For annual maintenance and regular servicing of a wood burning stove or fireplace, homeowners need the assistance of a chimney sweep. Look at and evaluate these factors when hiring a chimney sweep to service your home.

How long has the sweep been in business – both personally and corporately? Make sure that the chimney sweep company is established and that the actual person servicing your chimney is experienced. If he or she is new to the business or in training, be sure to insist that an experienced professional supervises.

Are they able to supply references, including long standing customers? Be sure that the jobs/customers are current and try to contact at least one of the references yourself. Ask questions about reliability, communication and cost. Also be prepared for your chimney sweep to use you as a satisfied reference once the job is completed.

Does the chimney sweep company have a good rating and record at the Better Business Bureau? This can easily be checked online or by phone. If your chimney sweep is not a member of the B.B.B., this should cause you to hesitate. But check the record for any complaints and get a good idea of their past service.

Are they adequately covered with liability insurance? Ask for proof of this if you have any doubts – not only are you protecting your home and belongings in case of damage, but you are also checking the business sense and care of the sweep company.

Will there be a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) Certified Chimney Sweep on the job? There are over 1900 certified sweeps in North America – be sure that the one working on your home has passed technical and training standards and displays the certification. To search for only CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, check out their website and search by zip code for one in your area.

Another excellent way of hiring a chimney sweep is to ask around. Get a word of mouth recommendation from someone you trust or your local established hearth retailer. This can often be the safest, easiest way to obtain the name of a professional in your area. It is still important to go through the questions above, but you will have started the process off with some information about the company and least one reference.

As in every business, price is a factor. This is the safety of your home and family however, so don’t choose the sweep based solely on cost. Look to their level of expertise, past experience and service. That way you can be sure that your investment into safety is money well spent.