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 Serenada, TX | Ashton Chimney
We provide independent Gelco chimney cleaning and repair across Serenada, TX. The one thing that makes our Gelco work different here is this: we know exactly what cedar burning does to Gelco inserts, because we see it every winter in this neighborhood. If you own a Gelco fireplace in Serenada, call Ashton Chimney at (855) 507-9184 and we’ll tell you what’s actually going on inside that flue before we ever pick up a brush.

Why Serenada Residents Choose Us for Gelco Service
Our crew has spent years tearing down and rebuilding Gelco repair in Round Rock and across the Hill Country, so we know their baffle, damper, and flue-collar quirks firsthand. We are an independent service provider, meaning we work on Gelco equipment every week but are not authorized, sponsored, or endorsed by Gelco. That independence is exactly why Serenada homeowners call us: we have no incentive to push a replacement when a repair makes more sense.
Nolan Pruett, our owner, grew up in the Buttercup Creek neighborhood of Cedar Park and has been sweeping chimneys in this area for going on fifteen years. He learned combustion systems through the Building Trades program at Austin Community College’s Round Rock Campus, then spent his twenties working on fireplaces and flues all over the Austin metro before settling here. We service what we know, and we know Gelco. For broader Gelco work beyond Serenada, see our Gelco sales & service page.
Styles & brands we work with





Common Gelco Chimney Cleaning Problems We Solve in Serenada
Gelco units are built well, but the way Serenada burns wood exposes their weak points. These are the five we deal with most:
- Glaze creosote fused to the flue collar and baffle. Serenada homeowners burn a lot of cedar, and cedar burns hot and fast. That leaves a sticky, glass-like creosote that bonds to Gelco baffles and flue collars, which is harder to scrape than the powdery Stage 2 deposits you see with oak or mesquite. By mid-winter we are often removing glaze that a conventional brush will not touch.
- Damper and damper-plate warping after repeated hot cedar burns. Gelco damper plates are steel, and steel warps under sustained high heat. We have pulled more than a few Gelco inserts in Serenada where the damper plate sticks open or will not seal, letting heated air escape all summer and pulling your cooled air up the flue.
- Cracked or spalled refractory panels and firebrick. Serenada’s hot summers mean chimneys sit idle for months. Then a cold snap hits and you light a big fire. The rapid heat-up and cool-down cycle stresses Gelco refractory panels, and that is when hairline cracks turn into spalled, crumbling firebrick.
- Efflorescence-driven corrosion at the flue collar and surround. Serenada’s limestone-rich soil means chimney exteriors here show efflorescence more than neighboring communities. That white staining is a moisture signal, and where moisture works its way into a Gelco flue collar, mild-steel corrosion follows. Left alone, a rusty flue collar becomes a leak path.
- Debris and downdraft problems from high winds. Serenada sits in Hill Country terrain that channels wind. After the occasional ice storm or heavy wind event, we find chimney caps packed with debris and Gelco dampers that are being forced open by downdrafts. The unit itself is fine; the cap and damper need attention.
Gelco Service in Serenada: What Local Conditions Mean for Your Equipment
Serenada’s limestone-rich soil drives efflorescence on the exterior of Gelco chimney chases, and we flag it on every sweep. That white mineral staining is not just cosmetic. It is a moisture-intrusion signal that stucco-and-stone homes here show more than their neighbors on the clay and sand soils to the east. When we see efflorescence on a Gelco chase, we check the flue collar, the damper housing, and the refractory panels for hidden water damage. Many Serenada homes built between the 1980s and 2000s used masonry or prefabricated fireplaces, and on the stucco-and-stone custom builds, moisture migrating through the chase can silently corrode a Gelco firebox for years before it is visible from inside the home. That is why our standard sweep includes a visual check for efflorescence on the chase exterior and a note in your report if we see it, just as we do for Gelco repair in Brushy Creek.
Gelco Models & Products We Service in Serenada
We service Gelco wood-burning fireplace inserts, Gelco factory-built prefabricated fireplaces, Gelco gas fireplace inserts, and Gelco steel fireboxes with bi-fold glass doors. That is the full range we see in Serenada homes. For parts, we favor OEM Gelco dampers, baffles, and refractory panels when the unit is still supported, and we source quality aftermarket firebox liners and gaskets where OEM is discontinued. We stock the most common Gelco damper assemblies and refractory replacements locally, which means faster turnaround for Serenada homes when a repair is needed. If a Gelco firebox is cracked through the steel or multiple refractories are failing, we will tell you honestly when replacement beats repairing.
See the difference
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After
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AfterGelco Service Pricing in Serenada
What you pay depends on what we find and what your Gelco unit needs. A standard sweep and visual inspection is one price; a Level 2 inspection with a camera run through the flue is more; replacing a warped damper plate or cracked refractory panel adds parts and labor. We quote all of that before any work begins. A few things drive cost in Serenada specifically: heavy glaze creosote from cedar requires extra scraping time, and older Gelco units with original refractory panels often need panel work by the time we are called. Call (855) 507-9184 for a free estimate, and we will give you numbers based on your actual unit, not a generic chart.
Serving Serenada, TX — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Serenada area and know this community well, and we also handle Gelco in Georgetown. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs – Gelco Chimney Cleaning in Serenada
Yes, in many Serenada homes we recommend a mid-winter sweep in addition to a pre-season sweep. Cedar creates glaze creosote fast, and by January it is often fused to the flue collar and baffle. Two cleanings a season is cheaper than a flue fire or a damaged liner. Call (855) 507-9184 and we will tell you if your burn rate warrants it.
That white staining is efflorescence, and it means moisture is moving through your chase. Serenada’s limestone-rich soil makes this more common here than in surrounding areas. It is not a Gelco defect, but it can lead to rust at the flue collar. We flag it on every sweep and can tell you what to do about it.
Usually a cracked refractory panel can be replaced without replacing the fireplace. We source OEM Gelco panels when available and quality aftermarket panels when OEM is discontinued. The time to replace the unit is when the firebox itself has cracked through the steel or multiple refractories are failing at once.
The most likely cause is a warped damper plate. Repeated hot cedar burns heat the steel unevenly, and a rapid cold snap can finish the job. A stuck damper means heated air escapes all summer and cold air drops down your flue all winter. We carry common Gelco damper assemblies locally, so Gelco in Liberty Hill and Serenada repairs are usually quick.
Burning cedar increases your glaze creosote load, and glaze creosote hides cracks and flue damage that a visual check misses. A Level 2 inspection runs a camera through the flue and sees what the brush cannot. We recommend one any time you have not had the flue camera-checked, or after any chimney fire. Estimates are free: (855) 507-9184.
Service Areas Near Serenada
Ashton Chimney serves Serenada and the surrounding communities across Williamson and Travis counties. We work regularly in Cedar Park, Anderson Mill, Brushy Creek, Jollyville, and Leander. For Gelco owners further southwest, see our Gelco service in Barton Creek page. We also cover homes in the Bee Cave area; details are on our Gelco service in Bee Cave page. Our full footprint is outlined on the Serenada service area page.
Book Your Gelco Service in Serenada Today
If your Gelco insert burns cedar, do not wait for the glaze creosote to build up. Call Ashton Chimney at (855) 507-9184 or book online. We will inspect, clean, and tell you plainly what your unit needs, and what it does not. Tell us what your fireplace is doing and we will tell you exactly what is going on in that flue.
Written by Nolan Pruett, Owner at Ashton Chimney, serving Serenada and the surrounding Texas Hill Country.