Making sure you hire a professional and competent chimney sweep is as important as doing preventive maintenance on your chimneys. Doing background checks on every sweep you come across online takes up a lot of your time. So, to move the process along, Chimney Doctors, your trusted chimney relining experts, gives a few sweep-hunting tips.
Hire Only CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweeps
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is the non-profit organization that certifies chimney sweeps. To get the certification, sweeps would need to pass a rigorous exam and undergo re-evaluation every three years. You can look up and hire one of the 1,800 CSIA-certified chimney sweeps in the country by using their online database.
If you want to hire a chimney sweeping company, look for the CSIA Certification logo.
Do Additional Online Background Checks
If you don’t have a trusted chimney sweep yet, you can look up online reviews of chimney sweep companies for your peace of mind. Regardless of who you decide to hire, though, always ask for references, and find out if the sweep or the company they’re working for has a business liability insurance policy that will safeguard your home against accidents.
Watch Out for Red Flags
You should know what’s included in your chimney sweep’s services. Sweeps usually just remove blockages and the buildup in chimneys. If they try to offer you additional services like inner flue repairs and masonry repairs, it’d be prudent to not take up the offer and call a trusted chimney repair company instead.
If you’re looking for a chimney masonry repair company, why not choose us at Chimney Doctors, a company that has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau? You can reach us at (518) 633-5900 or by filling out this form. Chimney Doctors also serves clients in Saratoga Springs, NY.
