It is important in selecting the right chimney sweep for you because there is big difference among sweeps in the industry.

You can't tell which company is best for you based on the size of the phone book advertising...

Just because a chimney company is large and nationally known, doesn't mean they offer the kind of quality or service that we offer here at the Chimney Department.

Not only are our Service Technicians Certified Chimney Sweeps and Certified Dryer Duct Exhaust Technicians through the Chimney Safety Institute of America....they are all Professional Full-Time Firefighters, working here on their off-duty time.

All our service technicians are experienced pros at what they do...and they have all experienced the devastating destruction of a home fire caused by either a poorly maintained chimney or dryer vent.

We feel being firefighters makes a significant difference in the chimney industry.

According to your President, a 30-veteran Professional Firefighter and Certified Chimney Sweep...

“Fires and chimneys are what I know best, I like to educate customers about fire safety and the proper use of their fireplaces and chimneys. In my career, I’ve seen a lot of house fires and improper uses of fireplaces. So I like to think I’m in the prevention business.”

Because chimney sweeps play such an important part of your safety, and since the nature of their work requires that they come into your home, it's important that you choose a chimney sweep that you trust completely. 

The Chimney Service Professional

The primary job of a chimney service professional is to aid in the prevention of fires related to fireplaces, wood stoves, gas, oil and coal heating systems and the chimneys that serve them. Chimney sweeps install, clean and maintain these systems, evaluate their performance, prescribe changes to improve their performance, and educate the consumer about their safe and efficient operation.

In doing their primary job of inspecting and sweeping chimneys, chimney professionals also function as on-the-job fire prevention specialists. They are constantly on the lookout for unsafe conditions that can cause home fires or threaten residents with dangerous or unhealthy indoor air quality.

Consequently, there are many poorly equipped, unprepared people offering their "services" as chimney sweeps. There are some who have studied and worked to become capable sweeps. Still others offer incompetent service, but leave their customers with a false sense of well-being.

So, whether or not you choose to have the Chimney Department service your home, the least we can do is help you to know what to look for so that you can make the best decision for your situation. Here is a checklist of 10 things to look for in a chimney sweep:

1. Expertise in the field:Perhaps the best way to gauge expertise is to check whether or not the sweep has been certified. To check if your sweep is certified check the list of certified sweeps in your area by visiting the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Chimney Sweep Guild website. Your home and family are too important to trust to just anyone. Make sure that your sweep has received professional training, that they have the equipment necessary for your job, and that they know how to use it properly.
2. Strong references: Check references and see if the sweep has a history of satisfied customers. Some may have a record of customer evaluations; others may offer to have you call references.
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3. Membership in a sweep organization: Members of organizations are afforded opportunities for ongoing training and are usually better informed about the profession than those sweeps that are not. Up-to-date certifications and licenses signify that the sweep has the knowledge and expertise to be effective. However, just because a chimney sweep is a member of an organization, does not mean he/she is certified. Unfortunately the chimney sweeping business is an unregulated industry, so make sure the company you hire is legitimate. Being members of organizations that provide certification training on chimneys, fireplaces and even fire prevention, lends a high degree of credibility. Certified chimney sweeps and professional firefighters, such as the Chimney Department personnel, have the long-standing experience, and have also seen first hand, the devastation that chimney fires cause.
4. Insurance: Find out if your sweep has full coverage insurance; it's rare that you'll need it, but a simple mistake, even from the most experienced sweep may cause damage. So make sure they're insured, and find out what their policy covers.
5. Good character:Pay attention to how you feel with them. There's no guaranteed way to gauge character, but make sure that you're comfortable with the sweep, and do your best to determine whether or not the sweep is someone you want in your home.
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6. Timeliness: A professional sweep is punctual. There are times when staying on schedule is sometimes impossible to manage, but when changes occur, your sweep should notify you if he or she ever needs to change an appointment time.
7. Professional Appearance: Sweeps should have the courtesy to wear clean clothes, and clean up after the service is complete. They should have clean uniforms, a clean vehicle, and clean equipment.
8. Open communication: The best sweeps will listen to your questions and concerns. They will provide services with the goal of winning your business for life, and they will understand that that kind of relationship requires that they take the time to answer your questions.
9. Have your best interest in mind: An excellent sweep will provide services that you need and that will help you, and not pressure you to buy things just so that they can get more money from you. A trustworthy sweep will tell you how to get the best deals and services.
10. Customer Retention: You want a sweep that has loyalty from his or her customers. A sweep should have longstanding customer relationships. Anyone can get fooled into buying a bad service, but few people would stay with a sweep after they've done an unsatisfactory job.