Don’t Trust Just Any Chimney Sweep

If you are new to having a fireplace, then you know that you will have to deal with the chimney, which is not a do-it-yourself job. You’ve probably started to think about who you can hire for Chimney Sweep services. Don’t trust just any chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney, and make sure that they have the proper credentials to do so.

Don’t Trust Amateurs with Your Chimney

Your landscaper may be great at keeping your lawn in good shape, but they know nothing about chimneys. A handyman may be able to unclog a sink or fix loose shingles on your roof but can’t tell you what kind of repairs your chimney needs. Only use a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney.

A qualified chimney sweep will have the correct tools to inspect and clean your chimney. Take chimney inspections, for instance: FlameMaster uses a special video camera to check your chimney’s interior to see all the issues inside your chimney. An unqualified chimney sweep or other vocation won’t have a video camera for an inspection. A qualified chimney sweep will also use chimney cleaning rods, vacuums, and professional cleaning solutions to clean the inside of your chimney.

How Do You Know a Chimney Sweep is Qualified?

You want to ensure that you are not using a fly-by-night chimney sweep when choosing a company to take care of your chimney system. How? Here are some questions you can ask to ensure you have a qualified chimney sweep:

• Experience- how long have they been in business?
• References- Can they provide you with references?
• Reviews- Check the chimney sweep’s reviews on Google or Yelp.
• Credentials- Is the company licensed and insured?
• Certification- Are they CSIA or CCP certified?
• Presentation- Do the representatives explain what they do in a professional manner? Is their office clean and neat or in disrepair?

If they can’t answer these questions and provide proof of certification, licensing, or insurance, move on to another chimney sweep.

Beware of Scams

Here are just a few types of scams you should beware of when it comes to your chimney.

• When a chimney sweep does an inspection, they should offer to show you on video what they found; otherwise, they could make anything up.
• Don’t trust a chimney sweep who “happened” to be in the neighborhood and spotted a problem with your chimney from the road. It is one of the most common scams.
• It costs an average of $250 for chimney sweep services, depending on the inspection and severity of repair needed. It is a red flag if a chimney sweep service wants $1000 to inspect your chimney, especially if they don’t have a local office. A chimney sweep who charges an extremely high price is probably never planning to see you again.

Be wary of these types of scams, especially with elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors.

In Conclusion

Avoid chimney sweep services that are uncredentialed and have no or bad reviews on sites such as Google or Yelp. A certified chimney cleaner should begin with a thorough inspection of your chimney in order to find any hidden problems inside your chimney. A chimney sweep should let you see the video of the inside of your chimney as the inspection happens. When the inspection of your chimney is completed, a professional chimney sweep will use specific tools for each type of cleaning required, such as removing creosote.

FlameMaster is a Certified Chimney Sweep Who Can Inspect and Clean Your Chimney

FlameMaster’s CSIA-certified and experienced chimney experts will inspect your chimney for any problems and give it a cleaning from top-to-bottom. Call today to discuss having your chimney inspected and cleaned with one of our knowledgeable staff members. Don’t trust an unqualified chimney sweep service; get in touch today!