What to Look For in a Chimney Service Company
Does your chimney need a clean? Perhaps a much-needed repair? Read below to find out, what to look for in a chimney service company.
If you have a fireplace in your home, you need to take good care of it. Not only does it make it as effective as possible, but it makes it safe too. Part of maintaining your fireplace is hiring the right chimney service to clean and repair your chimney regularly. Here’s what you should be looking for when you look for a chimney service company near you.
Good Reviews And Recommendations
The very first thing you should be looking for is recommendations as to which chimney service to hire. There are most likely a few near you, so how do you narrow down the search? If you know anyone who hires such services, you can simply ask them. They’ll be able to tell you what they think of them, and what they can do for you.
You can also check out reviews online. You’ll see reviews on the websites of these services, but if you want to get a more rounded view, check out independent review sites. This will let you see both the positives and negatives of a given service. You’ll also be able to see more about them on sites like the Better Business Bureau, so make sure you check them out. Look Into
Accreditations
Working on your chimney is a crucial job, and it has to be done right. That’s why you should be looking into services that have the right accreditations to get it done. Typically, you want to find a service that’s certified by the CSIA, or the Chimney Safety Institute of America. That shows that they’ve been audited and found to be a legit and trustworthy business.
If you’re considering a service, take a look at the site to see if they’re certified. You’ll also want to take a look at the CSIA site and look them up on it. If they’re listed there, then you know that you can trust them. Also, any good service will be more than happy to show you their certifications themselves.
Ask About Their Experience
Experience is everything when it comes to taking care of your chimney. You’ll want to see that the service you’re considering has a long track record in the business. The longer they’ve been working, the more experience they have in what they do.
When looking, check that these years in business have been under the same management. Some businesses may say that they’ve been around for years, but at some point, they were bought out by someone else. As such, they’ll only have been a business as they are now for a shorter amount of time.
Years in business won’t tell you everything about how experienced a chimney service is, but it’s a very good place to start when looking into them.
Check That They Have Proper Insurance
Like any business that works in your home, you need to know that a chimney service has the right insurance needed to work on your chimney. In this instance, they need to have business liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Having these policies in place means your home and property are protected, as well as the people working on your chimney.
Again, any good company should be happy to have a certificate sent to you from their insurers, to show you that they’re properly covered. You want to see that it comes from the insurers and not the company themselves, as it’s so easy for them to send an out-of-date document.
How Will They Inspect Your Chimney?
When considering a chimney service company, you want to see how they would come and inspect your chimney, before working on it. They need to be able to comply with the rules set out by the NFPA regarding chimney cleaning, so they can carry out work that makes the fireplace safe to use.
Typically, they should use camera equipment to fully get a view of what your chimney looks like, and what work needs to be done. They should create a full report on both the structural makeup of your chimney and any safety concerns that there may be. If they can do that, they’re following the guidelines correctly.
Check For Proper Identification
When a team comes to inspect your chimney, you’ll want to see that they offer proper identification. There are plenty of people who’ll attempt to scam homeowners into believing they’re the service you asked for, so they can get into your home. Ask the team to show their identification. They should be wearing ID badges, and genuine teams will always be happy to show you them.
Also, ensure that they’re wearing marked uniforms and that they come in a marked vehicle. That should identify the company and show you that they’re the real deal.
Look For Transparent Pricing
While it’s tempting to try and save money on getting your fireplace inspected, you don’t want to skimp on a chimney service. If you do, you’re not going to get the best service, and it can leave it unsafe to use. Plus, if a company is offering rock bottom prices, it’s often too good to be true. They may be offering something low as they’ll tack on more later when they already have you booked in.
Look for companies that are more upfront about their pricing. When they come to take a look at your chimney, they should then walk you through their pricing and what you should expect. If you agree to them working with you, then you’ll get the price in writing so you know exactly what you should be paying. Everything is clear, and there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises with extra prices being tacked on when you least expect it.
Concluding Your Search For A Chimney Service Company
When you’re looking out for these things, you’ll see that it’s easier than you’d think to find the right chimney service. You want a service that’s certified, experienced, and ready to help you. Look out for the signs of a good company, so you ensure that you hire the right people to help.