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.
Gelco Chimney Cleaning in Houston, TX | Ashby Chimney Houston
A Gelco chimney cleaning in Houston typically runs between $189 and $320, and we complete most jobs the same day we arrive. The one thing that makes our Gelco work different here is straightforward: we know what Houston humidity and clay soil do to these specific flues, caps, and dampers, so we fix the underlying moisture problem while we clean. Ashby Chimney Houston is an independent Gelco service provider, not a manufacturer affiliate. We serve the entire Houston metro with written pricing and a written guarantee. Call (903) 961-6496 for a free estimate.
Why Houston Residents Choose Us for Gelco Service
We work on Gelco chimney systems across Houston every week, and that daily exposure matters. Gelco builds a solid product, but Houston’s climate tests every component in ways the manufacturer’s manual doesn’t anticipate. We have seen which Gelco liners hold up, which caps fail first, and which damper cables snap when a rare freeze hits. That experience means we diagnose faster and recommend repairs that actually last here.
Nathan Corliss leads our Houston crew, and he grew up learning trades the hard way, including time at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before putting down roots in the chimney business full time. He has worked everything from older wood-burning fireplaces in the Heights to gas log setups near the Galleria. When you call us for Gelco service, you get someone who quotes the price before touching a tool and leaves the job site cleaner than he found it.
We stock genuine Gelco replacement parts when they are still in production. For older Gelco models where OEM parts are gone, we use quality stainless steel aftermarket components fabricated locally, so you are not waiting two weeks on a backorder. Every job gets a written price and a written guarantee under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If a covered repair fails, we come back and fix it at no charge.
Styles & brands we work with
Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Solve in Houston
Here is what we actually find on Gelco systems in this city:
- Moisture intrusion through Gelco caps with failed seals. Houston sun bakes the caulking on Gelco multi-flue caps until it cracks, then driving rain gets underneath. You see rust streaks on the brick and flue damage below the cap. We replace the cap and waterproof the crown so it doesn’t happen again in two years.
- Corrosion of Gelco stainless liners at flue joints. In humid attics with limited ventilation, which describes a lot of 1990s homes in Katy and The Woodlands, condensation sits on the liner joints. Stainless steel still corrodes when moisture pools. We see pinhole leaks at those seams during routine cleanings, and we replace the liner section before it becomes a carbon monoxide risk.
- Gelco top-mount damper cables snapping after freezes. Houston only gets a few hard freezes a year, but expansion and contraction during those swings stress the damper cable. One morning you go to open the damper and the handle just spins. We replace the cable and lubricate the mechanism so it moves freely again.
- Spalling brick crowns around Gelco flue tiles. Houston’s expansive clay soils shift with every wet-dry cycle, and the chimney moves with the foundation. That movement cracks the crown, the flue tile loosens, and water gets where it should not be. We repair the crown, reset the flue tile, and waterproof the masonry.
- Rust-colored stains on brick exteriors mistaken for soot. Homeowners call us thinking they need a sweep. What they actually have is corroded metal flue components bleeding through the brick. We clean the flue, then address the source of the staining so it does not come back after the next rain.
Gelco Service in Houston: What Local Conditions Mean for Your Equipment
Here is something most Houston homeowners do not know, and it changes how Gelco systems get evaluated here. Houston has required a level 2 chimney inspection before any home sale since 2001. There are thousands of Gelco systems in older houses that sat untouched for decades until an inspection finally flagged hidden flue liner corrosion that routine sweeping never caught. A Houston Chimney Sweep removes the creosote. A level 2 inspection runs a camera down the flue and sees the actual condition of the liner, the joints, and the cap from the inside. In neighborhoods like Meyerland, where houses predate the inspection requirement and original Gelco components are common, our first visit often reveals damage that has been developing since the late 1990s. Moisture has been doing slow work that long, and no amount of sweeping was going to find it. That is why we include a camera inspection and photo report with every Gelco cleaning in Houston. You see what we see, before any repair is recommended.
Gelco Models & Products We Service in Houston
We work on the full Gelco product range you find across Houston homes:
- Gelco 6-inch stainless steel chimney liner – common on single-appliance flues and gas furnace vents. We inspect joints, replace sections as needed, and confirm proper drafting.
- Gelco 8-inch stainless steel chimney liner – typical for open wood-burning fireplaces and larger inserts. We see the most corrosion at flue joints in humid attics, and we replace the liner when repair is no longer safe.
- Gelco multi-flue chimney cap – covers multiple flues on one chimney. The caulking seal is the weak point in Houston sun, and we replace it before moisture gets underneath.
- Gelco top-mount damper – the cable mechanism fails during freeze-thaw cycles. We replace cables, springs, and the damper plate itself since the unit sits on top of the flue.
We stock genuine Gelco parts when available. For discontinued models, we source stainless steel aftermarket components fabricated locally for a faster turnaround than waiting on shipping. Gelco sales & service is the work we do most often, and our parts shelf in Houston reflects that.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterGelco Service Pricing in Houston
Gelco chimney cleaning in Houston runs between $189 and $320, and the exact price depends on the flue length, the amount of buildup, and whether the system needs repairs beyond a standard sweep. A level 1 inspection is included with every clean. A level 2 camera inspection, which we recommend at least once before any home sale or after a severe storm, adds $75 to $150 depending on access.
If a repair turns out to be necessary, you get a written price before we touch a tool. No invoice surprises. Waterproofing a chimney crown typically runs $250 to $500 depending on size. Replacing a Gelco cap is $150 to $450 depending on the model and flue configuration. If the liner has corroded through, full replacement is $2,800 to $5,000 depending on length and access, and we will tell you plainly if the liner can be repaired instead. Call (903) 961-6496 for an exact quote, free of charge.
Serving Houston, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Houston area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs – Gelco Chimney Cleaning in Houston
Look for rust streaks running down the brick from under the cap, loose caulking you can see from the ground, or water stains on the fireplace ceiling below. A failed Gelco cap seal is the most common cause of moisture intrusion in Houston, where sun and rain alternate aggressively for months. If you see any of those signs, call (903) 961-6496 and we will inspect the cap and replace it with a properly sealed unit.
Yes, in most cases. If the corrosion is localized to one or two flue joints, we can replace those sections and reseal the liner. If the liner has corroded through in multiple places or the flue tile behind it has failed, a full rebuild may be the safer and more honest recommendation. We show you the camera footage before any repair is quoted, so you are making the call with your own eyes, not our word alone. Call (903) 961-6496 to book an inspection.
A stuck-open damper after a Houston freeze usually means the cable snapped from thermal expansion and contraction. The damper plate sits on top of the flue, exposed to every temperature swing. If the cable breaks, the damper cannot close, and your chimney becomes an open vent for hot air in summer and cold air in winter. We replace the cable and test the mechanism before we leave. Call (903) 961-6496 and we will get it moving again.
If your chimney is over ten years old and has never been waterproofed, the answer is almost certainly yes. Houston humidity and rain saturate brick and mortar, and waterproofing prevents the spalling and crown cracking we see on untreated chimneys across the city. We apply a vapor-permeable waterproofing sealant after repair or cleaning so the masonry can still breathe while keeping water out. Call (903) 961-6496 for a written quote.
A Level 1 inspection is a visual check of the accessible portions of your chimney and flue, done during every routine sweep. A Level 2 inspection adds a camera that travels the full flue length, checking liner joints, the cap, and the hidden interior for corrosion, cracks, and gaps. Houston has required a Houston Chimney Inspection before home sales since 2001, and we include a camera inspection with every Gelco cleaning because hidden liner corrosion is too common in this climate to skip it. Call (903) 961-6496 to schedule either level.
Service Areas Near Houston
We serve the entire Houston service area, including Pasadena, Missouri City, Friendswood, and the northern suburbs. If you are in Gelco service in Spring or Gelco service in Katy, we cover those areas too. The same written pricing, the same guarantee, and the same crew.
Book Your Gelco Service in Houston Today
Tell you the price first, explain the work second, put it in writing third, that’s the whole system. We answer the phone 24/7. Call (903) 961-6496 today for a free estimate on Gelco chimney cleaning in Houston, and we will get you scheduled. Same-day service is available in most of the Houston metro.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner at Ashby Chimney Houston, serving Houston since 2002.