Gas fireplace service
Sweep & inspection
Flue relining
Masonry repairLevel 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.
Why Orlando Homeowners Choose Gelco Chimney Cleaning
Hadley Chimney Orlando provides independent Orlando Gelco service including chimney cleaning, cap replacement, and waterproofing across Orlando and the surrounding area. We work on Gelco GC-Series air-cooled systems, Isokern pumice stacks, B-Vent gas venting, and stainless rigid liners, and we’re not authorized by Gelco, which means our repair advice is built on what we actually see in the field, not a brand sales script. In Orlando’s humid, storm-heavy climate, Gelco cap-seal degradation and creosote glaze are the two issues we address most often, and we document every finding with photos before any work begins. Call (904) 822-8172 for a written estimate on Gelco service in Orlando.
Gelco chimney systems hold up well when they’re maintained, but Orlando throws specific conditions at them that a generic sweep won’t catch. The daily thermal expansion from Florida sun, followed by afternoon downpours, works the cap-to-flue seal tape until it cracks and lets water track down the chase. That’s the failure we see most on Gelco stacks in Orlando, and it’s one of the first things we check during a cleaning. As an independent Gelco service provider, we can tell you plainly when a cap is salvageable versus when the corrosion has gone too far, and we bring that same honesty to Gelco Chimney Cleaning in Orlovista, FL.
Why Trust Hadley Chimney Orlando for Your Gelco Chimney Cleaning?
Our crews pull Gelco caps, inspect Isokern joints, and run camera scopes through GC-Series flues every week in Orlando, and we’ve learned the failure patterns that are unique to this climate. The tech who arrives at your door knows what a Gelco cap-to-flue transition should look like and what it looks like after three Orlando summers of UV exposure. That familiarity means we spot problems faster and quote repairs more accurately.
Cory Mitchell, owner at Hadley Chimney Orlando, came up through the trade at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College before spending years working chimneys across Southern California. These days he and the crew cover Orlando homes from the historic bungalows in Delaney Park to the newer builds near Lake Nona, and he’s built the company around one habit: showing customers exactly what he finds. When we pull a Gelco cap and see seal tape that’s turned brittle, we photograph it and text you the image before we ever write up an estimate. “I’d rather text you the photo and let you decide than talk you into something you can’t see for yourself.”
That transparency is backed by a 365-Day Done Right Promise: every repair carries a written guarantee, and if the repair fails, we return for a free second visit. We’re part of the Relay Home Co. family, and every Gelco job in Orlando includes the Relay Visibility Guarantee: live arrival tracking, before-and-after photo documentation, a written price before the work starts, and digital invoicing you can pay from a link. Calls are answered by a live person 24/7, and every technician is background-checked and uniformed.
Styles & brands we work with
Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Fix in Orlando
- Cap-to-flue seal tape degradation on GC-Series systems. Orlando’s sun bakes the factory seal tape on Gelco caps, and the daily thermal swing between hot afternoons and cooler nights makes it crack and separate. We’ve pulled caps in Dr. Phillips and found the tape reduced to brittle strips, letting rain track straight down the chase. Our fix is a fresh high-temp silicone seal at the flue outlet, and we’ll photograph the failed tape before we replace it.
- Creosote glaze inside GC-Series flues. Homeowners who burn unseasoned Florida oak or palm debris in a Gelco air-cooled chimney get a hard, shiny creosote glaze that a standard brush won’t remove. This type of creosote, the flammable tar buildup that makes chimneys a fire risk, requires rotary cleaning heads and chemical treatment to break down safely. We see it regularly in Orlando homes where the fireplace is used occasionally, not daily, so the creosote never burns off naturally.
- Mortar washout at Isokern module joints. Summer downpours in Orlando hit Gelco Isokern stacks hard, and after several seasons the mortar between pumice modules starts to erode. Once water gets into those joints, the stack base starts spalling, the pumice surface flakes away, and the structural integrity of the chimney drops. We repoint these joints with weather-appropriate mortar and apply a siloxane waterproofing coat to prevent recurrence.
- Galvanic corrosion between Gelco stainless liners and original clay tile. Older Orlando homes built in the 70s through the 90s often had clay tile flues, and when owners retrofitted with a Gelco stainless liner, the dissimilar metals can create galvanic corrosion at the contact points. This is especially common in mixed-fuel setups. We inspect for this during every Gelco cleaning in Orlando and document the liner condition with a camera scope.
- Rusted dampers and musty odors after summer storm season. Orlando’s humidity sits high inside chimneys for months at a time, which rusts dampers and creates the musty smell that owners notice when they first light a fire in the fall. If the damper is rusted open or frozen shut, that’s a repair issue; if the odor is from moisture wicking down a failing cap seal, that’s a cap replacement. We diagnose the difference before recommending any work.
Gelco Parts & Our Repair-vs-Replace Approach
When a Gelco system is under 10 years old, we prefer to use OEM Gelco caps, chase covers, and modular components. The factory dimensions and seal surfaces match exactly, and that means the repair seats correctly the first time. No shims, no adapting, no “close enough.” For older Gelco stacks where the factory parts are discontinued, we use code-listed aftermarket stainless caps or fabricated caps built to the flue outlet dimensions, and we advise rebuilding when corrosion exceeds 30% of the liner wall. That 30% threshold is our honest line: above it, patching is a temporary fix on borrowed time.
We stock common Gelco cap sizes and seal materials for fast turnaround on Orlando service calls, and we source OEM parts directly when the project calls for them. The repair-versus-replace decision comes down to what the camera shows us, and you’ll see those photos yourself. Call (904) 822-8172 to book an inspection.
Our Gelco Service Process – Step by Step
- 1
Diagnosis. We start with a visual inspection of the Gelco cap, crown, and chase exterior, then run a camera down the flue to document the liner and joint condition. We photograph everything we find.
- 2
Repair or clean. For Gelco chimney cleaning, we use rotary heads sized to the flue and chemical treatment for glazed creosote. For repairs, we pull the existing cap, measure the flue outlet, and install the replacement Gelco or fabricated cap with fresh high-temp silicone.
- 3
Waterproofing. On every Gelco service in Orlando, we evaluate the crown and exterior masonry for moisture penetration. If the crown shows signs of water absorption, we apply a siloxane waterproofing coat, which repels rain while allowing the masonry to breathe.
- 4
Test and document. We test the system, take after-photos, and text them to you along with the digital invoice. Every repair carries a written 365-day guarantee; if it fails within that year, we’re back at no charge.
See the difference
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AfterGelco Products We Service & Install in Orlando
We service and install across the Gelco product range: GC-Series air-cooled chimney systems, Isokern pumice chimney modules, B-Vent gas venting systems, and stainless steel rigid liners. Our crews work on both masonry and prefabricated Gelco installations across Orlando, from 80s-era suburban homes with brick chimneys to newer construction with factory-built systems, including Gelco Chimney Cleaning in Pine Hills, FL. We stock common Gelco cap sizes locally and can source the rest fast through our supply network, so you’re not waiting weeks for parts.
We Also Service These Brands
Hadley Chimney Orlando isn’t tied to a single manufacturer, and that’s intentional. Alongside our Gelco work, we service and install DuraFlex flexible liner systems, HeatShield ceramic repair compound, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield products across Orlando. If your chimney has mixed-brand components, we’ll diagnose and service the whole system, not just the Gelco part of it.
FAQs – Gelco Chimney Cleaning Service in Orlando
The bolts used on some Gelco caps are not the same alloy as the cap body, and in Orlando’s humidity and rain, galvanic corrosion forms where the two metals meet. We replace the fasteners with matching stainless hardware and apply anti-seize to prevent the reaction from recurring. Call (904) 822-8172 and we’ll inspect your cap and give you a written quote.
Yes, but not with aggressive power sweeping. Isokern pumice walls are softer than traditional clay tile, so we use gentle rotary brushes and adjust our Chimney Sweep services based on what we see on camera. The key is not forcing a standard brush through a system that wasn’t built for it.
That white staining is typically efflorescence, mineral salts left behind when water penetrates the chase and then evaporates. In Orlando, this usually traces back to a failed cap seal or worn flashing, not a structural problem with the chase itself. The fix is finding and stopping the water entry point, not scrubbing the stain.
Gelco makes caps for their multi-flue systems, but if your chase opening is an odd size or the flue spacing is non-standard, a custom fabricated cap may fit better and seal more reliably. We measure the flue outlet and recommend whichever option will actually perform in Orlando’s rain-heavy seasons.
It could be either, and the answer depends on what we find. If the flue has creosote buildup, that odor can drift back into the house even when the fireplace is cold. If the cap is missing or damaged, downdrafts will push smoke odor inside. We’ll determine the cause and show you the evidence. Call (904) 822-8172 for an exact diagnosis; estimates are free.
Gelco chimney cleaning in Orlando typically runs $189 to $349 depending on the system type, flue condition, and whether glazed creosote requires rotary treatment. Cap replacement adds $150 to $450 depending on the cap size and whether it’s OEM Gelco or a fabricated unit. Waterproofing runs $200 to $500 based on crown size and accessibility. Call (904) 822-8172 for a written, exact quote before any work begins; no surprises at the door.
No. We are an independent Gelco service provider, not authorized by or affiliated with Gelco. That independence is the reason we can recommend repair over replacement when it’s warranted, use aftermarket parts when they’re the honest choice, and tell you plainly when a fix can safely wait.
Using an independent service provider does not automatically void a manufacturer’s warranty, and we take care to use OEM parts and factory-spec installation methods when your Gelco system is under warranty. For older systems outside the warranty window, we make practical, code-compliant recommendations without brand pressure. Call us for specifics on your system.
Book Your Gelco Service in Orlando, FL
Call Hadley Chimney Orlando at (904) 822-8172 for Gelco chimney cleaning, cap replacement, or waterproofing in Orlando. A live person answers, you’ll get a written price before the work starts, and every repair carries a 365-day written guarantee.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner at Hadley Chimney Orlando, serving Orlando since 2003.