6 Things You Should Ask Before You Hire A Chimney Sweep

Unlike many home services, chimney sweeping is a largely unregulated field, which means anyone can set up shop. That means homeowners are susceptible to getting scammed when it comes time to get their chimney sweep and cleaned. And it happens, a lot. That’s why it is important to research your chimney sweep and make sure you know what services are included and what to expect when you get your chimney cleaned. Before you get burned, (get it burned… chimney sweep humor, sorry) here are some things to research or ask before you hire a chimney sweep.

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Only Please

Despite the fact that chimney safety can be a critical component to a safe home, chimney sweeping is an unregulated industry. The solution to this is to ask your potential chimney sweep if she or he is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. This organization has created a chimney sweeping protocol, inspection levels, and educational safety programs for chimney sweeps and associated industry professionals. You can also ask if they belong to the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG), which would confirm they are committed to keeping up with the chimney sweeping industry. A note that Valley Chimney Sweep’s owner, Terry Dearborn, is the longest continually Certified Chimney Sweep® in the United States.

Don’t Hire Someone That Solicits You By Phone or Knocks on Your Door

You know those annoying calls you get from an Arizona call center offering a free consultation at the chiropractor down the street? Phone solicitations just don’t seem like a reliable way to choose a personalized service. The same goes for the chimney sweep that knocks on your door or calls you from a call center. Instead, ask your neighbor, your co-workers, check Yelp, or Angieslist. They will certainly tell you who worked for them and who didn’t.

Google the Business, Check Their Online Reputation

If they are good business people, they value their online chimney sweep reputation. Recently, there was a local news article about a chimney sweep scammer. With one quick Google search, we found their Yelp profile had an average 1-star rating with 15 reviews and no other online presence. Sometimes we give Yelp reviews the benefit of doubt, but I wouldn’t hire them, would you?

Liability Insurance

Asking your potential chimney sweep if s/he has liability insurance ensures that they are protected when they visit your home. If your chimney sweep does not respond with a polite yes, you might consider asking someone else that values the business risk associated with not carrying liability insurance.

Proper ID, Professional Attitude and Appearance

Letting someone into your home to do work requires a level of trust. When your chimney sweep arrives, you should feel comfortable with them. They should be in a marked/branded vehicle with a professional appearance, maybe even a branded shirt of the company they represent. They should also be willing to show you ID or have a name badge present.

Set Appointment Window

Your chimney sweep should set an appointment time. Maybe not as wide as a Comcast repair window of 6 hours, your chimney sweep should tell you as precisely as possible, when they will be at your home. They might also let you know what to expect during the appointment and let you know that they will call you on their way. Communication is key and with cellphones, this shouldn’t be difficult. Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration wants to be your chimney sweep for life. And most of our clients choose us over and over again. We’ve been with some of the same houses longer than their owners! We believe in respecting our customers, educating them on our trade, and providing quality services that make them want to hire us over and over again. If you are in the far western Chicago suburbs, we want to be your Chimney Sweep for Life!