Chimney repair fraud is a real issue here on the Main Line. You need to do your due diligence before signing on the dotted line with just any chimney maintenance service. Low prices can be attractive and you may be tempted to think you are getting an excellent deal. However, with chimney maintenance services, you will likely get what you pay for and it may not be what you really want.
The quality of the work you get for low prices may be sub-par. In fact, low quality chimney maintenance work can result in major issues such as chimney fires and even affect the safety of your family. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps don’t go door to door to drum up business, and will not fabricate a lie to get you to agree to emergency chimney repair. Always get a second opinion if you feel that you may be being taken advantage of.
How to Spot a Fraud
Offering low prices for chimney services, whether a sweep, inspection or cleaning is a clear sign. If you are a new homeowner, you should get some information on the going rates before even considering hiring a chimney service company.
While a company offering low cost chimney maintenance services may be legit, you may find that after the initial inspection you are told that a myriad of things are wrong and need to be fixed. This way, you will need to pay in excess of what was quoted for the job. In many cases, you may be paying for something you do not need.
How to Avoid Being Taken In
Always get more than one bid for a chimney maintenance job until you have found a company or chimney sweep you are comfortable with over the long term. Always ask for references as this is a good way to find reliable and experienced chimney sweeps. In the same breath, if you have received an offer with a too good to be true price, ask for references and check them out.
If you already agreed to a set price and the chimney sweep shows you pictures or damage and claims that this is from your own chimney, get a second opinion. You may be surprised that the pictures are not from your home.
Chimney Inspection
Give me a call at 610-626-2439 if you’re still not sure whether you need to worry about chimney maintenance. One of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service can inspect your chimney to make sure it’s properly serviced each year. When looking for a chimney maintenance service provider always remember the old cliché, that if it seems too good to be true, then it is probably not true.