Your chimney is due for its annual sweeping and inspection. Or you have a new home with a fireplace that you know should be cleaned and inspected before you light your first fire. You turn to the yellow pages or do an online search for sweeps in your area, but how do you know if you’re choosing the right one?
In reality, anyone with the right equipment and a little know how can call themselves a chimney sweep. Fortunately, there are agencies out there — like the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) — that train and certify chimney sweeps. When you hire a CSIA-certified chimney sweep, you can be confident that you are hiring a professional who is trained in the most recent industry best practices.
Why hiring a CSIA-certified chimney sweep is important
A well-functioning fireplace and chimney keeps your home and family safe. If a chimney is not properly swept, the creosote that accumulates on its walls can spark a chimney fire, endangering your home. A clogged chimney, whether from creosote, debris or an animal nest, can force the gases from your fires, including deadly carbon monoxide, back into your home. During your annual cleaning and inspection, a certified chimney sweep examines both your fireplace and your chimney to ensure that there are no structural or system problems that could put your home or family at risk.
CSIA-certified chimney sweeps are trained and tested in the following areas:
- Industry best practices for cleaning, inspecting and repairing chimneys;
- Proper construction and mechanics of chimneys and fireplaces;
- The science behind how wood burns and how creosote forms;
- Codes and standards for chimney construction, vent construction and fireplace installation; and
EPA requirements.
Additionally, CSIA-certified chimney sweeps are bound to a professional code of conduct. CSIA-chimney sweeps vow to adhere to all association guidelines; to be knowledgeable and comply with the local building codes as they relate to chimneys, stoves and fireplaces; to follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing and repairing stoves, fireplaces, chimney liners and other fireplace and chimney components; to be professional with clients; to inform clients of safety guidelines related to chimneys, stoves and fireplaces; and to avoid deceptive business practices.
Other tips for selecting a chimney sweep
The CSIA also offers other tips for choosing your chimney sweep. The CSIA advises that you always ask a chimney sweep you’re considering hiring:
- How long the company has been in business,
- If the company has any unresolved complaints with the consumer protection bureau or the Better Business Bureau,
- If the company carries insurance against home or property damage that could occur during your sweeping, and
- If the company guarantees that a CSIA-certified sweep will be on site during the entire service.Homeowners also should find references for chimney sweeps they are considering and research the company on other sites that offer company recommendations, such as the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List, both of which offer seals of approvals for service companies.
If you’re in the market for a new chimney sweep, the CSIA-certification can steer you in the right direction. That, and a little additional research, can help you be confident that you’ve hired the right company to help keep your fireplace, chimney and home safe.
