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This
broken flue was discovered as part of our preliminary cleaning
& inspection.
A
proper inspection can save lives!
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We
all live in a world of high technology, equipment, and new products
and services, which are offered on a daily basis. All of these things
are designed or invented to supposedly make our lives easier and
more efficient. Although, many of these things do make our lives
easier, sometimes we become a bit lazy with things that require
our personal attention.
One
of the things most people put off until the last minute are doctor
visits, filing taxes, and yes, guess what else…having your
chimney cleaned and inspected annually.
This is a service now offered by most reputable chimney sweeps or
chimney restoration companies. The building industry is booming,
as developments of new constructions are popping up and historic
restorations being performed. Whether you are building, remodeling,
or restoring, the basic functions of our homes are still the same
as they were many years ago. Our homes are supposed to be a restful
retreat outside of the hustle and bustle of the world around us.
As homeowners, we are responsible to insure our family's safety
at the homestead. You could never sleep very well knowing faulty
wiring was existing inside your walls, or a water pipe was leaking
in the ceiling. These are both things, which can have terrible results
if left unattended. Chimney and venting systems are no different.
I
cannot stress the importance of having annual cleanings and inspections
of your chimney. This can be the difference between waking up to
a sunny day or waking up to your home engulfed in a blaze, or possibly
not waking at all. This may seem a harsh assumption, but the facts
are facts, and these tragedies occur everyday. If you have an appliance,
whether it's a fireplace, woodstove, coal stove, oil/gas furnace
or anything that needs a chimney to vent the system - it should
be checked at least annually.
When looking for a company to check and inspect your chimney, make
sure they are a CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America)
Certified. CSIA Certified means the company is required to attend
seminars, classes and hands on studies to hold the CSIA "stamp
of approval". A cleaning and inspection done by a CSIA Certified
company would involve a thorough cleaning and inspection; any areas
not accessible can be seen through a mechanical eye known as the
"Chim-Scan". This equipment is becoming standard in the
industry, as most parts of a chimney structure are not easily accessible.
This allows us to take a look inside and give a complete evaluation
of the structure.
Once
the inspection is complete, you can expect a document, which includes
digital photos taken of the inside of the chimney, with any deficiencies
noted in a full report. A fee usually is charged for this service,
but it will make your life a little easier if you ever have a problem.
Insurance
companies are tightening the raines on homeowner claims, having
documentation to prove a claim from a certified sweep will not only
expedite your claim, but also save you many questions and interrogations
by the adjuster. This also stops any chimney sweeps from attempting
false claims just to make a few bucks. The CSIA has members which
like myself are very interested in making the chimney industry better,
and we all are working together to help homeowners and insurance
companies understand the need for this type of documentation, while
making the chimney industry conform to these standards.
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