Having your chimney worked on is serious business and not the time to go hunting for the lowest price you can find among those who offer chimney services. Unfortunately, this is exactly what some people do every year and end up with a problem much greater than the one they started with.
The chimney services industry is largely unregulated. Regulations may come into play when doing fireplace or stove installations (i.e., meeting local building, zoning and fire-safety codes), but companies and individuals who offer chimney services aren’t required to hold specific industry credentials.
That means that anyone can be a chimney sweep. And it’s these “anyones” you have to be leery of.
There are several reasons why certain companies or individuals who advertise themselves as chimney sweeps or chimney repair workers may offer “amazingly” low prices. Great deals often mean:
Not certified: The company hasn’t invested the time and expense to obtain top hearth-industry certifications like those from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fireplace Institute (NFI).
Low wages: The company is paying its crew a low wage because the crew is not experienced. Professionals who have developed expertise in the chimney-services industry will not work for minimum wage.
Lack of the right equipment: The company has made no sizeable investment in professional-grade equipment for chimney cleaning, chimney repair, chimney rebuilding or chimney inspection projects – and they’re passing that savings on to you.
Minimal time on-site: The company isn’t going to spend the necessary time to check and double-check their work to ensure it’s being done safely and correctly.
We’re not intentionally criticizing any chimney service company here. We’re simply giving you some things to keep in mind when it comes to hiring a team for your next chimney project.
For this reason, here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself when considering a chimney company or individual to do work for you.
Chimney Solutions of Alpharetta, GA, has been a trusted provider of chimney services in the greater Atlanta area for more than 20 years. Our certifications include CSIA, NFI and others. Give us a call at 770-255-1300 and let us earn your trust.