Level 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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterGelco Fireplace Services in Roanoke: What to Know First
We provide independent Gelco fireplace services throughout Roanoke, from gas fireplace tune-ups to firebox repairs and insert conversions. Most Gelco jobs are completed in a single visit, and we quote upfront so the number on the estimate matches the number on the invoice. A clean chimney doesn’t announce itself. Neither does a problem - until it does.
This page is for homeowners in Roanoke who already own a Gelco fireplace, insert, or gas log set and need service from someone who knows the product line without charging dealership prices. We’re not affiliated with Gelco, but we’ve worked on enough of their units in the Roanoke Valley to know where they tend to wear. Call (540) 787-3302 for a free estimate.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
How Gelco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Gelco Logmaster vented gas log sets - delayed ignition and sooting. The ceramic fiber logs in older Logmaster sets absorb moisture during Roanoke’s humid summers, especially in basements along the Roanoke River floodplain. When fall arrives, the damp logs release hydrocarbons that clog the burner ports. We remove the set, dry and inspect each log for cracks, clean the burner with compressed air and a soft brush, and replace any degraded ember material. If the pilot assembly is original, we replace the thermocouple with an OEM-spec part - aftermarket thermocouples for Logmaster sets often read 5-10 millivolts low, which causes nuisance shutdowns.
- Gelco Pre-Fab wood-burning fireplaces - refractory panel cracking. The factory refractory panels in Gelco’s 36-inch and 42-inch pre-fab boxes develop hairline cracks after repeated thermal cycling, which is accelerated in Roanoke by the temperature swings between our 20-degree January nights and 60-degree February afternoons. We measure crack width and depth against NFPA 211 standards; anything over 1/8 inch gets replaced with HeatShield refractory repair mortar or new OEM panels, depending on the crack pattern. We document with photos before and after.
- Gelco fireplace inserts - blower motor bearing failure. The OEM blower motors in Gelco’s older insert line run at a single speed and collect dust from our valley’s pollen-heavy springs. The bearings dry out and start humming by year seven or eight. We source direct-replacement motors from the same manufacturer Gelco used - Fasco or Packard, depending on vintage - rather than universal aftermarket units that vibrate and move less air. We also clean the squirrel cage and lubricate the new bearings with high-temp grease.
- Gelco direct-vent gas fireplaces - failed snap disc and rollout switch. Gelco’s direct-vent units from the early 2000s use a snap disc rollout switch mounted on the burner box that fails closed after about 10-15 years of Roanoke’s hard water scaling the heat exchanger. The unit throws a code or simply won’t fire. We test the switch with a multimeter, replace it with an OEM Honeywell L4064 if it’s the original, and inspect the heat exchanger for scale buildup that caused the overheating in the first place.
- Gelco chimney caps and chase covers - rust-through at the corners. Gelco’s galvanized chase covers from the 1990s and early 2000s were built with a drip edge that pools water at the corners during our heavy Appalachian rains. The galvanized steel rusts from the inside out. We fabricate replacement chase covers in stainless steel or copper, depending on the homeowner’s preference and the home’s exposure, with a proper cross-break to shed water. We also check the flue liner for water damage while we’re on the roof.
Our Gelco Fireplace Services Process
- 1
Call and schedule. A live person answers, 24 hours a day. We ask the model number if you have it, the symptoms, and whether it’s gas or wood. We give you a two-hour arrival window.
- 2
Arrival and inspection. Our technician arrives in a marked truck, uniformed, and lays down floor protection. For gas units, we test for leaks with a digital manometer before touching anything. For wood units, we run a Level-2 camera inspection up the flue.
- 3
Diagnosis and photos. We show you what we found on a tablet - cracked refractory, scaled heat exchanger, worn blower bearing. We explain the fix, the parts source (OEM Gelco, Fasco, or quality aftermarket equivalent), and why we chose it.
- 4
Upfront pricing and approval. You get a written estimate with one number. No hourly rates, no trip charges added later. You approve it, we start.
- 5
Repair and testing. We complete most Gelco repairs in the same visit. Gas units get a combustion analysis with a digital analyzer. Wood units get a smoke test. We clean our work area and haul away old parts.
- 6
Documentation and guarantee. You receive photos, the inspection report, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not right, we make it right - no paperwork, no arguing.
What Gelco Fireplace Services Costs in Roanoke
These are the ranges we see most often for Gelco fireplace work in the Roanoke market:
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Gas fireplace tune-up and safety check | $89-$175 |
| Logmaster burner cleaning and thermocouple replacement | $220-$340 |
| Insert blower motor replacement (OEM) | $380-$520 |
| Refractory panel repair or replacement | $450-$780 |
| Direct-vent snap disc and heat exchanger descale | $290-$440 |
| Chase cover replacement (stainless steel) | $680-$1,200 |
What moves the price: accessibility of the unit, whether the original installation followed Gelco’s clearances (some didn’t), and whether we find secondary issues during inspection. We don’t recommend anything you can’t see for yourself in the photos. Call (540) 787-3302 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Why Roanoke Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for Gelco Work
We’ve been on roofs and in fireboxes in this valley for over 42 years. Russell Haines and our crew have serviced Gelco units on Grandin Road, in South Roanoke, and up in the Hollins hills enough times to recognize a Logmaster set by the sound of its ignition sequence.
We back every job with the 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing. Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and they carry professional-grade materials from DuraFlex, HeatShield, Gelco-compatible OEM sources, Olympia Chimney, Famco, and Copperfield. When a Gelco part is discontinued, we know which aftermarket equivalent meets the original spec and which ones to avoid. Photos you can see, a plain-English verdict. Done right - and we stand behind it.
FAQs
No. Gelco’s product warranties cover manufacturing defects, not who performs maintenance. As an independent Gelco service provider, we document our work with photos and written reports, which actually strengthens any future warranty claim you might file. If your unit is still under Gelco’s original warranty, we note that in our report and flag any defects that should go to Gelco directly. Call (540) 787-3302 if you’re unsure about your warranty status - we’ll help you sort it out.
Yes, for most models. Gelco discontinued several gas log and insert lines in the 2010s, but we source OEM-equivalent parts from the same manufacturers Gelco used - Fasco blowers, Honeywell controls, Packard motors. For the few parts that are truly obsolete, we fabricate solutions or retrofit with quality aftermarket components that meet or exceed original specs. We never install a part we wouldn’t use in our own homes.
Replacement becomes the honest recommendation when the firebox or heat exchanger is compromised beyond safe repair, or when parts are unavailable at any reasonable cost. We make that call only after camera inspection and photos you can review yourself. Most Gelco units we see in Roanoke need repair, not replacement - a cracked refractory panel, a tired blower, a dirty burner. We’ll tell you plainly when replacement is the smarter spend and when repair buys you another decade. Call (540) 787-3302 for a free assessment.
Once a year, before the burning season starts. Roanoke’s hard water scale builds on heat exchangers, and our pollen-heavy springs clog blower housings. An annual service includes combustion analysis, leak testing, and inspection of the venting system. Skipping it risks carbon monoxide infiltration or delayed ignition that damages the log set. Our $89 Seasonal Tune-Up covers the essentials. Call (540) 787-3302 to book before the fall rush.
Creosote accumulates in the flue, increasing chimney fire risk. In Roanoke, where many Gelco pre-fab units vent through chase structures with marginal insulation, a chimney fire can jump to framing faster than in a masonry stack. Carbon monoxide is the quieter threat - a blocked or damaged flue can backdraft deadly gas into living spaces. We find these conditions with our Level-2 camera inspection, show you the photos, and fix what needs fixing. Call (540) 787-3302 - estimates are free, and the inspection takes under an hour.
Ready to get your Gelco fireplace sorted? Call (540) 787-3302 for a free estimate. A live person answers, day or night.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Roanoke and nearby areas.