Chimney Care Company's Blog
Why We Emphasize Training at the Chimney Care Co.
What do you look for when you’re searching for a new doctor? A dentist? A mechanic? What about a contractor? Trained and knowledgeable professionals of their field are the most desireably candidates. You want to be sure that they have the expertise to deal with your basic needs, as well as any complications that may arise. It should be no different when you search for a chimney sweep. At the Chimney Care Co., we emphasize training so you know your chimney is in good hands.
What Should Your Chimney Sweep Know?
Chimney sweeps have the potential to do real harm when they don’t know what they’re doing. At the most basic level, an inexperienced chimney sweep might not fully clear your chimney from creosote or debris that could cause a chimney fire or carbon monoxide backup. Even worse, they could damage your chimney liner or hearth appliance. An inexperienced or untrained sweep might miss damage or a defect in your hearth system that could put your chimney, or your home, at risk.
First and foremost, your chimney sweep should know how to properly clean your chimney and fireplace or heating stove. He or she also should know how to identify damage or malfunctions. If your chimney sweep is cleaning and inspecting the chimney in a new home, he or she should be trained in code and proper clearance so he or she can verify that your heating appliance are properly installed and safe for use. Finally, if your chimney sweep is servicing your hearth appliance or repairing your chimney, he or she should be trained in maintaining and servicing heating appliances, and in the proper installation and repair of chimneys, fireplaces and heating stoves.
How do you Know if Your Chimney Sweep is Trained?
Chimney sweeps, unlike other professions, don’t require licensing to let people know that they’ve been properly trained in their field. That’s why it’s so important that when you look for a chimney sweep, you look for a chimney sweep that’s certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). To become CSIA certified, chimney sweeps must train and take an exam that demonstrates that they know best practices for cleaning, inspecting, repairing and building chimneys, as well as for installing and servicing hearth appliances. Sweeps also must demonstrate that they understand building codes and clearances pertaining to chimneys and hearth appliances. In addition, chimney sweeps must regularly retake the exam or prove that they’ve undergone additional training to maintain CSIA certification.
At the Chimney Care Co., we take our job seriously. We’re properly clean and service your chimneys and hearth appliances to keep your home safe from fire, water damage or carbon monoxide leakage. We emphasize training so we know our technicians are providing you with the best chimney care. Call to schedule your Chimney Care Co. appointment today!
Why you should review your chimney sweep
We live in an era of online reviews. Before most people make a purchasing or hiring decision — whether it’s deciding which restaurant to go to or which contractor to hire — they research the business to see what others have said about the business online. An online review can greatly hurt or help a business’s success.
What you might not realize is that when you provide a review of your chimney sweep, you benefit more than just the company; you help your neighbors and even yourself.
How reviews help the business
It is pretty clear that a well-reviewed business likely will do better than one with bad reviews. If you have a positive experience with your chimney sweep, you absolutely should provide them with a good online review! Providing your chimney sweep with a positive online review is a great way to support a small, local business and to thank your chimney sweep for their exemplary service.
How reviews help your neighbor
As we have observed, most people now research businesses online before they make hiring or purchasing decision. Your online review can help you neighbor to make a good decision. An honest review can help steer your neighbors to the right company, saving them from the hassle or dealing with poor service or from wasting their money all together. Additionally, your review can help your neighbor make an educated purchasing decision that they feel confident with.
How reviews help you
You might not realize it, but leaving online reviews of your chimney sweep can help you, too! Potential customers aren’t the only ones who read online reviews; the companies that are reviewed read those reviews as well. A smart company will learn from and react to those reviews. A good online review will detail honestly what you did and did not like about your chimney service. Your chimney sweep will read your honest feedback and work to improve what you did not like, which means you will see better service the next time you are in the market for chimney services.
Keep in mind that there are a few guidelines involved in writing a good online review that helps your neighbor, the business and you. Never write a review while you are upset about the service, as others will see that anger and question the fairness of your review, and the business likely will be less willing to help you resolve the issue you are upset about. Second, make describe the service in detail. Include pertinent details that will give others a clear picture of your service. Finally, make sure your review is free of grammatical and spelling errors, as well as typos. Others are less likely to take your review seriously if it is riddled with obvious mistakes.
Leaving an online review for your chimney sweep won’t take you very long, and your efforts will be appreciated by your neighbors and your chimney sweep — and hopefully, you will be rewarded with even better service in the future!
Spring Checklist for Your Chimney
As days grew shorter and the weather got colder, many of us retreated indoors to the warmth of our homes and hearths. For those homeowners who made used their fireplace(s) during the colder months, spring is a great time to schedule a chimney inspection to make sure your chimney system is in good working order. If your assessment uncovers any issues that give you pause, call in a chimney professional to diagnose the problem before it gets big, expensive, and potentially dangerous. Deterioration of mortar joints, broken or spalled bricks, and water penetration are all signs that your chimney may need repair.
Homeowners who used their fireplace during the colder months should view spring as the perfect time to schedule an inspection to ensure their chimney system is in peak operating condition.
My Mortar is Crumbling
Open mortar joints and cracks in the mortar also cause water to penetrate your brickwork. A good repointing job, using proper materials, will enhance your chimney’s lifespan and will enhance its appearance, too. Repointing is far more than simply forcing some new mortar into your chimney’s cracks. The process requires different skills than traditional masonry, and even brick masons with years of masonry experience might not even have significant experience repointing chimneys.
My Bricks are Cracking and Breaking
Brick is known for its durability, but time and the elements can cause bricks to crumble or flake, a condition commonly referred to as spalling. Spalling is caused when the masonry absorbs too much moisture from rain/snow and is subjected to freeze/thaw cycles. Spalling bricks have cracks and breaks in the surface and often large, crater-shaped chips. The best way to avoid brick spalling is to eliminate the moisture. If the area around your chimney crown is cracked or the cap itself is defective, this allows water to seep into the brickwork below.
Water Penetration is Destroying my Chimney
Chimneys are notorious for leaking; the flashing is a common culprit of these leaks, as it lies at the point where the chimney rises above the roof. It keeps water out of the chimney, protecting both the flue and roof. Flashings are made from a variety of materials—aluminum, copper, galvanized steel, and/or tin. You’ll want to have new chimney flashing installed if yours is missing, rusted through, falling out, or completely covered with roofing tar (a common short-term fix that could be hiding a bigger problem).
An annual inspection of your chimney by a qualified chimney professional should include a thorough examination of the external structure to look for signs of deterioration or weakness, as well as a visual inspection of the flue inside your chimney to ensure that it’s in proper working order, too. The chimney professionals at The Chimney Care Company are fully prepared to meet all of your chimney inspection and repair needs. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today!
Different Levels of Inspection
Let our highly skilled and CSIA certified professionals handle your chimney problems. Make an appointment with us now.
If you are a homeowner and have a fireplace, you need to make sure you are always up to date on your chimney maintenance. Without it, your chimney can become at risk for chimney fires and draft problems. Since chimney sweeping has evolved over time, it can now be done quickly and easily. To schedule your appointment call The Chimney Care Co. today.
Why do I need a sweep?
It is important to have sweeps because creosotes can build up in your chimney, which can then cause harm to your family’s health. The longer you go without a chimney cleaning, the more the creosote builds. As it accumulates, it becomes more and more flammable. Creosote can also cause draft problems, the air will not flow out of the chimney and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Nature can also block your chimney by ways such as animal droppings and leaves and twigs.
It is important to make sure that whoever does the sweep is Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified. This means that the technicians follow the standard guidelines used across the nation that will get you the most of your appointment. Find a certified sweep here.
Level 1 Inspection
Level 1 inspection is the most basic level of sweeping that also comes with an inspection of all the visible parts of the chimney and also your flue. This is what your technician will find beneficial if you keep your maintenance up to date.
Level 2 Inspection
A level two inspection is a little more complex than a level 1 inspection. These are usually required whenever the technician notices a problem in the chimney. If they alert you of a problem do not use the unit, as it could be unsafe. Also, if you change the structure or fuel type of your chimney you will need a level two inspection. Lastly, if you are a new owner to the home you should have a level 2 inspection to familiarize yourself with the structure.
Level 3 Inspection
A level three inspection is the most in depth level of inspection. This is done when a problem starts in the chimney and spread to the home’s foundation and then leads to the removal of part of the home. These instances can be things such as fires or mold. If there has been any damage to your chimney, you need a Level 3 inspection as well. Make sure that no matter what kind of inspection you are having done, you have the space ready for the technicians to work by moving furniture and locking up pets. Also, don’t burn any fire for more than 24 hours to let the chimney cool down.