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 Converse, TX | Kindling Chimney San Antonio
Gelco chimney cleaning in Converse typically runs between $189 and $329 for a standard sweep and inspection, and we complete most jobs the same week you call. What makes our Gelco work different here is that we’ve spent years tying what we find inside your flue to what Converse weather does to the outside of your chimney, especially hail. Kindling Chimney San Antonio is an independent Gelco service provider, not manufacturer-affiliated, and we serve every Converse neighborhood from Rocket Lane to the Windcrest-area subdivisions. Call (361) 491-3153 for a written quote before any work begins.
Why Converse Residents Choose Us for Gelco Service
Our Converse Chimney Sweep team has cleaned and inspected enough Gelco systems here to know how these chimneys age in this specific climate. Danny Cortes, our owner, came up through the trade at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and spent nearly two decades working chimneys across the Southwest before putting down roots serving San Antonio families. He still sketches flue conditions in a small notebook on every job so you can see what he sees, not just take a word for it. That habit matters when you have a Gelco prefab chimney that’s been sitting unused through a humid Converse summer, or a masonry Gelco flue that just took a hailstorm on the cap.
We also stock common aftermarket components that match or exceed Gelco specifications, because genuine Gelco parts are often hard to source for older Converse homes. That keeps turnaround fast when a cap needs replacing after a storm. Our Gelco sales & service customers in Converse get the same written price promise we give everyone: the number you see before we start is the number on the invoice.
Styles & brands we work with
Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Solve in Converse
- Hail-damaged Gelco caps with bent screens or perforated mesh. Converse thunderstorms throw hail hard enough to dent multi-flue caps and tear screen mesh. A damaged cap lets rain, birds, and embers through. We inspect every cap during a cleaning and flag impact damage before it becomes an attic leak.
- Hardened creosote buildup in Gelco flues after humid summers. When a fireplace sits unused for months in Converse’s hot, humid air, creosote doesn’t just sit there; it absorbs moisture and hardens into a glaze that’s harder to remove than fresh soot. Regular sweeping before burning season prevents this layer from building to dangerous levels.
- Cracked clay tile liners in older Gelco masonry installations. Many 1970s and 1980s ranch homes in Converse have original clay tile flue liners. Thermal cycling, where the liner expands when hot and contracts when cool, gradually cracks those tiles. Hail impact on the crown above can send moisture into those cracks and accelerate deterioration.
- Flashing leaks around Gelco chimneys where hail has displaced roofing material. Hail doesn’t just hit the cap. It can knock shingles loose around the chimney base and bend the flashing. Water then finds its way under the flashing and along the brick veneer, showing up as a ceiling stain weeks after the storm is forgotten.
- Pest intrusion during long idle stretches. Converse chimneys that go unused from spring through fall become nesting spots for squirrels, birds, and wasps. A capped, swept Gelco flue with an intact screen keeps the wildlife out. We clean out what the summer left behind before your first fire of the season.
Gelco Service in Converse: What Local Conditions Mean for Your Equipment
In the Windcrest-area subdivisions of Converse, Gelco chimney caps sit fully exposed on rooflines, often the highest metal point on the house. That exposure makes them the first thing hail finds. After a big storm, we see a seasonal spike in repair calls from this specific part of Converse, and the pattern is consistent: a Gelco cap with a bent screen, a few punctures through the mesh, and water already working its way under the flashing. Our crew was called to a home off Rocket Lane after one severe hailstorm. The Gelco multi-flue cap had a bent screen and several punctures. We confirmed impact damage during our Chimney Inspection in Converse, then replaced the cap with a heavy-gauge stainless unit and resealed the flashing. The homeowner avoided further leaks into the attic during the next rain. That’s not a generic chimney story; that’s what Converse hail does to a specific Gelco install, and it’s why we check caps on every cleaning even when the customer only called for a sweep.
Gelco Models & Products We Service in Converse
We work on Gelco masonry chimney systems with clay tile flue liners, Gelco stainless steel prefabricated chimney systems, Gelco factory-built fireplace units with air-cooled flues, and Gelco multi-flue chimney caps. For cleaning, the process differs between a masonry flue, which needs mechanical brushing with attention to tile joints, and a prefab air-cooled system, which requires gentler tools sized for the metal liner. We prioritize quality aftermarket components that match or exceed Gelco specs when parts are needed, and we recommend replacement only when repair would compromise safety or structural integrity. You’ll always get a clear cost-benefit comparison before deciding.
See the difference
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After
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After
Before
AfterGelco Service Pricing in Converse
Most standard Gelco chimney sweeps in Converse run between $189 and $329, with the final number depending on flue condition, cap type, and whether you need a Level 2 inspection after a hailstorm. Cap replacement typically adds $150 to $450 depending on the size and gauge of the replacement unit; flashing repair usually lands between $200 and $500. Every quote is written, delivered before work starts, and backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not right, we make it right. Call (361) 491-3153 for a free estimate and we’ll walk you through exactly what your Gelco chimney needs, with photos so you can see it yourself.
Serving Converse, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Converse 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 Converse
Hail directly impacts Gelco caps by bending screens, perforating mesh, and cracking the cap’s seams, which lets water into the flue and attic. Converse thunderstorms, especially in the Windcrest-area subdivisions where rooflines are exposed, cause a seasonal spike in these repairs. We inspect caps as part of every cleaning and recommend a Level 2 inspection after any hailstorm that left dents on your gutters or roof vents. Call (361) 491-3153 and we’ll check yours before the next rain finds the hole.
Humidity hardens creosote. When your Gelco flue sits unused through a Converse summer, the creosote left from last winter’s fires absorbs moisture and turns into a dense, glazed layer that’s harder to remove and burns hotter if ignited. The fix is a thorough mechanical sweep at the start of burning season, before that layer has another year to build. We’ll show you before and after photos of the flue so you can see what we removed.
Yes, in most cases we repair cracked clay tile liners rather than replacing them. For a 1980s Gelco masonry chimney in Converse, cracked tiles are common from decades of thermal cycling, and hail impact on the crown can accelerate the damage. We assess the extent of cracking with a camera inspection, then either resurface the damaged section with a professional-grade material like HeatShield or, when damage is too extensive, recommend a stainless liner. You’ll see the camera footage before any recommendation is made.
Close the damper, make sure the cap and screen are intact, and schedule a sweep before the first fire of the season. Converse summers leave chimneys idle for months, which invites pests and hardens creosote. A spring inspection catches any hail damage from storm season before it becomes a leak. Then one fall sweep gets you ready to burn safely. Call (361) 491-3153 to get on the schedule; fall slots in Converse fill quickly.
Yes, as long as the cap is sized correctly for the flue’s diameter and matches the draft characteristics of your Gelco prefab system. A poorly fitted or undersized cap can restrict airflow or trap condensation, so we take measurements and select a heavy-gauge stainless unit that fits the existing Gelco termination. Aftermarket caps often outperform older Gelco originals in hail resistance, which matters in Converse.
Service Areas Near Converse
Kindling Chimney San Antonio provides Gelco cleaning and repair across Converse and the surrounding communities. We regularly serve Converse service area homes, plus Gelco service in San Antonio customers from Alamo Heights to the Pearl district. Our crews also cover Gelco service in New Braunfels, Live Oak, and the subdivisions around Windcrest. If you’re not sure whether we cover your street, call and ask; a live person answers.
Book Your Gelco Service in Converse Today
If your Gelco chimney is due for a sweep, or you haven’t checked the cap since the last Converse hailstorm, call (361) 491-3153. We’ll give you a written price before any work starts, and we’ll show you exactly what we found when we’re done. Danny and the crew are ready to make sure your chimney is doing its quiet job. A clean flue is the quietest safety feature in your home, let’s make sure yours is doing its job.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner at Kindling Chimney San Antonio, serving Converse and the surrounding communities.