The local economy for any area requires people from all walks of life. We have to have grocers, teachers, coaches, builders, plumbers, electricians, and of course chimney sweeps. I realize this is a very small list of the professions actually required to operate an entire town, but you get the idea. We’re all out to land the best price possible on work we need to have done around the house, but where do we draw the line?
Hiring a Professional
We all expect a professional to be good at what they do and have years of experience in their given field, right? That’s why we have schools that focus on specific things. High school students are allowed, and often encouraged, to take classes in plumbing, electricity, or HVAC. These are extremely sought after fields out in the real world, but we aren’t going to trust a newly graduated high school student with a couple of years of vocational training to wire our entire home, right?
Don’t get me wrong, that newly-trained electrician has to start somewhere, I understand that. But they need years of experience in order to step up to the plate and do the job of a master electrician. We could probably expect good work from this new electrician, but he or she wouldn’t have the experience needed to make the tough calls required for that type of work.
The chimney business is much the same. Cheap work does not mean quality work. Think of the ages-old adage you get what you pay for. It’s as true in chimney services as it is in a major electronics purchase. You want your new smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer to operate correctly, so you aren’t going to skimp on the price and take a chance on being disappointed by poor quality later.
Chimney-Related Certifications
Anyone can slap a sticker on the truck and call themselves a chimney sweep. The big difference lies in the quality of education and the existence of certifications that prove knowledge. You wouldn’t hire an unlicensed electrician, so don’t hire an uncertified chimney sweep. Licenses and certifications are paper proof that you should be able to expect impeccable performance from a professional regardless of the field of study.
We are:
- CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) Certified
- I.R.E. Certified
- C-DET Certified
- NFI Certified
- Licensed Contractor in Pennsylvania
We have two certified chimney sweeps here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service. My brother joined the company earlier this year and has proven to be a very valuable asset as the business grows. My wife also joined the company in an official capacity this year when she began taking care of the phone traffic, scheduling, and books. We are really enjoying keeping the family name within the family and working together to help homeowners ensure chimney safety throughout the year. Lou Curley Chimney Service is located in Drexel Hill and we provide all types of chimney services throughout the Main Line. Call us at 610-626-2439 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.