Top 5 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Chimney Sweep Company

In the United States, thousands of fires are started by dirty chimneys. 

When you clean your house, you may not even think about cleaning your chimney. You may not even know how to, which is why so many people hire a company to do it for them.

Before hiring a chimney sweep company do your research. Keep reading for top 5 things you should know:

1. The Industry Isn’t Regulated

You should know that the chimney sweep industry is not regulated. 

Even though it could be a big safety hazard, anyone can decide they want to start their own business because the government doesn’t monitor or track it. 

Someone can start their business without having the proper knowledge or tools; they could know just as much as you do. 

However, there are certifications and licenses that a company can get from associations that are recognized nationally. While it’s not necessary for companies to have these licenses, you should look to see if they have them.

If they do, it’s a good sign that they are more legit and will know what they’re doing and how to handle the cleaning.  

2. Check their Identification

When the company you hire sends a technician out to your home, you should check to make sure that they are actually with the company you hired.

You should also check to make sure that the specific technician is certified. A company can be certified without making sure each individual technician is as well.

Most companies will require their employees to have a badge or some other sort of identification, so you should make sure you ask to see this. If you don’t, you can’t be entirely sure of who you are letting in your home, and you also don’t know if they’re qualified to clean your chimney.

3. Be Aware of Scams

Because there is no regulation, people can easily scam customers by pretending to have a business.

A popular scam is telemarketers calling you and offering you a crazy low price to clean your chimney. However, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. They most likely aren’t a legit business, but rather independent contractors who may or may not be licensed.

4. Prioritize Safety

You should also make sure that you are making sure you are safe. Even if some company offers you a really low price, you would be better off hiring someone who charges more but knows what they’re doing.

If someone doesn’t know what they’re doing, they could leave you and your home at risk of fire because if a chimney is not properly cleaned, your home is exposed to all kinds of hazards. 

5. Read Online Reviews

Lastly, to make sure that you are hiring a legit company, look for online reviews. These are sometimes a good indicator of whether you can trust a company or not.

If you don’t trust the online reviews, ask a friend if they have a company that they trust and use.

Hiring a Chimney Sweep Company Today

Having a regular chimney cleaning can help protect your house from fire and safety hazards.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to find a good company to take care of the cleaning.

So go out and hire a chimney sweep company today