Flue relining
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
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.
Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement: The Orange County Owner’s Guide
Olympia Chimney flue liner replacement in Orange County typically runs between $900 and $1,800 installed, depending on liner diameter, chimney height, and whether we’re working from the roof or through the firebox. We stock Olympia Chimney-compatible stainless steel liners on the truck in the most common sizes, so most replacements are booked within a week, not a month. The way owners usually discover the liner has failed is not dramatic: a rust stain on the firebox floor, a metallic smell after rain, or flaking material the sweep pulls out during a routine inspection.
Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To
If your home has an Olympia Chimney fireplace or wood stove, the liner is what carries combustion gases from the appliance up through the flue and out the cap. Olympia Chimney manufactures both air-cooled and insulated chimney systems, so the first step is matching the liner diameter to the existing chimney pipe. Most Olympia Chimney systems used in Orange County homes fall into the 6-inch or 8-inch diameter range, but we have measured older installations that taper or use an odd transition at the firebox. The model label is usually on the chimney pipe itself, visible inside the attic or at the firestop where the pipe passes through the ceiling. If the label is gone, we take three measurements: inside diameter, outside diameter, and the length from the appliance collar to the first offset. That tells us whether you need a standard Olympia Chimney replacement liner or an aftermarket liner that is compatible with the existing system.
The OEM versus aftermarket decision matters here. An Olympia Chimney branded liner carries the manufacturer’s warranty, but an aftermarket liner from a trusted brand like DuraFlex can be more cost-effective and often lasts longer in coastal climates because of the stainless steel grade. For homes within five miles of the Orange County coast, we lean toward 316L stainless, which resists salt air corrosion better than standard 304. Danny Cortes and our crew have replaced enough liners near Huntington Beach and Newport Beach to know the difference in how they age. We are an independent service provider, so we are not tied to any single manufacturer; we recommend the liner that fits the appliance, the chimney height, and the air quality around the home.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing
- Rust flakes in the firebox. When the liner’s stainless or galvanized wall breaks down, small flakes fall down the flue and collect on the firebox floor. This is the most common early indicator we see in Orange County, especially in homes where the chimney cap has been missing for a season.
- Metallic or chemical smell after rain. Moisture enters the flue, sits against the liner’s inner wall, and accelerates corrosion. The smell that comes down into the room is the liner oxidizing, not creosote burning.
- White or gray staining on the chimney’s exterior masonry. Exhaust gases passing through a cracked liner push moisture through the brick or stucco. The efflorescence left behind is a structural symptom, not just a cosmetic one.
- Draft changes or smoke backing into the room. A liner that has buckled or separated no longer draws the way it did when it was new. The fireplace becomes sluggish, and the room may smell more strongly of the last fire.
- Liner pieces visible during a sweep. Our technicians sometimes pull out strips of liner material with the brush. That is the point where replacement stops being a recommendation and becomes the only safe option.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
For Orange County, a typical Olympia Chimney flue liner replacement runs between $900 and $1,800 installed. The spread comes down to three things: the liner diameter, how many feet of chimney we are working through, and whether the job can be done from the roof or requires working entirely from the firebox. A standard 6-inch liner in a single-story home near Irvine or Mission Viejo lands on the lower end; a two-story home with an 8-inch liner and a steep roof pitch near Laguna Beach lands higher. Every quote is a written price before work starts, no surprises at the door.
What is included: the liner itself, all connector and cap fittings, removal of the old liner, a full sweep of the flue before installation, and a camera inspection after the liner is in place so you can see the finished work. The job wraps with a photo of the clean-up, which is part of the Cedarwell Care Promise on every visit. The replacement is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work is not right, we make it right. Shoe covers and drop cloths go down before tools come out, so the room around the fireplace stays as clean as the firebox we leave behind.
DIY or Call Us?
There are a few things an owner can safely check. Shine a flashlight up the flue from the firebox and look for rust, peeling metal, or a gap at the connector. Check the chimney cap to see if it is still seated and whether the mesh is intact. Those two inspections will tell you whether it’s time for a closer look.
Replacing a flue liner is not a weekend project. The liner runs the full height of the chimney, and getting it seated correctly without binding or twisting requires working from the roof, a ladder, and the firebox at the same time. An incorrect bend or a connector that does not seal allows exhaust gas to escape inside the chimney chase. That is a carbon monoxide risk, and it is the reason we tell owners plainly: this one is not a DIY job. Call (831) 217-7981 and we will measure, price it, and schedule the swap. You will have a written number before any tools come off the truck.
FAQs
In Orange County’s climate, a stainless steel Olympia Chimney flue liner typically lasts 12 to 20 years, with coastal homes trending toward the shorter end because of salt air exposure. Draft changes, moisture, and how often the fireplace is used all shift that number. We check liner condition on every sweep, so you will know before it becomes urgent.
Small cracks can sometimes be addressed with a resurfacing product like HeatShield, but if the liner is rusted through, separated at a seam, or flaking material, replacement is the honest fix. We will show you the camera footage so you can see exactly what we are recommending and why.
Most Olympia Chimney flue liner replacements in Orange County take one day, with the crew arriving in the morning and finishing by late afternoon. Two-story homes or liners with multiple offsets may run into a second day, which we will tell you before scheduling.
We stock Olympia Chimney-compatible liners in 6-inch and 8-inch diameters, along with fittings from DuraFlex, Gelco, and HeatShield. That means most replacements are measured, priced, and scheduled quickly, without waiting weeks for a special order.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner, Kindling Chimney Orange County at Kindling Chimney Orange County, serving Orange County and nearby areas.