Our Company Blog

Reasons to Choose a CSIA Certified Sweep

If you need to get a job done, get it done right the first time. And if you can’t do the job yourself, then make sure you hire the right people for the job so it gets done correctly. There’s not much worse than thinking you have a repair job finished only to find out that the person you hired didn’t know how to do the job like it needed to be done. One way to be sure that you’re hiring the right person? Check out their credentials.

Hiring the Right Chimney Sweep

When it comes to hiring a chimney sweep, it’s the same idea. You want to hire the very best in the business to do the job right. So what do you need to do? Check their credentials. When it comes to chimney sweeps, the top certification in the industry is certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). When you hire a CSIA certified chimney sweep, you know that they are trained in all of the most up-to-date information, technologies, and techniques so that your chimney will be in top-notch condition. You might be wondering what CSIA certification really means, though.

In order to earn CSIA certification, chimney professionals first go through an intensive study program using a variety of materials and different publications which thoroughly cover all aspects of chimney cleaning, inspections, and repair work. Because CSIA understands the importance of review, they offer several opportunities to review all the information, and if anyone wants more educational opportunities, there’s a six-day training session that CSIA members are welcome to attend as well. After the training is complete, in order to finish the training, all attendees are required to take a 90 minute exam which will show a depth of understanding of the chimney sweep industry, current practices, and industry standards.

Questions to Ask

According to Angie’s List, there are several questions you should ask a chimney sweep before you hire. For example, you’ll want to know how established the chimney sweep company is, how long they have been in business. At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, we’ve been in the business for 30 years. We are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and hold an A+ rating, which goes a long way towards proving that our customers are satisfied with the work that we do. One thing that Angie’s List stresses are the importance of hiring a sweep with CSIA certification. At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service, we are proud to hold this certification and to make sure that our employees stay up to date on this valuable proof of our professionalism and competence.

If you are looking to have your chimney inspected and cleaned, give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc a call soon. We’ll make sure that you are completely satisfied with the service you receive.

Summertime is Best for Chimney Repair Work

Summer is the best time to do a lot of things. Swimming at the beach, hiking, wearing shorts and tank tops, canoeing. All of these things are so much better when the weather is warm and sunny! There are other things that are better to do in the summer as well. One of these things is getting your chimney repaired. There are several good reasons for this. Unfortunately, if you wait too long and the weather gets bad, it simply isn’t possible to be out in the elements working in the cold and snow.

Why Summer is Better

First of all, winter is hard on your chimney. You spend a lot of time in the winter burning fires. Heating the rooms in your home or using your fireplace recreationally adds a cozy ambiance on a cold evening! Over the course of the winter, creosote builds up in your chimney and the freeze/thaw cycle takes place. Consequently, sometimes you can even have a chimney fire that goes undetected. It’s a great idea to have your chimney inspected and cleaned right away in the summer. So, if any repairs are necessary, you will have the summer to arrange for the work to be done.

Another reason that it’s a good idea to have your chimney work done in the summer is simple courtesy. If you were a worker, it’s certain you’d prefer to work outdoors during the summer instead of in the cold and wind. Not only is this courteous, but it could also get the work finished more quickly. Is your repair work is being done on the exterior of your home? If so, rain, wind, or cold weather might delay that work for days or even weeks! If you want the job done in a timely manner, consider scheduling the work in the summer months. This is because the likelihood of severe weather conditions aren’t as likely.

There are also some jobs that need heat. One example of this is masonry work or tuckpointing. If the mortar between the bricks or blocks of your chimney is beginning to peel or flake, it will need to be replaced. This procedure is called tuckpointing. Because of the nature and consistency of mortar, it requires a certain amount of time to cure or dry. This works best in warm weather. For a stronger, more reliable job of tuckpointing, or any other mortar work, you’ll want to have the work done in warm weather.

Call the Best

All repair needs aren’t visible to the untrained eye. Therefore, the first step you should take is to call a CSIA certified professional from Chim Cheroo Chimney Service to inspect your chimney and to advise you on necessary repairs. If you don’t need repairs, they’ll be able to give your chimney a thorough cleaning and then you’ll be set. If repairs are needed, you’ll be able to get scheduled for the work and get it done quickly and efficiently!