Masonry repair
Sweep & inspection
Caps & crownsLevel 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.
Famco Gas Fireplace Repair in Yonkers: What to Know First
Hadley Chimney Yonkers provides independent Famco gas fireplace repair across Yonkers, NY, with most jobs completed same-day or next-day depending on parts. A typical Famco gas fireplace repair in Yonkers runs $145 – $395 for common failures like thermocouples, gas valves, pilot assemblies, and igniters, with a written quote before any work starts. If you’re a Famco owner in Yonkers whose fireplace won’t light, won’t stay lit, or flames look weak and yellow, this page tells you what’s actually wrong, what it costs, and how we fix it. Call (914) 233-3156 and a live person answers, 24/7.
Key Takeaways
- We’re an independent Famco service provider, not a manufacturer warranty center. That means we diagnose first and quote honestly, not by a corporate script.
- Most Famco repair calls in Yonkers are fixed in one visit. Common failures include faulty millivolt thermopiles, dirty pilot orifices, and seized gas control knobs.
- Every repair comes with a written 365-Day Done Right Promise and a free second visit if it fails.
- You’ll get a photo report from inside the firebox, a digital invoice you can pay from a link, and a live arrival window, not a four-hour guess.
How Famco Products Fail – and How We Fix Them
Famco has been making gas fireplace components and hearth products for decades, and the brand shows up regularly in Yonkers homes built from the 1990s through the 2010s. Through hundreds of local service calls, our techs see the same few Famco-specific failure patterns repeat. Here’s what actually fails, why it happens, and what we do about it.
- Millivolt thermopile output dropping on Famco vented log sets. Famco vented sets run on millivolt systems, meaning the pilot flame generates just enough electricity to hold the gas valve open. When the thermopile gets coated with carbon or simply ages past its useful life, the fireplace lights and then shuts off after a few minutes. Yonkers homes near the Hudson see more of this than drier inland areas because seasonal humidity accelerates carbon buildup on the pilot assembly. We test millivolt output with a multimeter, replace the thermopile with an OEM-spec part, and confirm the pilot flame is wrapping the probe correctly before we call it done.
- Pilot orifices clogging on Famco vent-free models. The pilot orifice on a Famco vent-free unit is tiny, roughly the diameter of a sewing needle. Dust, pet hair, and the fine airborne sediment common in older Yonkers homes with steam radiators get pulled into the pilot assembly and restrict gas flow. Symptoms: the pilot lights but the main burner won’t, or the pilot flame looks small and blue-white instead of its normal shape. We remove the pilot assembly, clean the orifice with proper gas-rated tools (never poking it with wire, which scores the opening), and reinstall with new gaskets so the unit seals correctly.
- Gas control knob seizure on aging Famco freestanding stoves. Famco freestanding gas stoves from the late 1990s and early 2000s often develop a seized or stiff gas control knob where it meets the valve stem. The knob is plastic, the stem is brass, and years of thermal cycling plus cooking residue cause binding. If a homeowner forces it, the knob cracks, and now you need a replacement that isn’t always readily available. We replace with either an OEM knob if it’s still in supply, or a machined aftermarket equivalent that fits the valve stem without play. This is a case where calling us before the knob breaks saves money and time.
- ODS pilot assemblies failing on Famco vent-free fireplaces. The Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) is the safety device that shuts off gas if oxygen levels in the room drop. On Famco vent-free fireplaces, the ODS thermocouple tends to fail in a specific way: the unit will light but the main burner won’t stay on, even though the pilot looks fine. We diagnose this by testing ODS thermocouple output under load. It usually reads in range at first and then drops off as it heats up, which is why a quick “it lit for me” test from another contractor doesn’t catch it. We replace the entire ODS pilot assembly rather than just the thermocouple, because the parts wear together and a piecemeal fix doesn’t last.
- Vent termination blockages on direct-vent Famco units in Yonkers. Yonkers has thousands of row houses, attached duplexes, and older single-family homes where famco direct-vent fireplaces terminate through a side wall rather than the roof. What our techs find in sidewall vent terminations here: wasp nests inside the cap, leaves packed behind the louver, and in a few Greystone and Bryn Mawr Park homes, actual acorns from squirrels treating the vent as a pantry. A blocked termination causes the fireplace to struggle, produce soot, or trip the safety spill switch. We clear the termination, inspect the vent run for blockages, and test the safety switches before wrapping up.
One more note for Famco owners: we see plenty of units where the original installer used non-Famco venting to save a few dollars. Mixing venting brands is a known problem in this trade, and on Famco direct-vent units, mismatched vent sections can separate at the joints over time. We inspect the full vent run visually and with a camera when needed, and we replace mismatched sections with the correct components. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t call attention to itself until carbon monoxide or moisture does.
Independent Service, Not a Famco Dealer
We want to be clear: Hadley Chimney Yonkers is an independent Famco service provider. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Famco, and calling us doesn’t void a Famco manufacturer warranty. What it does mean is that we make repair decisions based on what’s right for your fireplace, not on a manufacturer policy or a parts quota. Sometimes the right fix is an OEM Famco part. Sometimes an aftermarket equivalent is better value and just as reliable. We’ll show you the difference with pricing and let you decide.
Styles & brands we work with



Our Famco Gas Fireplace Repair Process
Here’s what happens when you book a Famco gas fireplace repair with us in Yonkers, step by step. We designed this process to remove the two things that drive Yonkers homeowners crazy: uncertainty about who’s showing up and uncertainty about what the repair will cost.
- 1
You call (914) 233-3156. A live person answers, any hour, any day. You describe the symptom: won’t light, won’t stay lit, weak flame, smells like gas, makes noise. We book a visit in a tracked window, and your tech’s name and photo are attached to the appointment.
- 2
Your tech arrives in the window. We send a text with live arrival tracking, so you know when we’re pulling up. Our techs are background-checked and uniformed, and they bring floor protection and a vacuum with HEPA filtration because gas fireplace work kicks up dust.
- 3
Diagnostic teardown. The tech removes the glass and logs (taking reference photos as they go so everything goes back exactly right), then runs through a systematic diagnostic: gas pressure test at the valve, thermopile and thermocouple millivolt checks, pilot inspection, ODS test if it’s a vent-free unit, and vent termination check on direct-vent models.
- 4
Written quote with photographic evidence. You see the problem in photos. Our tech points to the failed part on their tablet screen and gives you a written price for the repair before any repair work starts. No handshake deals, no surprise charges at the door.
- 5
The repair itself. Most Famco gas fireplace repairs are done same visit because we carry common parts: thermocouples, thermopiles, pilot assemblies, gas valves, igniters, and gas control knobs. If it’s a less common part, we order it and get you back on the schedule quickly.
- 6
Post-repair test and photo report. We run the fireplace through its full startup and shutdown cycle, test all safety switches, check gas pressure at the manifold, and take final photos so you can see the work. You get a link to review everything, plus a digital invoice you can pay from your phone.
Every Famco gas fireplace repair in Yonkers includes the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the repair fails within a year, we come back and make it right at no charge. That’s a written guarantee, not a verbal one.
See the difference
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After
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AfterWhat Famco Gas Fireplace Repair Costs in Yonkers
We quote every job in writing before work starts, but here’s what you should expect to pay for common Famco gas fireplace repairs in the Yonkers area, based on our 2024 and 2025 job history.
| Repair Type | Typical Cost in Yonkers |
|---|---|
| Thermocouple replacement (vented & vent-free) | $145 – $225 |
| Thermopile replacement | $175 – $280 |
| ODS pilot assembly replacement | $210 – $350 |
| Gas control valve replacement | $275 – $495 |
| Igniter / control module replacement | $165 – $345 |
| Diagnostic visit (applied toward repair) | $89 – $125 |
What moves the price: OEM vs. aftermarket parts, how difficult the unit is to access, and whether we’re replacing one component or several that have worn together. Vent-free units tend to run slightly higher on ODS repairs because the whole pilot assembly is typically replaced, not pieced together. Direct-vent units sometimes need vent work if we find a blockage or separation, and we’ll quote that separately with photos. The diagnostic visit fee is applied toward the repair if you proceed. Call (914) 233-3156 for an exact quote. Estimates are free.
Why Yonkers Homeowners Call Hadley Chimney Yonkers for Famco Work
We’ve been doing chimney and hearth work since 2003, and our crew has seen plenty of Famco fireplaces in Yonkers homes, from the older housing stock near McLean Avenue to the mid-century ranches in Lincoln Park and the newer construction up near Ridge Hill. The reason Yonkers homeowners keep calling us for Famco repair is simple: we show you what we find.
Every Famco job we do includes before-and-after photos from inside the firebox, a written quote before work starts, and a 365-day written guarantee on the repair. That’s The Relay Visibility Guarantee, and it applies to every visit, not just big-ticket ones. We’re part of the Relay Home Co. family, and we’re held to The Relay Standard on every job.
Being a multi-brand shop helps too. If your Famco unit needs a flexible liner section, we work with DuraFlex. If the firebox has cracks that need ceramic compound repair, we use HeatShield. If the pilot assembly needs replacement seals we don’t trust from the generic bin, we use Gelco. Knowing what part goes where, and why, is the difference between a repair that lasts one season and one that lasts a decade.
As Cory Mitchell says: “If I wouldn’t leave it on my own fireplace, I’m not leaving it on yours.”
FAQs
No. Hadley Chimney Yonkers is an independent Famco service provider, and contracting with us does not void a Famco manufacturer warranty. If your unit is still under Famco’s warranty, we can help you determine what’s covered before you spend money out of pocket. If a repair is a better fit outside the warranty, we’ll tell you that plainly. Call (914) 233-3156 and we’ll walk through it with you.
Most Famco gas fireplace repairs in Yonkers are completed same-day or next-day. We stock common Famco-compatible parts like thermocouples, thermopiles, ODS pilot assemblies, and ignition modules. If the part isn’t on the truck or in our local supply, we order it and schedule the repair typically within three to five business days. Call (914) 233-3156 to get a realistic timeframe for your specific issue.
We use both, and the choice is yours. When a genuine Famco part is still in production and the price difference is reasonable, we quote OEM first. When an OEM part is discontinued or marked up heavily, we source quality aftermarket equivalents from suppliers we’ve worked with for years, brands like Gelco for pilot assemblies and seal kits. We’ll show you both options with pricing and let you choose. Call (914) 233-3156 to find out what’s available for your model.
If the repair is under $500 and the unit is otherwise in good condition, repair usually makes financial sense. If your Famco unit needs a new gas valve, new ODS pilot, a new burner, and the firebox is cracked, replacement starts making more sense. We never pad the repair bill to push you toward replacement, and we never upsell you into a new unit you don’t need. Our techs will give you the repair price, the honest expected lifespan of the unit, and let you decide. Call (914) 233-3156 for a straight answer.
No. If the pilot won’t stay lit, something in the safety circuit is not working correctly, and continuing to use the unit by manually holding the knob or relighting repeatedly bypasses the exact safeties built into your Famco fireplace. The risk is gas buildup, which is a serious hazard. This is one of those cases where a $200 thermopile replacement prevents a much bigger problem. Call (914) 233-3156 and we’ll get a tech out to diagnose it properly.
Yes. Most of the Famco gas fireplaces we repair in Yonkers were installed by other companies or by the original builder. We service all brands and all installs, including Famco units that have been in the home for 20-plus years. If we find installation issues like mismatched venting or improper clearance, we’ll document them with photos and give you a written quote to correct them. Call (914) 233-3156 to book a diagnostic visit.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner, Hadley Chimney Yonkers at Hadley Chimney Yonkers, serving Yonkers and nearby areas.