The chimney sweep you hire to clean your chimney has a great impact on the sanity of your chimney; therefore, you should ensure that you hire the right one. For you to hire the right contractor, you need to look out for a number of things. Some of these things include:
NFI certification
NFI certifications are more advanced set of certifications that are given by the chimney sweep institute of America. A professional with the certification has the necessary experience with the use and maintenance of wood, gas, and pellet burning appliances.
When hiring, ask for proof of NFI certification. You should note that some chimney companies might be certified, but they might send out technicians that haven’t earned the certification.
In such a case, you should allow the contractor to work on your chimney as he/she is most likely knowledgeable and has the necessary experience on chimney use, cleaning, and maintenance.
References
Just like in any other industry, you want to work with an experienced professional. There are two ways in which you can find the references: you can go online and see the customer reviews, or ask the chimney company to give it to you.
When you get the references don’t be just like everyone else where you simply look at the reviews and go ahead with hiring the company. The best way out is to contact the different individuals. Ask them about their experience with the company and whether they would recommend it.
As rule of thumb, you should work with a company with good reviews. You don’t want one that will disappoint you along the way.
Identification
If you are working with a large company, the company will send you a technician to work on your chimney. You should note that some people might try to gain entry into your house under false pretense.
For you to ensure that the person you are allowing into your home is the right one, always ask about their identification. Most reputable chimney companies will have badges on their uniforms and will give their employees identification cards.
When you receive the card, take time to contact the company and confirm that they are the real contractors and not impostors. The last thing you want is your home broken into later on.
Regardless of how fast you want to clean your chimney, avoid hiring solicitors that move from door-to-door seeking clients as they are the ones that come back to your home later on to steal.
Insurance coverage
Does the chimney cleaning company have a liability insurance coverage? You should get to know about this. For you to be covered in the event of an accident on your site or the company messes up, you should hire a company that has the liability insurance coverage.
Some people or companies will say that they have the coverage, and yet they don’t have it. For you to be sure, ask the company to supply you with it, before you do anything. The last thing you want is working with a company that is lying to you.
On time service
When you are looking to clean your chimney, you want a company that will provide you with the service within the shortest time possible. If you interview the company and they aren’t sure when they will show up, you should be cautious when making an appointment with them as they will most likely fail you.
In addition to the company showing up late, it also might never show up at all, putting your life and that of your loved ones at risk as the creosote levels keep on rising.
For you to be certain that the company will provide you with the service that you are looking for and at the right time, work with a company that gives you a clear date and time when they will avail themselves.
Professional appearance and attitude
A professional company should value your home or business. While the chimney cleaning services Columbia MD technician will be doing a messy job, they should be properly groomed and presentable. If you have a question, the company should provide you with the right answers, and respond to you in a professional manner.
