Why You Should Hire a Certified Chimney Sweep

If you are considering having your chimney swept, that’s good. It’s a wise practice to have conducted annually, or more often if you frequently use your fireplace. Make sure that you hire a National Fireplace Institute (NFI) or a Chimney Sweep Safety Institute of America (CSIA) chimney sweep service. Why use a certified chimney sweep? The answer is quite simple: an accredited chimney sweep has the education and training to identify chimney issues that someone without training or experience cannot. Certified chimney sweeps are part of a legitimate business, not a slipshod operation that doesn’t know how to care for your chimney. Always use a certified chimney sweep. Read on to find out more.

Beware Non-Certified Chimney Sweeps

If a chimney sweep service is certified, it also means the chimney sweeps aren’t con artists who go door-to-door, who “were just in your neighborhood and were referred by one of your neighbors.” Also, beware roofers who have a legitimate business. They are as qualified to inspect and clean your chimney as a chimney sweep is qualified to re-roof your house.

What Are the Qualifications of a Certified Chimney Sweep?

How can you tell if a chimney sweep is qualified? You need to look for a few key factors when deciding whether a chimney sweep service is competent to take care of your chimney. Here’s how you can confidently vet the qualifications of a chimney sweep. 

Check Their Website

The easiest way to determine whether a chimney sweep is legitimate is to visit their website (no website is a clear red flag) and check whether they are certified (NFI or CSIA); if they are, you can count on them to have the knowledge to inspect, clean, or repair your chimney correctly. The certification agencies are not-for-profit organizations, so a business can’t simply buy a certification; it must be earned through instruction and testing. 

Check Online Reviews

The second way to ensure a chimney sweep is qualified is through their reputation. It’s simple to find customer reviews on websites like Google and Yelp. On those sites, customers can leave ratings and detailed descriptions of their experiences with a chimney sweep service. 

You can also check your local Better Business Bureau’s website to determine if the chimney sweep service has had any complaints in the last few years; if they have, the chances are they are not certified. You can ask a chimney sweep service for a list of references to contact if you prefer a more direct method, though the customers are usually friendly with the company.

What a Certified Chimney Sweep Can Do for You

A NFI or CSIA-certified chimney sweep can do the following things:

• Discover whether there are any potential fire threats from creosote buildup or blockages, which could cause a chimney fire or backdraft carbon monoxide into your home, respectively.
• Clean your fireplace without causing damage or spreading soot throughout your home.
• Determine if any components inside your fireplace are damaged and need to be replaced.
• Can advise you on heating and cooling issues, such as a poor draft in your fireplace or the type of wood you are using.

Qualified chimney sweeps can advise you on these issues and more.

Trust the Certified and Experienced Chimney Solutions Chimney to Care for Your Chimney

Our chimney sweeps are certified by both the National Fireplace Institute (NFI) and the Chimney Institute of America (CSIA), and we are members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG). If you want qualified chimney sweeps you can depend on in Chattanooga, look no further than Chimney Solutions. Don’t trust an unqualified and inexperienced chimney sweep; we are professionals who will treat your home as if it were our own. Contact us today and find out why homeowners in Southeastern Tennessee trust us with their chimneys.