Chimney cleaning

Ken_40

absolutely correct. Many charlatans in that biz.

Most important is the lining of your chimney. If it's there, there's litle to worry about. If it's not, get one!

How does one tell oif your brick chimney is lined? Look at the chimney from outdoors. If you see a reddish terra-cotta thing projecting from the brick-work or chimney top, it's lined. If all you see is bricks and no clay liner sticking up - either it is close to the bricks or non-existant. If the latter, have your oil company recommend someone. Get a few estimates.

Many other issues come into play, i.e., does t6he liner line 100% of the chimney, or just the upper 90%? Is the liner properly connected to the thimble/breech connector?

Two easy ways to tell wassupwith it are: pull the vent connector from the base and on a bright day, stick a small mirror in the chimney base on a 45 degree angle and carefully look up the chimney from the inside. If easier, put a drop light slowly down the chimney and look down as the light illuminates each foot of the assembly...

If you're not sure of what your doing, try the "resource" tab abobe, find a contractor in your zip code region and ask him to check it.

Let us know how you make out.

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=504&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"</A>

fsk

Chimney cleaning

I am a HO and dont know if (I need chimeny cleaning.I get phone calls every other week from chimeny clenaing companies and they make me feel that its extremelty important.
I have an oil burner and brick chimney.I dont know if (it has any liner in it.
If I go for it,what all things will the cleaner do..in essence how do I determine if he did a good job....
Lastly the price quoted is 30$.Mentioning its half price of what the usual charge is..I am wondeirng since when in america can you get service for so cheap...is it worth wasting 30$.Or shall I pay more and look out for a real pro...
All replies will be appreciated...
Thank you.

Paul Fredricks_3

Be Careful!!

While there are respectable chimney companies out there, we see a large number of scam artists too. The way it usually works is you are offered a cheap chimney cleaning. They come in, look at the chimney, say that there is a problem and that you need a chimney liner. These can cost $2000 to $3000. The ones I've seen installed by these scam artists were not needed and were installed improperly.

Some will just show up at your door and tell you that your oil company said there was a problem and that they are here to fix it.

If you have your oil burner serviced each year, the technician can tell you whether the chimney is working properly. If there is a problem they can usually recommend a chimney company to inspect it.

No matter what anyone tells you, have your oil company inspect it before any other work is done. It can't hurt to have it checked, but make sure that it is done by a company you can trust.

don_52

Agreed.. proceed with caution

Alex,

The "real pros" are listed as "certified sweeps" through
such organizations as csia.org, local or state "guilds".

The metals shop that fabbed my liner was also csia certified,
these folks have been professionally instructed in sizing
and venting techniques and codes, further they must attend
a yearly recertification / refresher class.

HTH, db

Bob Harper_2

who is qualified to inspect chimneys?

I'm going to try to behave here--

The national standard for chimney inspection is found in Chapter 14 of NFPA 211. It calls for a Level II inspection anytime there is a problem, if you substantially change the usage such as changing fuels or efficiencies or upon sale or transfer of the property. This is the std. to which the inspector will be held. Not to peeking down with a flashlight or drop light. How are you going to inspect tiles and mortar joints half way down with an offset using a drop light? Ludicrous!

The IRC requires when changing heating appliances, the breeching must be inspected by the HVAC Tech. If there are ANY signs of deterioration, damage or unsuitability for use, they are required to notify the homeowner IN WRITING.

As for Qualifications to inspect chimneys, I think a few of you need to do a little homework.

Membership in the National Chimney Sweep Guild is open to anyone. There are no requirements for credentials. No requirements for training or CEUs.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a branch of the NCSG and runs their Certified Chimney Sweep program and education. There is no training required for CSIA Certification. Only passing about 120 multiple choice questions on an exam. Certification is good for three years provided you pay their annual maintenance fees.

The Fireplace Investigation Research Education Service Certified Fireplace Inspector program requires attending an intensive 6 day course of hands-on instruction. There is much emphasis on the development of codes, liability, actual case files on losses, field experiments, properties of materials, etc.

The statement about only Pros being Certified Chimney Sweeps is ignorant and improper. There are thousands of competent professionals who do not belong to the NCSG or hold a current CSIA certification simply because of politics.

Without stepping on too many toes here I would humbly submit that based on the experiences of most chimney sweeps in the US, very few HVAC techs are qualified to inspect chimneys. There is simply too much subjective opinion introduced versus stating facts. Most HVAc techs rationalize the installation because they don't want to be bothered by it, are afraid of losing a sale if the homeowner is told it needs a liner or they have been misinformed in their training and what they pick up in their careers. I make a living off of relining heater flues that should have been condemned 50 yrs earlier. Most of the time I see brand new installs, they are connected to old rusty stovepipe, which is still mortared into the wall and the breeching still clogged with debris. This is echoed across the country by relining contractors so it isn't just regional. I read it on this site all the time where HVAC contractors discuss whether or not a liner is required based upon chimney location or efficiency of the equipment. I want you to prove to me every chimney does Not need a liner regardless of equipment or interior versus exterior wall.

With each passing day, more and more HVAC contractors are being sued or forced to pay for repairs simply because they didn't know or were not inclined to inform their clients as to the std.s and how their system measures up.

If you want to start talking about scams and charlatans, better clean up your own backyard first. Every industry has its share of unethical, uneducation, unqualified, or disreputable people so please quit bashing one industry. Thank you.

Get proper training, report the facts and stick to the standards and codes. Let's remove the opinions, wives tales, and heresay from the equation.

I hope this is taken in the positive spirit in which it is presented.
Bob

Ken_40

Everything you say is true!

Unfortunately, I know of no state that has adopted that code directly, or indirectly and/or any enforcement.

The vast majority of contractors we see are the "I'll clean your chimney for 50-bucks" advertisers/contractors that are NOT certified for anything but a fast buck, and to suggest a light down the chimney is inferior - considering no one even bothers to look ever - is absurd. Any of us doing inspections/cleanings, no matter how cursory - is better than what we see now - nothing. Offset chimneys? Maybe a few per hundred. Let's not get into exceptions. The codes you cite and offset chimneys are rare or unadopted.

Your posturing of some educated group of professional chimney guys passing tests and susggesting anything less than the credential you wish them to have as the standard we should all expect, is laughable. Not that we wouldn't love to see it happen; but the realaity is - it ain't there. Not now, not in my areas of experience (NYC, NJ or VT) and suggesting that's the only way to go is borderline hysteria.

When the organization you refer to is accepted as a fundamental requirement for chimney inspections and work on chimneys for any cause or reason, I'll join you in proper training requirements. For now, reality has my lamp and mirrors firmly in place. When you have the States making codes that mandate only the types of people you refer to; holding the certifications you mentioned as "minimal," I'll follow your suggestion.

For now however, I'll re-state what I already posted, "Go to references and look under Find a Professional."

I'd take most of those listed over anyone claiming certification. Last I checked, the sweeps were a business group out to make $$, not particularly abide with any regulations I am aware of.

Most times, the utility companies do more for enforcement than the States.

What you wrote is essentially correct. Implementation however is not anywhere on this horizon - and your suggestion that it should be aside, amounts to whistling in the dark.



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fsk

so sohud I

or shoud I not..got ith this chimney company.. what things will they do,if so they were certified etc..any stdrs about the stpes a certified chimeny cleaner shall take..

Please chime in..