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.

Restore Your Chimney With A Relining

One of the great thing about your chimney is that it’s a fairly easy system to figure out. It’s a firebox on the inside of the house where you build your fire with a brick and mortar hollow tube. The chimney attached, which allows the smoke from the fire to flow outward. Granted, there are a few more components that make the system work more safely and efficiently.

The damper is part of this, and it is located at the base of the chimney and can be opened to allow air in to help your fire burn hotter while allowing the smoke to leave. There’s also the chimney crown, which keeps rain from falling along the joint where the chimney meets the roof. There is also the chimney cap, which keeps rain, animals, and birds out of your chimney while allowing smoke to leave. And most importabtly, there is your chimney liner. What is it and what does it do? We would like to tell you a little more about the function of it below.

Role of the Chimney Liner

The earliest chimneys were as described above: brick and mortar. However, overtime it was discovered that smoke from a fire has a harmful effect on the mortar, and so the idea to line the chimney with a stainless steel liner came about. This solution was so wonderful that many states require that a chimney flue liner to be installed.

There are three reasons to install a chimney liner. First, smoke can have a corrosive effect on the brick and mortar of the chimney. This creates a dangerous situation because cracks in the mortar allow gases released during combustion to filter back into your home. One of the gases is carbon monoxide. This is an odorless, colorless gas which can cause serious health effects such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and, if left undetected, lead to loss of consciousness and even death.

Another reason a chimney liner is so important is that it keep the combustible items that are inside your home and by your fireplace from getting too hot. According to CSIA, if a chimney is left unlined, heat can get through to cause woodwork to catch fire in as little as 3 ½ hours. Having a chimney liner that fits properly also keep your fireplace running more efficiently. This also helps to keep your energy bills down.

Let Us Help You

Chim Cheroo Chimney Service has been installing stainless steel liners for over 20 years, and we are here to help you. If you need a new chimney liner, give us a call today at 419-752-2231 to get started!