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Beat the Fall Rush and Get Your Chimney Inspections and Repairs Done Now

In the chimney and fireplace industry, late spring and summer is considered the off-season. This is when burning season has finished and emergency calls decrease to a standstill. It frees up the schedule for the chimney sweep companies, and allows customers the freedom to get work done at their convenience.

The Fall Rush

When the weather becomes cool some homeowners need to have their chimney swept or inspected before use. Others may be caught without proper wood to burn, and decide to burn wood that isn’t suitable, essentially causing problems in the chimney system. Still others may have had a chimney sweep or inspection in the spring or summer, but forgot to followup for some repairs. So instead of using the fireplace for home heating, they have to wait until the chimney sweep can fit them in to have repairs made. The fall rush is not a great time to need a chimney sweep.

Tips and Tricks to Beat the Rush

It’s not hard to beat the fall rush, but it will save you a headache in the long run. Here are a few tips to get you going:

—Summer Appointments
Homeowners can simply schedule inspections and repairs during the off-season. By scheduling your chimney appointments now, you are more likely to prevent costly damage to your chimney, fireplace, and home or property. Also, if your chimney needs repairs, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to make the repairs now, before an entire summer of rain and warm weather can possibly penetrate the chimney.

—Forward Scheduling
Homeowners can schedule appointments in advance, so they’re taken care of when they need them. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends a yearly, level 1 inspection for homes that have had no changes. Since this is also a requirement of most homeowners insurance, it’s not something you can or should avoid. So schedule in advance. Schedule a year in advance, and don’t worry about it for a year!

—Preventative Measures
There are many things a homeowner can do to prevent problems with the chimney. For instance, choosing proper wood for burning in the fireplace, and also by choosing NOT to burn non-organic substances. Burning trash, clothes, plastic, or treated wood is never a good idea.

Homeowners can also discuss preventative measures with their chimney sweep. Chimney sweeps and inspections are very important measures to take, but waterproofing is also a very easy and inexpensive way to prevent a lot of damage.

The old Benjamin Franklin saying is true: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By preventing damage, you won’t need to make an emergency call to your chimney sweep in the middle of the fall rush.

Call Chief Chimney Services today to schedule your appointment now.

Benefits of a Chimney Video Inspection

If you own a home or business with a fireplace and chimney system, there are a few things you need to know. First, the maintenance of the chimney system is of top priority and ensures the safety of your family or customers. Second, proper maintenance of your chimney system protects your property. Basically, this preventative maintenance is essential for buildings with chimney systems.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® (CCS). It’s during these important inspections that problems are discovered, and can be addressed and repairs can be made before burning season.

Routinely, the three types of inspections are done various ways. A level 1 inspection is an inspection of everything readily accessible to the inspector and should be performed yearly if no changes occur with chimney use. A level 2 inspection is required if changes have been made to the system or if property has been sold or transferred. A level 2 inspection includes everything readily accessible as well as everything that is accessible around chimney interior and exterior, including attics, crawl spaces, and basements. A level 3 inspection is required if there are concerns in a level 1 or 2 inspection, and may require removal of components of the building or chimney to gain access to worrisome areas of the chimney system.

Video Technology and Chimney Inspections

Because the chimney is a closed system, and a large portion of it is hidden from the naked eye, only a professional should assess them. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that all Level 2 inspections are to include a video surveillance of the inside and outside of the chimney system and Chief Chimney Services is equipped to do just that.

Chief Chimney Sweeps are CSIA certified and trained in NFPA protocols. Our CCTV (closed-circuit television) video camera system records in real-time and provides a professional-grade surveillance picture. This allows our chimney sweeps to see a detailed picture of the entire interior and exterior of the chimney, and since it’s in real time, they can assess problem areas thoroughly as soon as they see them. Homeowners also receive video footage to assist in real estate or insurance reports.

Other Benefits to Video Surveillance

In addition to video footage, when you hire Chief Chimney Services to perform your inspection, you will receive a detailed report. Our reports are thorough and accurate with the help of our video inspection, and make it possible for our chimney sweeps to provide a repair plan, detailing each crack, gap, obstruction, deterioration, creosote buildup, or other damage.

We at Chief Chimney Services put customers above all else and understand the importance of a safe and functional chimney system. With our video inspection system, we will provide the answers you’re looking for and get your chimney back to work in no time! Call and schedule your video inspection or make an online appointment today!