DON'T BE SCAMMED! READ BELOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF!
Chimney sweeping scam Alert, beware!
To our valued customers, fellow residents, and businesses. Be cautious of who you book appointments with to sweep and inspect your chimney. The latest report states that a few regionally local companies (mostly from New York) are telemarketing our customers stating ridiculously low prices for chimney services. They are known to use scare tactics once they are in the home and tell you "that you must have a liner or your house will burn down" or "you'll die from carbon monoxide poisoning". They will also just happen be driving around with a 35' piece of chimney liner to install in your chimney for thousands of dollars. This is unethical behavior and could result in several worse case scenarios. For instance:
• The diameter of your vent pipe may not match up to the diameter of the liner being installed which could cause catestrophic results to your home's heating system.
• They are not using the necessary hardware to correctly install a properly configured lining system which could cause harm to your health and your home.
• If anything goes wrong, which it will, they will not be available to remedy the problem.
• And most importantly, you may not have needed the liner in the first place.
• Furthermore, the remedy may prove to be more expensive than it should have originally cost.
• Only hire Certified, licensed, and insured Chimney Sweeps with references from legitimate and happy customers! Inspect your chimneys annually and sweep your chimney as necessary per the recommendation of the National Fire Protection Association, the National Chimney Sweep Guild, and the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
• Go to www.csia.org and find out what guidelines the Chimney Safety Institute of America has for hiring a chimney professional.
