 The primary job of a chimney service professional is to aid in the prevention of fires related to fireplaces, wood stoves, gas, oil and coal heating systems and the chimneys that serve them.
Chimney sweeps install, clean and maintain these systems, evaluate their performance, prescribe changes to improve their performance, and educate the consumer about their safe and efficient operation.
At Hearth and Home we take this responsibility to heart and ensure that all of our Technicians are properly trained to perform these essential tasks.
In doing their primary job of inspecting and sweeping chimneys, chimney professionals also function as on-the-job fire prevention specialists. They are constantly on the lookout for unsafe conditions that can cause home fires or threaten residents with dangerous or unhealthy indoor air quality.
The chimney service trade is not regulated, nor are chimney sweeps licensed in most states. However, Hearth & Home is a fully licensed state HVAC contractor in Florida specializing in ventilation and service of your fireplace. Further, opening a chimney service business requires a relatively small capital investment.
Thus, virtually anyone - without education, training , experience or even a working knowledge of proper tools or equipment can become a chimney sweep. As a result, many ill-equipped, ill-prepared individuals are free to offer their "services" to homeowners.
Hearth & Home is a fully licensed, insured and Florida State Certified Contractor (CAC057333), in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (HVAC).
In an industry that is not widely regulated, it is important that your contractor have the necessary license and certifications to provide quality service.
Fireplace Inspections: $129.00
Fireplace Sweeps: $175.00 single story*
Fireplace Sweeps: $225.00 two story*
*Price may vary based on size and configuration of roof.
Back to top
This is the time of year to rake the leaves, install fresh batteries in the smoke detectors and to get your fireplace inspected – a task too often overlooked. While the alternative can be house fires, even death, many people postpone this humble chore as long as the fireplace looks good.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency in Quincy, Mass., heating equipment – fireplaces, heaters and the like – rivals smoking as the leading cause of home fire deaths every January, February and March. In 2001, 3,420 people nationwide died in 368,000 house fires, according to the nonprofit consumer group.
Fortunately, chimney care is one of the easier tasks that homeowners have to tackle, for this reason: It’s a job you don’t have to do yourself.
Virtually every fire protection agency recommends you hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect your chimney yearly for cracks in the lining, leaks, blockages, dead animals and the like.
Inspections could be the end of the job unless the chimney has at least one-quarter inch of a combustible deposit called creosote. That much creosote is a hazard that needs to be swept away in case the worst eventually happens and a fire gets out of hand.
The flames could fill the firebox and threaten to burst into the chimney and ignite the creosote. If that happens, be sure not to use the fireplace again until it has been inspected, the fire marshal’s office warns. The excessive heat could have cracked the chimney walls and damaged the liner.
If not repaired, that damage may prompt a future fire to spread beyond the flue and into the house. Routine maintenance now can save you thousands of dollars when you go to sell your home and find out that the fireplace has big problems that require repairs.
Fireplace Inspections: $129.00
Fireplace Sweeps: $175.00 single story*
Fireplace Sweeps: $225.00 two story*
*Price may vary based on size and configuration of roof.
Back to top |
