How Does A Chimney Sweep See Down Into The Flue?

How Does A Chimney Sweep See Down In The Flue
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It’s fall and so many of us are thinking: it’ll soon be time to snuggle up in front of the fireplace and let our cares drift away. After a hard day in a cold world, there is no better feeling than to come home to a fire in the fireplace or wood burning stove. After all, fire works. It works to warm our bodies and it works to bring us calm.

But perhaps you have been thinking, “Should I have my chimney swept before I use my fireplace?” And, “Should I really hire a chimney sweep to do this? Can they really do a better job than I can?”

Well first of all, you need to be aware that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that a chimney be inspected on an annual basis, adding that this should be done by a “qualified agency.” Now, while you are likely good at a lot of things, are you really trained to inspect a chimney and locate any problems that could affect your health, safety, and welfare? Do you really think the NFPA was thinking of the homeowner when they recommended a “qualified agency” do the job?

While that chimney may appear to be a really neat stack of bricks or a real shiny pipe, many things can be wrong - and to the untrained eye, things may seem fine when they aren’t. An expert tradesperson knows and understands what they are looking at, and brings invaluable expertise and knowledge to the job that, quite simply, untrained homeowners don’t have. The profession of chimney sweeping is one that requires a lot of training and skill. Now, I know you may conjure up images of a really neat guy in a top hat and tails - maybe even dancing on your rooftop - but there is a lot more to it than that.

You see, the chimney sweep of the 21st century is a highly trained individual. He attends classes and continues education to ensure he is current with present day codes and standards. When it comes to chimney and venting systems, along with fireplaces, codes have changed, standards have improved, and the industry has changed. It is amazing that what was thought of as “good to go” just a few short years ago would cause today’s qualified and certified chimney sweep to say “WHOA, we’ve got a problem here.”

Now you may wonder, how can the chimney sweep see up my flue or down that dark hole to really identify problems? Well, this is where the trade has advanced. You see, a guy named Tom Urban, along with his wife Esther, actually invented an interior video inspection device over 30 years ago, for the purpose of inspecting the interior of the chimney. They have refined and continue to make this camera, known as the Chim-Scan, out of their family-run factory in Iowa. Most chimney sweep technicians own one of these video scan devices. There are other brands on the market today besides just the Chim-Scan, and these all allow the technician to see things that neither they, nor you, could see otherwise. As in all trades, technology is an important part of the time-honored trade of the chimney sweep.

But it also takes the skill of a person who can review the interior condition of the chimney and flue, and that is where you cannot get better than a trained and Chimney Safety Institute of America (csia.org) certified chimney sweep technician. This non-profit, educational foundation was formed many years ago, with the mission of providing American consumers with trained and certified technicians who could help ensure safe and warm hearth and fireplace experiences.

So enjoy your fireplace as the cool evenings and nights approach, and know that the chimney sweep industry wants you to enjoy it with peace of mind. Don’t do the job yourself - get your chimney professionally checked today. It’s the right thing to do for you and your family.

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