How to Identify a Chimney Sweep Company that is Good

Feb 11, 2019 | Chimney & Fireplace Repairs

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Chimney CapsA Good Company

Finding a good chimney sweep company is more important than most people think. There are a lot of risk factors that come with having a dirty chimney that is filled with creosote build-up, so it’s important for homeowners to find a good chimney sweep company who knows what they’re doing. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to find a good chimney sweep company due to the lack of regulations in the industry. It’s very easy to start a chimney sweep company, even if you are not qualified at all, so you must do your research before hiring someone.

Considering that poorly swept chimneys can lead to very dangerous situations like house fires, it’s very important to conduct research on companies so you can find a reliable and professional company like Sootmaster. Here are some things you should do before hiring a chimney sweep company:

  1. Check for Experience

A good chimney sweep company should have multiple years of experience. Chimney sweeping is a difficult job and it’s crucial that it’s done right, so you want to hire someone who has cleaned chimneys for many years. Hiring someone with no experience might leave a nagging feeling in the back of your mind that your chimney is at risk for a fire.

  2. Check for Good Reviews

Checking for good reviews is very important when hiring anyone or trying a new company, no matter what industry. Customer reviews will give you a good idea of what to expect from the company, and you will be able to see what previous customers had to say about the company. Sometimes, companies will post testimonials on their website that are fabricated or that they paid people to write, so you probably shouldn’t trust them. It’s important to look at other websites where companies cannot pay for people to write reviews.

  3. Check for ID

You can’t allow anyone accesses to your home unless you can be sure you are dealing with the right people. Check for any ID in the shape of company uniforms worn by the people who claim to be working for a particular chimney sweep company.

  4. Professional Approach

Any professional organization should interact with their prospects and clients in an organized and professional manner. A good chimney sweep company should answer all of your questions in a professional manner and should be very patient with you. If a company is ever unprofessional or impatient with you, you probably shouldn’t hire them.

  5. Tools and Equipment

A good chimney sweep company should have the proper tools and equipment to conduct a quality chimney cleaning. A good chimney sweep company will equip its employees with all the necessary tools of the trade including cleaning agents, brushes, and anything else that is required to do a good job. If the company you hire shows up at your door without the proper equipment, they might not be a qualified company.

  6. Insurance

If your home gets damaged or if the chimney sweep suffers an injury during the chimney sweep process, you could end up footing an extensive damages bill if the chimney sweep company does not have insurance. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure that the chimney sweep company you hire has insurance, to protect you and your property.

  7. Beware of Telemarketers

You will likely receive a lot of phone calls from telemarketers who are hired by very poor quality chimney cleaning contractors, offering you chimney cleaning services at rock bottom prices. These people could very likely be scammers who are unqualified to clean chimneys, so if you do want to hire them, make sure you do your research.

It’s important to remember that just because someone offers you the lowest price, it doesn’t mean you should hire them. As mentioned earlier, there is a lack of regulations in the chimney sweeping industry, so those who offer the lowest prices could very well be one of these unqualified companies. Chimney sweeping is a very labor-intensive job that requires a lot of tools and equipment, so it will be expensive.

Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damages are caused by badly maintained and chimneys that aren’t properly cleaned. These fires are avoidable if you hire a good chimney sweep company that you hire at least once a year. Finding a good chimney sweep company should be one of the homeowner’s highest priorities.

There is nothing as heartening as a well functioning fireplace and chimney in the cold days and nights of winter, as long as both the chimney and fireplace have been maintained by a good chimney sweep company. We can clean your chimney for you. We are a qualified and professional company with great customer reviews.

If you are interested in hiring Sootmaster to clean your chimney for you, please make an appointment below.