When you are hiring a chimney sweep, you want to be sure you are hiring someone who knows what he is doing and who will be honest with you about the condition of your chimney. One way to find a trusted chimney sweep is to ask your friends and family for their recommendations, but what do you do when you move to a new city? The best way to be certain you are hiring the right chimney sweep is to check to see if the sweep has been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). For those who live in the Hudson Valley area, you can schedule an appointment with our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at All Seasons Chimney & Masonry. Because all of our sweeps have gone through the CSIA certification process, we would like to tell you more about the value of this industry standard.
The CSIA Code of Ethics
Although, of course, receiving the education and training needed to pass the two certification exams is important, all chimney sweeps must sign the CSIA Code of Ethics before they can receive the official certification. If you want to know why it is so valuable to hire a CSIA-certified chimney sweep, all you need to do is familiarize yourself with the code. These chimney sweeps pledge to do the following:
- Learn about and use the chimney and venting safety practices that are recommended by the CSIA
- Be honest and fair when rendering chimney and fireplace services and not engage in any unfair or deceptive practices or make any dishonest or deceptive statements on the job
- Recognize and comply with all applicable building and fire safety codes as well as the manufacturers’ instructions when installing, maintaining, and repairing chimney and fireplace components
- Teach and promote chimney, venting, and fireplace safety practices to consumers
- Keep up with changes in chimney and venting technology and safety practices to continually update knowledge, skills, and techniques
- Behave respectfully, decently, and professionally when working as a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep
- Failure to follow this Code of Ethics will result in the revocation of this certification.
If you live in the Hudson Valley area, contact us at All Seasons Chimney & Masonry. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps are here to be sure your chimney will work safely and efficiently this winter.
If you have been noticing an increase in your heating and cooling bills, your old damper may be the reason. Traditional throat dampers are made of metal, which can become damaged over the years by rust corrosion. A rusty damper can be almost impossible to close, and this means heated and cooled air can easily escape out of your home through the chimney. You will also have problems with outside air entering your home, which makes maintaining a comfortable temperature a big challenge. Fortunately, there is another type of