Things to Consider in a Professional Chimney Sweep

Chimney sweeping and professional services

Chimney sweeping and professional services

Getting the chimney swept and cleaned up on a regular basis is not something that is a priority for most of us. Yet, the fact remains that leaving a chimney unclean is quite hazardous. In a chimney that hasn’t been swept, creosote builds up and emits deadly gases that can cause death. Moreover, the build-up can clog the chimney leading to structural fires.

However, it isn’t just the deadly consequences of not having your chimney cleaned that you need to keep in mind. The fact is that having your chimney cleaned on a regular basis ensures that the flue system lasts longer and works more efficiently. Considering all these factors, it becomes very important that you have the chimney cleaned at least once a year. If you use the fireplace frequently, it may be advisable for you to have the chimney cleaned two or three times a year.

If you are in Kent and you go looking for a Chimney sweep in PaddockWood, Kent, TN12, don’t just hire the first one that you find. Thanks to the high demand for such services, there are plenty of operators in the region. Unfortunately, not all of them can be relied upon. As such, here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when hiring a chimney sweep service.

Certifications – Don’t just take the word of the service with regards to their competence. Check for their qualifications. Although there are no regulations that govern chimney sweep services, there are chimney sweep associations that provide certifications. Some of these associations are HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme), Gas Safe, NACS (National Association of Chimney Sweeps) and The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. HETAS decides upon the industry standards with regards to the heating industry. Gas Safe qualifies chimney sweeps to work with gas fireplaces in which carbon monoxide is the primary hazard. The NACS has a Code of Practice and a Code of Conduct that all its members must adhere to strictly. The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps runs professional courses and carries out assessments.

Experience – Just like you would for any other service, consider experience when it comes to hiring a chimney sweep service. Find out how long the service has been operating and what types of chimneys they have experience with. The chimney sweep you hire should be confident and knowledgeable when answering your questions – traits that come not just from good training but from plenty of experience in the field. If you aren’t sure about the service, ask them to put you in touch with previous customers or go to the website of the service and check out the recommendations there.

Insurance – Considering the hazard a badly cleaned chimney can pose to your safety, it is supremely important that you hire a chimney sweep service that has adequate insurance. To ensure that you are dealing with a reliable service, ask them about their insurance liability cover – what the amount of the cover is and what contingencies they are insured for. A company with proper cover will not only protect its employees in case of any accidents while cleaning a chimney but will also cover you in case any property of yours is damaged while the chimney is being cleaned. It is not very likely that such damages will occur but remember that in case they do and the chimney sweep service does not have insurance, you’ll end up paying for both the service and the damages.

You may have noticed that cost hasn’t been mentioned as a factor you should consider. This is because while it may be tempting to go for a service that charges low rates, you don’t want to end up with a chimney that is badly cleaned. The hazards posed by such chimneys both in terms of fire risks and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide are too high to cavil about how much the service costs.

The following two tabs change content below.
Adrice White is an experienced chimney sweep working in England. He takes an interest in writing articles on smokestack cleaning. He has been in this field for the last 10 years. You can avail more information about Chimney sweep Tunbridge Wells from his recent articles and blog posts.