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 Inspection in Dallas: What to Know First
We inspect Gelco chimney systems across Dallas with a straightforward approach: a written price before we touch anything, a camera inspection you can watch, and a plain-spoken report of what’s actually wrong. Most Gelco inspections run between $189 and $349 depending on the level, and we’ll tell you the number up front. If you own a Gelco factory-built fireplace or chimney system and haven’t had it looked at in a while, call (361) 314-3193 and we’ll walk you through what to expect before we even book the truck.
This page is for Dallas homeowners who have a Gelco fireplace, Gelco chimney, or Gelco venting components and want an inspection they can trust, from a company that doesn’t sell work that isn’t there.
How Gelco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Gelco made factory-built chimney systems and components that show up in a lot of 1980s and 1990s homes around Dallas, especially in East Dallas, Richardson, and Garland. We see them often enough to know their repeat failure patterns. Here’s what we typically find:
- Gelco double-wall air-cooled chimney sections with separation at the flue joints. These chimneys rely on a precise air gap between the inner flue and outer casing. After decades of Dallas heat cycling, the sections can shift, especially at the mid-roof joint where the chimney passes through the attic. We verify joint integrity with a camera run, and when separation is caught early, we can reseat and secure the section rather than replace the whole run.
- Gelco moisture intrusion at the chimney chase top. Many Gelco installations used a galvanized chase pan that rusts out at the corners after 20-plus years of North Texas storms, then lets water run down inside the chase. By the time a homeowner sees staining on the ceiling, the chase interior has already been damp for a while. We inspect the chase top and flashing as part of every Gelco Level 2 inspection, not just the flue.
- Refractory panel cracking inside Gelco factory-built fireboxes. The firebox liners on older Gelco units are made of a refractory panel material that looks like cement board. It can develop hairline cracks from normal expansion, but larger cracks that expose the metal shell are a sign the unit needs a closer look. We photograph these cracks during the inspection so you can see exactly what we mean before any repair is suggested.
- Gelco termination caps with damaged spark screens. The cap on a Gelco chimney is the first thing the weather hits, and Dallas hailstorms are rough on spark screens. Once the screen is torn or missing, you can get birds building inside the flue, and in the spring we see that a lot. Cap replacement is usually quick and the parts are readily available.
- Listed clearances compromised by later renovation work. This one isn’t Gelco’s fault, but it’s a pattern in Dallas. An older home gets a remodel, sheetrock is added, a built-in goes in around the fireplace, and suddenly the original clearances required for a Gelco factory-built system are no longer met. We check clearances against the Gelco listing plate, which is still on many of these units, and tell you plainly what’s safe and what needs correction.
Styles & brands we work with





Our Gelco Chimney Inspection Process
Every Gelco inspection we do in Dallas follows the same steps, so you’ll know exactly what’s happening and why:
- 1
You call (361) 314-3193, a live person answers. We schedule a day that works, and we give you a real arrival window. No call center, no voicemail loop.
- 2
We arrive, look, and quote the inspection price in writing. Before we open a tool bag, you have the number. If the inspection leads to repair work later, that price also comes in writing before any work begins.
- 3
We locate and read the Gelco listing plate. This tells us the model, the clearance requirements, and what the system was tested for. If the plate is missing, we’ll note that in the report.
- 4
Camera inspection of the full flue from top to bottom. We don’t rely on a flashlight and a mirror. You can watch the screen with us if you like, and we record images for the report.
- 5
Complete Level 1 or Level 2 inspection per the current NFPA 211 standard. For real estate transactions or after a weather event, a Level 2 is usually what’s required for a Gelco system in Dallas.
- 6
Written findings, plain-Dallas-English explanation, and a written quote for anything we recommend. If it can wait, we’ll say so. If it can’t, you’ll see the reason in the camera images, not just our word for it.
See the difference
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AfterWhat Gelco Chimney Inspection Costs in Dallas
Here’s the price honesty we lead with, because that’s the whole point of how we work:
| Service | Typical Dallas Price Range | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 inspection (fireplace, no changes, no issues) | $189 – $249 | Visual check, flue camera run, written report |
| Level 2 inspection (real estate, storm damage, system changes) | $299 – $349 | Full camera inspection, attic and chase access, photo report |
| Level 3 inspection (hidden damage suspected) | Quoted per job | Requires component removal; priced in writing before work begins |
| Gelco termination cap replacement | $120 – $300 | Parts and labor, written guarantee |
| Refractory panel repair or replacement | $350 – $900 | Done with materials from recognized chimney-trade suppliers |
What moves the price on a Gelco inspection in Dallas is mostly access: roof pitch, chase height, and whether the inspection is a standard Level 1 or a full Level 2 with attic access. Second stories and steep pitches add time, and we’ll tell you that before we start. Call (361) 314-3193 for an exact quote. Estimates are free.
Why Dallas Homeowners Call Ashby Chimney Dallas for Gelco Work
Because a lot of them already tried the other route: a company that never showed up, or a quote that doubled after the technician got on the roof. We’re built differently, and Nathan Corliss runs this Dallas shop with that in mind. The Kingswell Guarantee sits behind every Gelco inspection and repair we do, and it means what it says: written price before any work begins, written guarantee on every repair, and if a covered repair fails, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise. We also stock and source professional-grade materials from established chimney-trade brands including DuraFlex and HeatShield alongside Gelco components, so if your Gelco system needs a liner section, a cap, or a refractory panel, we’re not running to the hardware store hoping something fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, because the parts that fail on a Gelco system are usually the parts you can’t see from your living room. Flue joint separation, chase pan rust, spark screen damage after hail, and refractory panel cracking all happen out of sight. A camera inspection catches them before they become a chimney fire or a water damage problem. If you’re not sure when your last inspection was, it’s time. Call (361) 314-3193, and we’ll give you a straight answer about what level of inspection makes sense for your home.
Once a year, per the NFPA 211 standard we follow, and the same guidance applies to every brand we work on in Dallas. If your Gelco fireplace sees regular use from October through February, the annual rhythm matters even more. For real estate transactions, a Level 2 inspection is what most Dallas inspectors and lenders want to see on a Gelco factory-built fireplace.
Often, yes. Common Gelco components like termination caps, refractory panels, and chimney sections are still available through chimney-trade suppliers, and we keep a stock of the ones we install most across Dallas. For parts that are no longer manufactured, we’ll explain your options honestly, and that sometimes means a DuraFlex or HeatShield component that meets the same safety standard. We won’t install something that doesn’t belong on your system just to close a ticket.
Not necessarily. Hairline surface cracks in Gelco refractory panels are often cosmetic, and we’ll tell you when that’s the case. But cracks that go through the panel, expose the metal firebox shell, or let heat reach framing materials are a different story, and that’s a repair we’ll recommend doing before you burn again. The camera images will show you exactly what we’re seeing. Call (361) 314-3193 for a precise quote on the repair.
We are an independent Gelco service provider, not an authorized dealer or warranty center. That means we work for you, not for a manufacturer’s quota. We install and service Gelco components to the proper listing requirements, we use the right parts, and our written guarantee is ours. Nathan puts it the same way every time: “Tell you the price first, do the work right, put it in writing – that’s the whole job.”
If you own a Gelco fireplace or chimney in Dallas and you want an inspection from a company that answers the phone, shows up when it said it would, and puts the price in writing before the work starts, call Ashby Chimney Dallas at (361) 314-3193. We’ll schedule the inspection, answer your questions in plain English, and treat your home the way we’d treat our own.
Written by Nathan Corliss, Owner, Ashby Chimney Dallas at Ashby Chimney Dallas, serving Dallas and nearby areas.