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 Selma, TX | Hadley Chimney San Antonio
Our Selma Chimney Sweep services cover independent Gelco cleaning and repair across the area, from standard creosote removal to Level 2 inspections that catch what the naked eye misses. The one thing that makes our Gelco work here different is knowing how Selma’s Blackland Prairie clay soil and humid air attack factory-built chimney systems in ways a generic sweep crew won’t catch. A properly maintained Gelco chimney in Selma should be cleaned and inspected annually, especially on homes built after 2005 where direct-vent gas fireplaces dominate. Call (254) 276-4116 for a free estimate and we’ll give you a written price before any work starts.
Why Selma Residents Choose Us for Gelco Service
Gelco factory-built chimneys are common across Selma’s newer subdivisions, and we’ve spent years learning the specific ways these systems fail in this climate. Our crews can identify the exact stainless steel flue sections and support straps Gelco used in each model era. That matters when a pipe joint separates or an outer casing rusts through, because Chimney Repair in Selma depends on knowing which generation of Gelco parts you have.
Cory Mitchell, our owner, picked up his trade foundations at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and has spent the better part of two decades cleaning, inspecting, and repairing chimneys across the Southwest. He built a reputation for 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.
We’re an independent Gelco service provider, not manufacturer-authorized, which means we’ll tell you plainly when a part needs OEM replacement and when a code-approved aftermarket section does the job just as well. No upselling, no vague warnings. We’re also part of the Relay Home Co. family with access to industry-leading materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Famco, and Copperfield. Our Gelco sales & service background means we stock the common replacement sections Selma homes need most.
Styles & brands we work with
Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Solve in Selma
Here’s what we run into most often with Gelco systems in Selma homes:
- Rust-through on Gelco outer casings. Selma’s high humidity, combined with chase caps that don’t drain properly, accelerates rust on the outer jacket of Gelco air-cooled chimney sections. We replace the damaged section rather than just repainting, keeping the inner flue leg safe.
- Creosote glaze inside Gelco double-wall sections. Selma winters are mild, so many fireplaces never reach full operating temperature. That means creosote, the flammable tar buildup that makes chimneys a fire risk, sticks to the flue walls as a hardened glaze instead of burning off. This is the most common cleaning problem we see.
- Disconnected or loose Gelco flue pipe joints. Selma sits on the Blackland Prairie, and that clay soil shifts with moisture changes. When the ground moves, chimney chase framing moves with it, and Gelco pipe joints can pull apart. Exhaust back-puffing is a telltale sign.
- Warped Gelco support bands around the flue pipe. When a chase top flashing seal fails, rain gets onto the metal support bands and corrodes them. The bands warp, the pipe loses alignment, and the problem compounds.
- Gas smell in the chase. On direct-vent gas fireplaces in Selma, we regularly find rusted inner liners at the first and second flue joints. Heat and humidity combine to create a faint gas odor that homeowners often mistake for a supply line leak.
Gelco Service in Selma: What Local Conditions Mean for Your Equipment
Selma has more homes built after 2005 with Gelco direct-vent gas fireplaces than older San Antonio neighborhoods. That’s a real difference, not a guess. And because Selma sits on the Blackland Prairie with high clay content, our techs often find Gelco vent pipe joints that have shifted out of alignment from soil movement. A Level 2 camera inspection catches this faster than any visual check, because the camera sees inside the flue where the separation actually happens. We often see this in subdivisions like Retama Springs, where post-2005 construction meets expansive clay soils.
In the Retama Springs subdivision, our tech opened a Gelco 8-inch double-wall flue on a gas fireplace and found the inner liner rusted at the first and second joints, with a faint gas smell in the chase. We pulled the upper pipe sections, replaced the two rusted Gelco sections with same-spec 430 stainless and installed a new chase top pan with a high-wind cap, then checked the joints pulled back tight with a Level 2 camera after the swap. That’s the difference between a surface cleaning and a real service call.
Gelco Models & Products We Service in Selma
We service the full range of Gelco factory-built chimney systems found in Selma homes:
- Gelco 8-inch double-wall chimney – common on gas fireplaces in post-2005 builds
- Gelco 10-inch double-wall chimney – typical on larger prefab wood-burning units
- Gelco air-cooled chimney sections – where outer casing rust is the primary concern
- Gelco solid-pack insulated chimney sections – used on higher-efficiency systems where heat retention matters
We use OEM Gelco pipe sections and flue components when dimensions and fit demand exact factory spec. Otherwise, we offer code-approved aftermarket 430 stainless sections with the same wall thickness and listing. For Selma homeowners, this means faster turnaround because we stock common replacement sections locally rather than waiting on factory shipments.
See the difference
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After
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AfterGelco Service Pricing in Selma
Here’s what Selma homeowners can expect to pay for Gelco chimney work:
- Standard chimney sweep and inspection: $195 – $295 (includes creosote removal, flue brushing, and a basic visual check)
- Level 2 camera inspection (add-on or standalone): $150 – $250 (recommended for Selma homes on clay soil, or whenever a flue joint may have shifted)
- Gas fireplace service and cleaning: $145 – $225 (includes glass removal, burner cleaning, log placement check)
- Gelco pipe section replacement (per section, including labor): $180 – $400 (varies by diameter and access; rusted outer casings cost more than inner liner swaps)
- Chase top pan replacement with high-wind cap: $275 – $495 (we recommend this whenever original flashing has failed)
Every estimate includes a written price before work starts, and every repair carries a written guarantee and a free second visit if the repair fails within 365 days. Nothing is quoted until we’ve seen the actual condition of your Gelco system. Call (254) 276-4116 for an exact quote, estimates are free.
Serving Selma, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Selma 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 Selma
Selma’s humidity sits higher year-round than what you’d see in the Hill Country or West Texas, and that moisture settles inside Gelco flue sections whenever the fireplace sits unused. The outer casing on air-cooled sections holds condensation longer, and inner liners at flue joints are particularly vulnerable. We check for rust at the first and second joints on every Gelco service call in Selma. Call (254) 276-4116 to schedule an inspection.
Yes. Homes in Selma built during the 1990s often have Gelco 10-inch double-wall wood-burning prefab units, and we service those regularly. These systems tend to have heavier creosote buildup due to lower operating temperatures in mild winters, and the support bands are often compromised from years of Texas rain exposure. A full level 2 inspection will tell you what needs attention. Call (254) 276-4116 for a free estimate.
We run a Level 2 camera inspection through the flue, which shows exactly where Gelco pipe sections have pulled apart. On Selma’s clay-heavy Blackland Prairie soil, the chase and surrounding framing shift with moisture cycles, and that movement transfers to the chimney chase. A visual check from the top won’t catch a separation in the middle of the run, but the camera sees it immediately. Call (254) 276-4116 to book a Level 2 inspection.
If the rust is limited to the outer casing and the inner flue leg is still intact, we can replace just the damaged section rather than the whole pipe run. We use code-approved 430 stainless sections with the same wall thickness and listing. We’ll show you photos of exactly what we found before recommending a repair. Call (254) 276-4116 and we’ll give you a written price on the spot.
That smell usually comes from rust on the inner liner that heats up when the fireplace first fires after sitting unused. Selma’s humidity accelerates this, especially in direct-vent gas systems from the mid-2000s. The fix is replacing the rusted sections, not just cleaning. Call (254) 276-4116 for a camera inspection and we’ll confirm exactly what’s going on inside the flue.
Service Areas Near Selma
We serve Selma and the surrounding communities with the same Gelco expertise. That includes Selma service area, Gelco service in Timberwood Park, Gelco service in San Antonio, plus Kirby, Floresville, and Terrell Hills. If you’re in the broader San Antonio metro and own a Gelco factory-built chimney, we can help.
Book Your Gelco Service in Selma Today
If you own a Gelco chimney in Selma and it hasn’t been inspected in the last 12 months, now is the time. We’ll show up in a tracked window, document everything with photos, and give you a written price before we touch a single section of pipe. Call (254) 276-4116 to book your service, or ask for Cory Mitchell directly.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney San Antonio, serving Selma since 2003.