Having a fireplace at home gives you the privilege of feeling warm and cozy during the winter. It also acts as a gathering place for your family while relaxing from a long day. If you have one at home, you can be sure that you will have some quality bonding time with your loved ones, especially when the weather starts to turn colder. On the flip side, there are many problems that can lead to dangerous circumstances with a fireplace in your home. One of the things that you must do if you have a fireplace is to see to it that it is clean and that it is performing well. To make sure that your chimney is clean is to make sure that your home is safe. That is why getting a chimney sweep to inspect your chimney is of the utmost importance. However, when hiring a chimney sweep, there are many things that you have to consider.
When getting a chimney sweep, make sure that they are licensed to do the job at hand. Make sure that they can provide with some references of work they have done. You do not want the money you are spending to go to waste. Also, make sure they are listed with the state of better business bureau, and check out their reviews. Also, ask them if they have business liability insurance. You do not want your belongings to get damaged only to find out that they will never be replaced.
Also, always check with the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) to see if they are certified in their trade. The CSIA recommends that you do an annual inspection of your chimney. Another question to ask is how long they have been doing business. Training may be a good sign, but experience can be just as important. Lastly, ask for their rates. Compare them to others and see whether the price they are offering seems too good to be true or if they are overpricing. When it comes to dangers such as a fire destroying your home, or carbon monoxide poisoning, you don’t want to skimp on finding a qualified chimney sweep for your home inspection.