Gas fireplace service
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repairLevel 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.
Why Hempstead Homeowners Choose DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning
Duraflex in Hempstead gets independent chimney cleaning, inspection, and repair service from Flint Chimney Co, working on DuraFlex AL 316Ti aluminum liners, SS 316L stainless steel liners, Pro series, and Smooth Wall systems. We’re a local crew that has pulled apart enough DuraFlex installations in Hempstead’s older masonry chimneys to know exactly where these liners fail and why. One thing up front: we are not affiliated with or authorized by DuraFlex. We’re an independent service provider, which means we tell you the truth about your liner without a manufacturer’s talking points in the room. Call (516) 559-6922 for a written estimate before any work begins.
Why Trust Flint Chimney Co Hempstead for Your DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning?
Hank Delano, our owner, learned the chimney trade at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before spending the better part of two decades running crews across Nassau County, including steady work in the Fulton neighborhood right here in Hempstead. He’s known for clean inspections and straight answers on liner condition, and he doesn’t quote work a chimney doesn’t actually need. That matters when you own a DuraFlex system, because not every chimney company in Hempstead knows the difference between a 316Ti aluminum liner and a 316L stainless one, or which one belongs on a high-efficiency gas appliance. We do. Our technicians work with DuraFlex products on a regular basis, handle OEM-compatible components, and follow warranty-safe practices so you’re not left holding a voided warranty because someone took a shortcut. We also put every repair in writing, guaranteed for a full year under our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If a covered repair fails within that year, we come back at no charge. The flue tells the truth. You just have to know how to read it.
Styles & brands we work with
Common DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning Problems We Fix in Hempstead
Hempstead’s older housing stock, particularly the pre-WWII colonials and cape cods in the village center, features short, wide chimney flues prone to creosote buildup when paired with modern high-efficiency appliances. DuraFlex liners installed in these older chimneys face specific stresses. Here’s what we actually find on service calls in Hempstead:
- Pinhole leaks in DuraFlex AL 316Ti aluminum liners. Aluminum liners are rated for gas appliances, but years of acidic condensate from high-efficiency gas units can eat through the metal. In Hempstead’s humid continental climate, condensation forms readily inside chimneys during cold, damp winters. We often find tiny pinholes just above the appliance connection where condensate pools. The fix is usually sectional replacement of the corroded length, not a full reline, unless the metal has thinned throughout.
- Corrosion at the seams of DuraFlex SS 316L stainless steel liners. Stainless handles wood exhaust better than aluminum, but when creosote accumulates at seam overlaps and traps moisture against the steel, corrosion starts. This shows up as rust staining at the seam lines, often in the upper third of the liner where flue gases cool. Regular DuraFlex cleaning removes the creosote before it holds moisture against the metal, which is why annual service matters in Hempstead’s damp, coastal-adjacent conditions.
- Crushed or ovalized DuraFlex liner sections. We see this in older Hempstead chimneys where the clay tile flue has shifted or where a previous installation was rushed. A liner that’s been crushed or squeezed into an oval shape restricts draft, which causes smoke to back up into the house and accelerates creosote deposits. Sometimes the damaged section can be pulled and replaced. Other times, if the host chimney is badly out of alignment, the entire liner needs to come out.
- Gaps at DuraFlex liner joints after thermal cycling. Every heating season, the liner expands as it heats and contracts as it cools. Over years, those cycles can work joints apart, especially if the original installer didn’t seat the sections fully. A gap at a joint lets exhaust leak into the chimney cavity, where it can find its way into the house. We seal or re-seat joints during inspection and cleaning, and we use a camera to verify the connection is tight.
- Creosote glaze on DuraFlex Smooth Wall liners. Smooth Wall liners are designed to reduce creosote adhesion, but they’re not foolproof. In Hempstead homes where residents burn wood daily in winter, especially with unseasoned wood, glaze still forms on the smooth surface. It’s harder to remove than loose soot and requires mechanical cleaning rather than a basic brush pass. Our creosote removal process is matched to the liner type, not the other way around.
DuraFlex Parts & Our Repair-vs-Replace Approach
We use genuine DuraFlex components when they’re available, including replacement liner sections, top plates, rain caps, and connectors. For out-of-production or discontinued DuraFlex parts, we source premium aftermarket liners, fittings, and caps that match the original specifications so the repair doesn’t create a new weak point. Here’s how we decide between repair and replacement: if the damage is isolated to a few feet of liner and the surrounding metal is still sound, we’ll replace just that section. On a colonial in Hempstead, our tech found a DuraFlex AL liner with a 2-inch rust-through just above the fireplace damper, where acidic condensate had pooled from the old gas logs. Because the surrounding liner was also thin, we pulled the entire corroded section, replaced it with a new DuraFlex AL segment, and resealed the top plate. The homeowner now gets a clean draft and no exhaust smell in the living room. When corrosion is widespread or the liner is compromised in multiple places, we recommend full replacement and tell you exactly why with camera footage in hand. Call (516) 559-6922 if you want an honest read on your liner.
Our DuraFlex Service Process – Step by Step
- 1
Diagnosis with a camera. We run a Level 2 inspection camera through your DuraFlex liner to document its condition: seam gaps, corrosion points, crush zones, creosote thickness. You see the footage. Nothing is recommended without visual evidence you can verify yourself.
- 2
Written price before work starts. We put the repair or cleaning scope in writing, including the exact DuraFlex or compatible aftermarket parts we’ll use. The number you approve is the number on the invoice. This applies to every service call, no exceptions.
- 3
Repair or cleaning. For cleaning, we match the creosote removal method to your liner type: mechanical brushing, rotary cleaning, or chemical treatment for glaze. For repairs, we remove damaged DuraFlex sections, install replacements to spec, and seal all connections.
- 4
Verification and testing. After the work, we run the camera again or perform a draft test to confirm the liner is clear, sealed, and pulling properly. You get a photo report of the finished work.
- 5
Written guarantee. Every repair carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise, valid for one full year from the service date. If a covered repair fails, we return at no charge.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterDuraFlex Products We Service & Install in Hempstead
We service and install the full range of DuraFlex liner products in Hempstead: DuraFlex AL 316Ti aluminum liners for gas appliances, DuraFlex SS 316L stainless steel liners for wood and pellet applications, DuraFlex Pro stainless steel liners for heavier-use systems, and DuraFlex Smooth Wall liners where reduced creosote adhesion matters. We also replace DuraFlex top plates, rain caps, and connectors. Our local stock covers common liner diameters and fittings used in Hempstead’s older masonry chimneys, which keeps turnaround fast when a section needs to come out. For less common sizes, we order direct and schedule the repair as soon as parts land.
We Also Service These Brands
DuraFlex is one of several professional-grade chimney liner brands we work with. We also service HeatShield and Gelco systems, along with components from Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. If your chimney has a mix of brands, which happens after years of piecemeal repairs, we can sort it out without confusion.
FAQs – DuraFlex Chimney Cleaning Service in Hempstead
No. We are an independent DuraFlex service provider in Hempstead, NY. We have years of hands-on experience installing, inspecting, and repairing DuraFlex liner systems across Nassau County homes, but we carry no manufacturer authorization and we don’t claim any. What you get is an unbiased opinion on whether your liner needs work.
No. DuraFlex AL 316Ti aluminum liners are rated for gas appliances only. Coal exhaust is too hot and too corrosive for aluminum, and using an AL liner on a coal-burning fireplace risks early failure and safety issues. You need a stainless steel liner, typically DuraFlex SS 316L or Pro series, for coal or wood. Call (516) 559-6922 if you’re unsure which liner you have and whether it’s matched to your fuel.
Rust near the top of a DuraFlex SS liner usually means condensation is collecting at the exposed upper section where cold outside air chills the metal. In Hempstead’s humid continental climate, with cold, damp winters and occasional nor’easters, that condensation is a regular problem. It can also signal a rain cap that’s missing or improperly fitted, letting water drip down onto the liner. We inspect that area closely during every Chimney Sweep and cap replacement.
A kink or sharp bend in a DuraFlex liner restricts draft, which causes creosote to build up faster, and creosote is the fire hazard. A restricted liner also sends exhaust back toward the house, which is a carbon monoxide risk. If you can see a kink or know the liner was crushed during installation, have it inspected. Sometimes a section can be straightened or replaced without a full reline. Call (516) 559-6922 to schedule a Level 2 inspection.
No. DuraFlex liner sections must be connected with the proper coupler or connector for the liner type and diameter. Connecting sections without a coupler, or with mismatched parts, leaves a gap at the joint that lets exhaust leak into the chimney cavity. We correct this on a lot of Hempstead jobs where someone tried a shortcut. Genuine DuraFlex connectors or matched aftermarket equivalents are the only safe way to join sections.
Daily wood burning through the winter means at least one inspection and one cleaning per year, and often two if you burn a full cord or more. Creosote develops faster in a liner used daily, and Hempstead’s damp air encourages the sticky, glazed creosote that adheres to liner walls. In older Hempstead homes with short, wide flues, we often see buildup requiring mid-season attention. Call (516) 559-6922 for a written estimate; we’ll tell you if your liner needs cleaning now or if it can safely wait.
A standard DuraFlex chimney cleaning in Hempstead typically runs $180 to $340, depending on liner length, creosote severity, and whether a camera inspection is included. Repairs are priced separately, always in writing before work starts. Call (516) 559-6922 for an exact quote on your system; estimates are free.
Book Your DuraFlex Service in Hempstead, NY
If you own a DuraFlex liner in Hempstead and want an honest look at its condition, call Flint Chimney Co Hempstead at (516) 559-6922. We’ll give you a written price before any work starts and back the repair with a one-year guarantee. No pressure. No vague answers. Just the facts from the camera and the flue.
Written by Hank Delano, Owner at Flint Chimney Co Hempstead, serving Hempstead and Nassau County since 2002.