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 San Antonio Homeowners Choose Gelco Chimney Cleaning
We provide independent Gelco in San Antonio chimney cleaning service, and we see the same Gelco models repeatedly: stainless steel rigid liners, clay tile flues, multi-flue caps, and top-mount dampers. That repetition means we diagnose problems faster because we know exactly where these components fail in this climate. We are not authorized by or affiliated with Gelco, and we won’t pretend otherwise. What we do bring is years of hands-on experience pulling, inspecting, and repairing Gelco systems across San Antonio, from Monte Vista’s decorative brick chimneys to Stone Oak’s newer builds. Call (254) 276-4116 for an honest assessment of your Gelco chimney.
Why Trust Hadley Chimney San Antonio for Your Gelco Chimney Cleaning?
We’re an independent Gelco service provider, not a factory warranty center. That means we tell you what’s actually wrong with your chimney, not what the manufacturer’s generic troubleshooting guide says might be wrong. Cory Mitchell, owner at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, started his trade training at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and spent the better part of two decades cleaning and repairing chimneys across the Southwest before putting down roots in San Antonio. He built this company on a simple habit: texting customers a photo of exactly what he found before quoting a single dollar. “See the problem, understand the fix, then decide – that’s how it should work.”
Our techs know Gelco’s stainless steel liners and clay tile flues well enough to spot a hairline crack near the firebox connection or a damper hinge corroding from South Texas humidity. We use OEM Gelco parts when they’re available because that’s what the system was designed around. When OEM is backordered or discontinued, we’ll tell you that openly and use a quality aftermarket equivalent only with your sign-off. Every repair comes with a written 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it fails within a year, we come back and fix it free. And before any brush touches your flue, you’ll have a written price and live arrival tracking through The Relay Visibility Guarantee.
Styles & brands we work with
Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Fix in San Antonio
- Creosote buildup inside Gelco stainless steel rigid liners. San Antonio’s humid winters push people toward occasional, low-temperature fires. Those smoldering burns produce wet, sticky creosote (the flammable tar-like residue that clings to your liner walls). Gelco’s smooth stainless steel resists buildup better than corrugated liner, but it still accumulates. We remove it with mechanical brushes sized to your liner’s exact diameter.
- Cracked or spalled Gelco clay tile flue liners. Clay tiles crack when heat hits them unevenly. San Antonio’s sudden cold snaps after warm afternoons create thermal shock, and a cracked tile isn’t something to ignore. Once the flue liner cracks, heat and gases can reach the chimney’s masonry structure. We inspect every tile during a Level 1 inspection and show you photos of any damage.
- Rust-through at the Gelco cap mesh or base. This one surprises homeowners. Gelco caps are built durable, but gas log systems produce acid-laden condensation that eats through the mesh and the cap base over time. It looks like rust, and once the mesh fails, birds and bats move in. We replace caps regularly in San Antonio homes with vented gas logs.
- Damper hinge corrosion on Gelco top-mount dampers. South Texas humidity is relentless. The cast or stainless hinges on Gelco top-mount dampers seize up, leaving the damper stuck open (drafting heat out all summer) or stuck shut (filling the house with smoke on first fire). We repair or replace the damper assembly and reseal the top of the flue.
- Wind-driven rain intrusion past Gelco caps during severe storms. San Antonio gets thunderstorms that push rain sideways. A Gelco cap that’s slightly undersized for the flue opening, or one that’s worked loose from the crown, lets water pool inside the smoke chamber. We check the cap’s fit, the crown seal, and the flashing during every sweep.
Gelco Parts & Our Repair-vs-Replace Approach
We’d rather install a genuine Gelco liner or cap than a generic equivalent, and that’s our default. Gelco parts are manufactured to fit together, and mixing OEM and aftermarket components sometimes creates tolerance gaps that leak or bind. But we’re also honest about lead times. If a Gelco part is backordered for six weeks and your cap mesh is gone, we’ll show you a comparable aftermarket option, give you the price difference, and let you decide. No pressure, no upsell.
For cracked clay tile flue liners or severe corrosion in a stainless liner, patching rarely holds here. San Antonio’s freeze-thaw cycles in the Hill Country north of Loop 1604 and the persistent humidity inside the flue from gas appliances both work against any patch. We recommend replacement when the structural integrity is compromised. If a repair can safely wait a season, we’ll tell you that plainly. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll walk you through what you actually need versus what can wait.
Our Gelco Service Process – Step by Step
- 1
Diagnosis. We start with a visual inspection inside and out. For Gelco systems, that means checking the cap mesh, damper operation, liner surface, and the firebox connection point. You get photos of everything before we quote a dollar.
- 2
Cleaning or repair. If it’s a sweep, we use brushes sized to your Gelco liner’s diameter and capture the creosote at the fireplace opening with a HEPA vacuum running the whole time. If it’s a repair, we use OEM Gelco parts where available and show you the part before install.
- 3
Test. After any repair or cleaning, we check the draft. A smoke test at the firebox tells us if the flue is pulling properly. For dampers, we cycle them open and shut three times to confirm the hinge moves freely.
- 4
Warranty. Every repair carries a written guarantee and a free second visit if it fails within 365 days. The written price you received before work started is the price you pay, and the invoice arrives digitally with before-and-after photos attached.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterGelco Products We Service & Install in San Antonio
Our San Antonio techs work on Gelco Stainless Steel Rigid Chimney Liners in both round and oval profiles, Gelco Clay Tile Flue Liners in standard and custom sizes, Gelco Multi-Flue Chimney Caps for homes with two or more flues sharing one crown, and Gelco Top-Mount Dampers in both cable-operated and manual configurations. We keep common Gelco cap sizes and damper assemblies stocked in San Antonio for faster turnaround. Less common Gelco liner sections are ordered direct and typically arrive within a week, weather and distributor depending.
We Also Service These Brands
We’re not a one-brand shop. Our techs also install and service DuraFlex flexible liner systems and HeatShield ceramic repair compound, which means when a Gelco liner isn’t the right fit for your specific chimney, we have other quality options to recommend rather than forcing a square peg into a round flue.
FAQs – Gelco Chimney Cleaning Service in San Antonio
No, we’re an independent Gelco service provider, not a factory-authorized dealer or warranty center. What that means for you: we’re free to tell you when a part is backordered, when an aftermarket equivalent is just as good, or when a repair isn’t worth the money. We won’t push you toward a Gelco replacement just because the brand says so.
Yes, as our default. For Gelco liners and caps, we prefer genuine parts because they’re manufactured to match the system’s tolerances. When a Gelco part is discontinued or backordered, we’ll show you the aftermarket option and let you choose. Nothing gets installed without your signed approval and a written price.
A standard Gelco chimney cleaning runs one to two hours, including setup, sweeping, and the Level 1 inspection with photos. Cap replacements run similar time. Damper replacements and liner section repairs are usually half-day jobs. You’ll get a specific arrival window with live tracking through The Relay Visibility Guarantee, so you’re not waiting around on a four-hour guess. Call (254) 276-4116 for a time estimate on your specific Gelco system.
We service Gelco Stainless Steel Rigid Chimney Liners, Gelco Clay Tile Flue Liners, Gelco Multi-Flue Chimney Caps, and Gelco Top-Mount Dampers. That covers the vast majority of Gelco systems installed in San Antonio homes, from central neighborhoods like Monte Vista to newer subdivisions north of Loop 1604.
The straightforward answer is no, not from us. We follow Gelco’s installation and maintenance specs for every job. But if you have an active Gelco warranty, we’ll tell you to contact the manufacturer directly for any part that may still be covered, and we’ll document the condition with photos you can submit. We’re not a warranty center, but we won’t do anything that jeopardizes a claim you’re entitled to.
Once a year, even if you rarely use the fireplace. San Antonio’s humidity accelerates creosote hardening inside the liner, and gas logs produce acidic condensation that corrodes cap mesh and damper components even when no wood is burned. A yearly our Chimney Sweep services and inspection catches these issues before they become expensive repairs. If you burn more than twice a week during the cooler months, consider a second sweep mid-season. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll assess your specific usage pattern.
Sometimes, depending on the crack’s location and severity. Small surface cracks in the upper flue tiles can sometimes be resurfaced. But cracks near the firebox or in multiple tiles usually mean liner replacement, not patching. Patching a structurally compromised clay liner in San Antonio’s weather rarely lasts a year. We’ll show you the camera images and explain what’s safe.
“Stainless” doesn’t mean rust-proof, especially against the acid-laden condensation that vented gas logs produce. That condensation sits on the cap mesh and base, and over a few San Antonio summers, it eats through. It’s a known issue with any stainless cap on a gas system, Gelco included. The fix is replacing the cap and, when possible, adjusting the gas log’s air shutter to lean the burn slightly hotter.
Yes. We repair the cable mechanism, replace the hinge assembly, or install a full new Gelco damper depending on what’s seized. Stuck open dampers draft your conditioned air out all summer, and stuck shut dampers push smoke into the house on first fire. Both are fixable same-day in most San Antonio homes.
Yes, and we do this regularly after San Antonio’s severe thunderstorm season. We measure the flue openings, check the crown condition, and order a custom Gelco multi-flue cap that fits precisely and covers both flue openings with the proper mesh sizing. Stock caps often underhang the flue, which is how wind-driven rain gets inside in the first place.
Book Your Gelco Service in San Antonio, TX
If your Gelco chimney needs a cleaning, an inspection, or a repair, call (254) 276-4116. A live person answers, day or night, and you’ll get a written price before any work begins. We serve all of San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country communities.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, serving San Antonio since 2003.