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New Orleans Chimney Sweep

Overview

Finding a Qualified New Orleans Chimney Sweeping Company

Each year people invest in improving and repairing their home, yet they overlook a very important part of the home that could pose a serious danger if neglected. Many people tend to think that a chimney only needs regular inspection and cleaning by a New Orleans chimney sweeping company if they use wood in their wood stove or fireplace. While chimneys attached to wood burning appliances do need extra attention, the truth is no matter what fuel you use, wood, coal, oil or gas, any appliance that heats your home depends on the chimney to safely remove the toxic gases that are created.
New Orleans chimney sweeping professionals provide a very necessary service for those that heat their home with any type of fuel, especially those with fire places and wood burning stoves. Routine cleaning done by a professional New Orleans chimney sweeping company is a peculiarly important step in preventing chimney fires. A chimney fire can be caused by a buildup of a highly flammable black sticky substance called creosote. Creosote forms on the lining of the chimney due to the incomplete combustion of condensed smoke. In some instances a chimney fire may be limited to the chimney but sparks and heat created can ignite other nearby combustible objects, such as the interiors of walls, attic spaces or the roof.

Considerations Before Hiring any New Orleans Chimney Sweeping Contractor

You could clean the chimney yourself or call a reliable New Orleans chimney sweeping professional to do the job for you. Before you decide to tackle the job yourself you need ask yourself a few questions. Are you afraid of heights or do you have experience using a ladder? Do you even own a ladder? Are you in good physical shape? Chimney cleaning can be tiring, to say nothing of the associated dangers, time involved and the mess you’ll need to clean up. Ultimately you might find you’re better off having the job done by a qualified New Orleans chimney sweeping company.

Increased demand for chimney sweeping services has lead to a number of disreputable companies cropping up with the only intention being to take your money and run. So it’s very important that you do a thorough background investigation of any New Orleans chimney sweeping company you might consider hiring. Make certain you ask for ID verification and any other necessary documentation. Call your local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have ever been filed.

Important Questions for the New Orleans Chimney Sweeping Company

Before you decide to hire any New Orleans chimney sweeping company, you should ask about the company's qualifications or the chimney sweep's degree of training. A trained chimney sweep should do more than run a wire brush through the chimney several times and leave. Most chimney sweeping companies belong to trade associations and must follow strict training guidelines. A New Orleans chimney sweeping professional that works independently may often receive their certification by taking courses from a local fire safety training center.

Make certain the New Orleans chimney sweeping professional is insured. A chimney sweep, just like any other contractor, should possess up to date liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Don’t mistakenly believe that your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover any mishaps. It may not. Whenever you hire someone to do work on your home or property, there’s the real possibility of an accident happening. If the New Orleans chimney sweeping contractor doesn’t have insurance you could be held liable for a lifetime of medical and other expenses. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

Pricing of a New Orleans chimney sweeping service can sometimes be an indication of the quality or extent of the job they do. It takes more than brushing down the interior of a chimney to do a good job but if you’re offered a cut rate price that could be all you’ll get for your money. Get quotes from a few different chimney sweeping companies to find out the current average pricing. If a price seems comparatively low, you may not be getting the quality of service that you need. The peace of mind you’ll receive from having the job done right will be worth the extra money you’ll spend for a qualified New Orleans chimney sweeping professional.

If you’re worried about the cost, you can hire a New Orleans chimney sweeping service that only handles cleaning and inspections. Some chimney sweeps work for large heating equipment and maintenance companies and if they discover any problems they may try to convince you to have work done that you can’t afford. While repairs may indeed be necessary you should be able to choose the contractor of your choice to do the job and possibly at a better price with more affordable terms. It’s part of a New Orleans chimney sweeping company’s job to point out problems and potential dangers but you should never feel obligated to have them do the work.

Making an Appointment with a reputable New Orleans Chimney Sweeping Contractor

Remember that timing is important. If you need to hire a New Orleans chimney sweeping professional be sure to plan ahead. Many people will want to hire a chimney sweep just before the onset of the heating season only to discover there is a long waiting list. A chimney sweeping contractor has a busy season just like any contractor and if you wait until the last minute to schedule an appointment you may be out of luck. Late spring or summer may be a much better time to schedule a chimney cleaning since it’s likely that the New Orleans chimney sweeping company won’t be so busy.

It’s important to make sure your chimney is in good condition no matter what type of fuel you use to heat your home. Two or three cleanings during the heating season is not considered excessive if you rely heavily on wood as a source of heat. Even if you only use your fireplace or wood stove for the occasional ambiance you should have your chimney inspected on a regular basis. A yearly cleaning and inspection by a qualified New Orleans chimney sweeping service is a small price to pay to protect your family from the dangers associated with chimney fires and dangerous carbon monoxide gases.