How to Spot and Avoid Chimney Cleaning Service Scams

Dec 10, 2024

When it comes to keeping your home safe, the importance of hiring a trusted and qualified chimney service company cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, many homeowners fall victim to less-than-reputable service providers offering low initial prices, only to deliver substandard work or rack up unexpected costs.

At Chimney Clean Co., we’ve heard firsthand accounts of such scenarios, and we want to help you avoid them. This blog is designed to provide you with clear guidelines to ensure you choose a reliable and professional chimney service.

Red Flags to Watch For When Hiring Chimney Services

  1. Unmarked Vehicles and Unprofessional Appearance
    • Legitimate companies typically operate branded, insured vehicles for easy identification.
    • Technicians should wear uniforms and present themselves professionally.
  2. Inadequate Tools and Equipment
    • Reliable providers use specialized tools to thoroughly inspect and clean chimneys.
    • Equipment purchased from general stores often indicates lack of proper preparation.
  3. High-Pressure Sales and Inflated Estimates
    • Beware of technicians who quickly recommend expensive repairs without proper inspection.
    • Legitimate companies provide detailed assessments and clear estimates upfront.
  4. Lack of Roof Inspection
    • A thorough inspection involves evaluating the chimney from both inside and the rooftop.
    • If technicians avoid the roof or seem untrained, consider it a warning sign.

Key Questions to Ask Your Chimney Service Provider

  1. How Long Have You Been in Business?
    • Choose companies with a proven track record. For example, Chimney Clean Co. has proudly served the South Bay Area since 1990.
  2. Are You Licensed and Insured?
    • Verify the company holds a valid contractor’s license.
    • Ensure they carry workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.
  3. Are Technicians Employees or Subcontractors?
    • Reputable companies hire employees who undergo background checks and drug testing to guarantee customer safety.
  4. What Vehicles and Equipment Do You Use?
    • Look for company-branded, insured vehicles and professional-grade tools for the job.
  5. What Training Do Your Technicians Receive?
    • At Chimney Clean Co., technicians apprentice under experienced professionals and complete at least 75 supervised inspections before working independently.

Why Choosing a Trusted Provider Matters

Hiring a licensed, insured, and well-trained team ensures:

  • Your chimney is cleaned and inspected thoroughly for safety.
  • Necessary repairs are identified and addressed correctly.
  • Your investment is protected, and your home remains safe for your family.

Our Promise to You

At Chimney Clean Co., we’ve built a legacy of trust and excellence over 34 years. When you hire us, you can expect:

  • Highly trained, drug-free technicians.
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
  • Thorough inspections and professional results every time.

If you’re in need of professional chimney services, don’t settle for less. Call Chimney Clean Co. at (408) 265-1010 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Stay Vigilant: Protect your home and family by hiring only licensed, insured, and professional chimney service providers. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!

We clean your chimney before it becomes a danger to your home

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Smoking back

There are many fireplaces that seem to smoke back into the house no matter what is done. In our experience, the most common cause is that the fireplace simply needs to be cleaned. This is especially likely if the fireplace has gotten worse over time, that is, the smoking back is worse now than it used to be.

Several other possible causes of smoking back are problems with the damper, chimney cap, grate, firewood, or structural problems with the chimney itself. At Chimney Clean Company, we do a full inspection with every cleaning, or we can also do just the inspection if the chimney doesn’t need to be cleaned. This inspection is designed to reveal any causes of smoking back.

Broken chimneys

In the Bay Area, many chimneys were broken in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Usually, these chimneys are broken at or near the roof line, although sometimes they can be broken further down, even at the ground level.

We are fully licensed masonry contractors. We rebuild broken chimneys. If they are broken at the roof line, this usually entails taking the chimney part of the way down brick by brick, installing steel reinforcing bars, getting an inspection from a city inspector, then rebuilding the chimney back up around the steel rebar.

Missing mortar or damaged bricks

Over time, many chimneys develop places that are missing mortar between bricks, or damaged bricks, either inside the firebox or on the outside of the chimney. These areas can usually be repaired, either by replacing the missing mortar or replacing the bricks themselves. Items such as these can be dangerous because they can allow flames, sparks or hot gases to enter the structure of the house.

Water entry

Sometimes the metal that seals the chimney at the roof, called “flashing”, will come loose or develop leaks. In this case, water sometimes comes into the ceiling of the room and causes water spots and stains on the sheet rock. This flashing should be repaired before the water causes more damage.