Planning on using your fireplace again and need a chimney sweep to check it out? Hiring one is easy but make sure that you ask them these five important questions before you take the next step!
One of the best parts about the onset of fall and winter is that you can give your home a rosy glow by firing up the fireplace. It is that time of the year, where you curl up next to a warm fire with hot chocolate and maybe a nice book. While this sets a nice image in your mind, it can be a little bit more complicated than that. Having a fireplace means that you need to maintain it regularly.
The biggest problems with having a fireplace is that you don’t always keep it clean or ensure that it is not falling into despair once winter is over. In fact, most of the homeowners in places like Dallas and other cities don’t even check out the condition of their fireplaces until it is time to fire it up again. This is why you need to get a chimney sweep beforehand. Here are some important questions to ask them before hiring:
- Duration
Since you surely need to get your chimney checked out before you decide to use the fireplace again, you have to make sure that you know how long the chimney sweep has been in this business for? If they have been working as a Chimney sweep in Dallas or other areas for a long time, they will be able to understand how the different fireplaces work and where to check for any problems. This can range from bird nests to even bricks falling!
- References
If you are approaching a company for a chimney sweep, make sure that the references they offer, are for people who are currently working. Most of the time, these companies do not update their lists and can lead you on a wide hunt for the right chimney sweep unnecessarily. The companies’ references are very important aspects to consider.
- Business Liability Insurance
Make sure that you ask the company if they have this insurance before you hire them. This serves as a backup for as well as the company in case of any mishandling or destruction to the property. In case the company does not have liability insurance and cannot pay back the amount, you will end up spending a lot of money to fix your chimney.
- Complaints
Make sure that you clear with the company about the kind of feedback they receive and if they have any unresolved complaints against them. This is usually a red flag, and you are better off choosing another chimney sweep!
- Certification
The company has to make sure that the chimney sweep that they are providing you has all the necessary qualifications and is certified enough to carry out the job smoothly and professionally. This will give you a peace of mind as well, and you can trust them to do a good job too.
These five questions are very important. Be it a Chimney sweep in Dallas or anywhere in the USA, hire only if they check out all these questions and you are satisfied with the response!