Let's talk!
Importance of Chimney Sweep Models
-
When you have a chimney sweep completed, you are allowing a professional to come to your home and use tools to clean the inside of the chimney. Brushes, among other things, are used to clean the creosote from the chimney to decrease the risk of fire and ensure your home is safe. Not all professionals bring the same tools with them, and the operations and tools used may look different between providers. Having an inspection and cleaning completed is extremely important. It is important to have these done regularly. Most companies can be trusted and come in with the intent of keeping everyone safe and completing jobs. However, there are those that scam in any position. Hiring a scammer can cost you more than thousands of dollars. Hiring a scammer can cost you your home, your life, or the lives are the loved ones. Here are some ways to avoid scams.
Scammers tend to target the elderly; especially those that live at home alone. They will knock on the door and offer to inspect and clean the chimney for little or no money. They will tell them that they are working in the area and that hey just want to help. They may say they have decided to provide a special deal wot one or two people in the area. However, once the cleaning begins, they tell the homeowner that they have found a problem. They will tell them that if the problem is not fixed right now it can be extremely dangerous and destructive. Homeowners end up paying a lot of money for these emergency repairs. Most of the time, the repairs are never completed because they were never needed.
When you hire a competent professional, they should be able to show you and explain in detail what needs to be fixed. It may be a good idea, if they are asking a lot of money over the original price, to get a second opinion from another professional. Another way to avoid a scam from a chimney professional is by obtaining more than one estimate. Ask several agencies for an estimate before hiring the company. If prices are extremely low compared to other rates; proceed with caution. They may be scamming you.
You also want to ensure that you are looking at their credentials. See what certifications they have. Certifications that are awarded by the Chimney Institute of America signals to the homeowner that the professional has completed fire safety training. It also lets you know that they have a code of ethics. If the state, you live in has requirements for licensure; you want to make sure they are following these requirements. If they are not; what other laws are they willing to break.
You also want to ask about the insurance that they have. Scammers typically have no insurance and you will be liable if they are harmed on your property. You also want to make sure that you are having them provide you with proof of the problems. You can also have them provide you with proof of work they have completed in the past.