Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement Nationwide

Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement: The Tacoma Owner’s Guide

We stock and install Olympia Chimney-compatible flue liner replacement in Tacoma, with most jobs running $2,800-$4,600 installed depending on flue height, diameter, and whether the existing liner is fully extracted or collapsed in place. Our crews carry Olympia Chimney liner inventory on the truck for standard sizes, and we can usually inspect, quote, and schedule replacement within 48 hours. Most Tacoma homeowners discover their liner has failed during a routine sweep when the camera reveals cracked terra cotta, corrosion holes, or a liner that’s slipped its top connection and is venting into the chimney chase.

Call (253) 447-5982

Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To

Olympia Chimney manufactures stainless steel flexible liners, rigid liner sections, and connector kits under several product lines, and the right replacement depends on what was originally installed. The Olympia Flex series uses 316Ti stainless in .006″ and .010″ wall thicknesses, while their rigid systems are typically 304 or 316 stainless with proprietary twist-lock seams. We see the Flex 5.5″ and 6″ diameters most often in Tacoma’s 1920s-1950s bungalows and mid-century ramblers, where the original clay flue was never meant for today’s gas-insert retrofits.

To identify your liner, check the top termination for an Olympia Chimney stamp or part number, or measure the liner diameter with a tape measure and note whether it’s corrugated flexible or smooth rigid pipe. The wall thickness matters: .006″ flex is rated for wood-burning appliances, while .010″ or rigid is required for pellet and some oil installations under Washington State code. We’re not affiliated with Olympia Chimney; we’re an independent service provider who sources their materials through Haven’s buying network alongside DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco to keep pricing honest.

One compatibility gotcha we run into in Tacoma: some older Olympia installations used a proprietary top plate with a smaller collar diameter than current standards. If your top plate is original, the new liner may need an adapter or full termination replacement to maintain proper clearances to combustibles.

Signs Your Olympia Chimney Flue Liner Replacement Is Failing

• White efflorescence or rust staining on the exterior brick. This means moisture and combustion gases are escaping through liner cracks or joint separations, condensing in the chimney chase and leaching salts through the masonry. In Tacoma’s wet winters, this accelerates spalling and freeze-thaw damage.
• Smoke or odor in the house during operation, especially on windy days. A liner that’s slipped from its top connection or developed a split near the smoke chamber is drafting poorly, allowing back-puffing into living spaces. The camera usually shows a gap of several inches where the liner should seat into the appliance connector.
• Chunks of clay or metal flakes in the firebox or cleanout. Terra cotta flues shed pieces as they deteriorate; stainless liners flake corrosion product when the 316Ti protective layer has been compromised by sustained moisture or acidic condensate. Either way, material is leaving the flue and entering your breathing space.
• Visible gaps or daylight through the liner wall during camera inspection. These are through-holes, and they mean combustion gases are venting into the chimney structure rather than up and out. Carbon monoxide risk is real here, and this condition is why we flag liner failure as a safety repair, not a maintenance deferral.
• The appliance “never worked right” since installation. An undersized or improperly routed Olympia liner creates chronic drafting problems, over-fueling, and creosote buildup. We’ve found 5.5″ liners jammed into 8″×12″ flues with no proper support or insulation, sagging at the first elbow and collecting condensate.

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Replacement Cost & What’s Included

What drives the range: flue height, diameter, whether we can pull the old liner intact or must break and extract it in pieces, and whether the smoke chamber or firebox needs refractory work to maintain NFPA 211 clearances. Every quote is written before work starts, with parts specified by manufacturer and wall thickness, labor itemized, and warranty terms stated. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to liner installation, and Haven Standard Clause 4 requires a documented photo record of the completed flue, top to bottom.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground here, and then there’s where DIY ends. You can verify your liner diameter with a tape measure, check the termination cap for obstruction, and shine a flashlight up the flue to spot obvious gaps or collapsed sections. What you cannot safely do: work on a ladder at roof height with a heavy liner coil, manage the tension of a long flex pull without proper rigging, or confirm that your finished installation meets clearance to combustibles without a camera scan and draft test.

Liner replacement involves working at height, handling sharp stainless edges, and ensuring gas-tight connections at the appliance and termination. A failed DIY liner install vents carbon monoxide into wall cavities and attics. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we. Call (253) 447-5982 and we’ll inspect, document, and quote in writing before any work begins.

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