assuming the crown underneath is sound. Multi-flue caps or jobs requiring crown repair add two to four hours. We book by the job, not the hour - the price we write is the price you pay. Call (213) 459-6058 to schedule; we’ll give you a realistic window after seeing your chimney.
Some Famco series from the 1990s and early 2000s are discontinued, but the common sizes - 8×8, 8×13, 13×13 flue dimensions - are covered by cross-compatible aftermarket caps from Gelco and Olympia Chimney that we stock. For odd sizes or integrated chase covers, we fabricate custom. We tell you before ordering whether we’re sourcing OEM, quality aftermarket, or custom - no surprises. Call (213) 459-6058 and we’ll check availability for your specific model.
Repair is viable when cracks are surface-level, the crown still has proper slope away from the flue, and less than 30% of the surface is compromised. Replacement or full rebuild is necessary when the crown is thin throughout, the flue tile is loose in the mortar bed, or water has reached the smoke chamber - which our camera inspection will show you directly. We don’t recommend rebuilds without photo evidence you can see for yourself. Call (213) 459-6058 for an inspection and honest assessment.
Annual inspection is the standard for any cap in Pasadena’s climate, where Santa Ana winds test fasteners and winter rains test seals. If your cap has been in place more than five years without inspection, we typically find at least one issue - loose fasteners, mesh corrosion, or crown staining that wasn’t visible from the ground. Our NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection includes the cap, crown, and flue interior as one system. Call (213) 459-6058 to book; estimates are free.
Ready to see what’s actually happening on your chimney? Call (213) 459-6058 for a free estimate. We’ll run the camera, show you the footage, and give you a written price before any work starts - the same way we’ve done it for Pasadena homeowners since 2009.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Pasadena at Level Two Chimney Pasadena, serving Pasadena and nearby areas.





Before
After
Before
After