Chimney Inspection
Level 1 and camera inspections with a written 21 point report, for yearly checks, home sales and after a fire.
Inspection
Rochester chimney liners
Chimney Liner Installation in Rochester, NY
For chimney liner installation in Rochester, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep slides a UL-listed stainless liner down the flue you already have, or swaps out the cracked clay tile. Either way the smoke ends up outdoors, not in your walls.
A New Sleeve for an Old Chimney
Stainless liners and clay tile swaps, sized to what you burn
Contact UsPicture a stainless thermos slid inside a brick sleeve. That is a liner. The brick holds the weight and the liner carries the smoke. Without a sound one, heat and gas can leak through gaps in old clay tile and reach the wood framing around the chimney. The freeze-thaw cycles of a Rochester winter crack those tiles, and so do chimney fires. We look first with a camera, then tell you which fix fits the chimney and the budget. Sometimes that is a few new tiles. Sometimes it is a full stainless liner. Our two trucks handle about 85 liner jobs a year.
Chimney Liner Types and Options
Four ways to line a chimney, and a camera scan tells us which one you need
Stainless Steel Chimney Liners
A UL-listed stainless liner is the usual fix for a chimney with a wood stove, a fireplace insert or a bad clay flue. It goes in from the top, usually in a single day, and the stainless liner carries a lifetime warranty.
Insulated Liners
An insulated liner is wrapped so it stays warm, so smoke keeps rising and less creosote sticks to the walls. We recommend one for an exterior chimney on the north or lake side of a house, where the flue runs cold all winter.
Clay Flue Tile Replacement
If only a few tiles are cracked, taking them out and setting new ones costs a fraction of a full stainless liner. We pull the bad sections, set new tile and seal the joints so the flue is whole again.
Oil and Gas Liners
Furnaces and water heaters make acidic exhaust that eats a plain flue. A stainless liner built for oil or gas, in a tougher grade called 316Ti stainless, keeps that exhaust inside the pipe and out of the brick.
Chimney Liner Prices
- Clay flue tile replacement: $900 to $2,200
- Stainless liner, wood stove or insert: $1,800 to $3,600
- Insulated stainless liner: $2,800 to $4,800
- Oil or gas liner: $1,600 to $3,200
- Cap for the new liner: $200 to $450
Height, width and bends in the flue move the price more than anything else.
Every Liner Job Includes
- A camera scan of the flue before we quote
- A UL-listed liner sized to your appliance
- Lifetime warranty paperwork on stainless liners
- A stainless cap on top, matched to the liner
- A check of the draft with the stove or fireplace lit
- Photos of the work, before and after
How Much Does a Chimney Liner Cost in Rochester?
A chimney liner in Rochester costs $900 to $2,200 to replace cracked clay tile and $1,800 to $4,800 for a stainless steel liner, depending on height and insulation, in 2026. Taller chimneys and flues with bends cost more. Replacing a few tiles is the cheapest fix.
| Liner job | Typical chimney | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Clay tile replacement | Cracked tiles near the top | $900 to $2,200 |
| Stainless liner | One story, wood stove | $1,800 to $2,800 |
| Insulated stainless liner | Two story, insert | $2,800 to $4,800 |
| Oil or gas liner | Furnace or water heater flue | $1,600 to $3,200 |
We lined about 85 chimneys in the last year, and the camera scan changed the plan on roughly one in four. A homeowner called for a full stainless liner and walked away with three new tiles and a lot of money still in the bank. We would rather sell the smaller job. Joe, our lead mason, sets every clay tile himself.
Does a Chimney Need a Liner?
Yes, most chimneys need a working liner. It keeps heat and exhaust inside the flue and protects the brick and the wood framing nearby. A chimney with cracked tile, a new stove, an insert or a switch in fuel needs a liner check, and often a new liner, before you light anything.
Wood Stoves and Fireplace Inserts
A stove or insert needs a flue sized to its outlet. A wide old flue lets the smoke cool on the way up and drop tar on the walls, and the funnel above the damper fills with soot. The NYS Residential Code expects a flue matched to the appliance. We reline for the stove you already own and we leave stove sales to the stove stores. That is how we keep the advice honest.
Cracked or Missing Flue Tiles
Clay tile lasts a long time until water gets behind it. Then Rochester's freeze and thaw does the rest. A tile with a crack wide enough to see through is a leak for flame and gas. Our chimney inspection with the camera finds those before they matter.
A Change in Fuel
Switching from oil to gas, or from a furnace to a stove, changes the exhaust. Oil and gas exhaust is acidic and wears out a plain brick or clay flue. A liner made for that fuel is cheap protection compared with rebuilding a chimney. Look for the UL 1777 listing, which means the liner was tested to a safety standard. See our chimney rebuild page for what happens if it goes too far.
Stainless Steel or Clay Tile Liner
Stainless goes in faster and carries a lifetime warranty. Clay tile costs less when only part of a flue is bad, and it keeps the original look of the chimney. A good rule of thumb: if the damage is limited to a few tiles, we fix the tiles. If the flue is cracked top to bottom or you are adding an appliance, we line it in stainless. We also put on a chimney cap either way, because a new liner without a lid collects water.
We reline chimneys all over the east and west sides of Monroe County, including Greece, Brighton and Henrietta.
Questions we hear
Chimney Liner FAQs
Do I need a liner for a wood stove?
In almost every case, yes. A stove needs a flue sized to its outlet, and an old fireplace flue is usually far too wide. A liner keeps the smoke hot and moving, which cuts creosote and keeps exhaust out of the walls. We check the flue first and tell you straight.
How long does a chimney liner installation take?
Most stainless liner jobs take one day, including the cap and a draft test with the appliance running. Replacing a few clay tiles can take a day too, depending on the height. A tall chimney with several bends may need a second visit. We tell you the time when we quote.
How long does a stainless steel chimney liner last?
A UL-listed stainless liner lasts decades when the chimney is swept yearly and fed seasoned wood. Our stainless liners carry a lifetime warranty from the maker. The liner is rarely the part that fails. The cap, crown and brick around it are, which is why we check them too.
Can you replace just one cracked flue tile?
Often, yes. If the camera shows damage in one or two sections and the rest of the flue is sound, we can take out the bad tiles and set new ones. It costs far less than a new stainless liner. If the cracks run the full height, we will say so.
Our reviews
What Rochester Customers Say
We had a brown stain by the chimney every spring and two roofers blamed the shingles. Ron went up, took pictures of the crown and showed me the crack. New crown, dry ceiling, and he mentioned two cracked bricks before I asked.
Karen L.Crown repair · Irondequoit Bought a 1940s house in Brighton and the inspector said the chimney needed a closer look. They sent a camera down the flue the next week and gave us a report the bank wanted. We closed on schedule.
Matt & Priya S.Camera inspection · Brighton Our wood stove would not draw. They fitted a stainless liner and a new cap in one day, showed me how to burn it and haven't left a speck of soot on the carpet. First winter with no smoky smell.
Dan W.Liner and cap · Greece
Explore Our Other Services
Chimney Caps
Hy-C stainless caps with a lifetime guarantee and top-mount dampers that seal the flue tight.
CapsChimney Crown Repair
New fiber-reinforced or concrete crowns that keep meltwater out of the brick, with a guarantee on the work.
CrownsChimney Repointing
Old mortar joints removed and new mortar colored to match, so a crumbling chimney is solid again.
RepointingChimney Waterproofing
Chimney Saver breathable water repellent that slows freeze-thaw damage, with a 10 year guarantee.
WaterproofingChimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds to the roof line for chimneys that lean, crumble or have come apart.
RebuildsBook online in a minute
Smoke, Smell or a Wet Ceiling by the Chimney? Tell Us.
Leave your name, number and a line about your chimney. We call back within one business day, and often the same afternoon.
- Photos before any quote
- 21-point report after every visit
- Free quotes on repairs