To work as efficiently and as safely as possible, your chimney needs to be professionally swept and inspected at least once a year. These important maintenance services involve checking the interior and exterior of the chimney to make sure there is no damage present that could lead to potentially hazardous situations. When you hire a professional chimney sweep to take care of these tasks, you want to be certain that you are hiring someone you can trust to do the job properly. While chimney sweep recommendations from friends, family, and neighbors are always helpful, the best way to be sure that you are hiring the best person to work on your chimney is to ask if the sweep has received certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). All Seasons Chimney is proud to have a staff of CSIA-certified chimney sweeps, and we would like to tell you why this professional credential is so important. 
What is the CSIA?
Founded in 1983 as a non-profit educational organization, the CSIA works to teach chimney professionals, as well as homeowners, about the best safety practices for chimney and venting systems. A big part of this mission is their professional certification program for chimney sweeps. More than 1,800 chimney professionals in the United States and in Canada hold this certification.
How does a chimney sweep receive certification from the CSIA?
To become certified, a chimney sweep must pass two exams that are based on three publications: Successful Chimney Sweeping, The NFPA 211 (2016 edition), and the 2015 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC). Chimney sweeps also have a few options of study sessions to help prepare for these exams, including in-person and online review sessions. After completing the review, chimney sweeps have up to one year to take the certification exams. At the time of the exams, the chimney professionals must pay their fees and sign the CSIA Code of Ethics.
What is included in the CSIA Code of Ethics?
Although the knowledge and training that comes with the certification process are important, signing the CSIA Code of Ethics is a guarantee that the chimney sweep will treat you honestly and fairly when rendering his services. This means that when you hire a CSIA-certified chimney sweep, you will not have to worry about him engaging in unfair or deceptive practices on the job. You can trust that he is giving you a fair and honest inspection report (including any estimates of necessary repairs) when the job is complete.
Understanding the importance of CSIA certification can help you when you need to hire a chimney sweep to perform the annual chimney maintenance services. If you live in the Hudson Valley area, the CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at All Seasons Chimney are at your service. Contact us to schedule an appointment for any professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs you may have.