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The Importance of Reviewing Your Chimney Sweep

You know the importance of having your chimney cleaned and inspected each year, but after your sweeping and inspection is complete, there is one more step you should take: Reviewing your chimney sweep! Taking the time to review your chimney sweep’s service is valuable for your neighbors, you and the chimney sweep.

Why Review Your Chimney Sweep

These days, a great deal of business communication takes place online. Homeowners look for companies to hire via the internet. In addition, businesses review their online footprint for feedback. With that in mind, business reviews can be helpful in a variety of ways, including:

  • Helping your neighbors to make good hiring decisions. The primary reason to leave honest reviews of your chimney sweep is that it can help your neighbors when it is their turn to hire a chimney sweep. Your honest review can help your neighbors evaluate your chimney sweeping experience and get a feeling about which chimney sweep is right for them. It can also help them to hire a reputable company and avoid a potential chimney sweeping scam.
  • Getting you better service. Your honest online review can help your chimney sweep to evaluate their services. A balanced review can help sweeps determine what they are doing right and what they can improve upon. That means your online review could lead to even better service the next time you need to have your chimney swept!
  • Supporting a small business. The best way for companies to get new business is through word of mouth. In the digital age, online reviews are word of mouth and provide the best testimony businesses can get as to the quality of their service. If you are happy with your chimney sweep, providing an online review can be a helpful way to support your chimney sweep’s business.

How To Leave a Valuable Business Review

Now that you know the importance of reviewing your chimney sweep, it’s important that you know how to leave a helpful review. A well-written review will inform potential customers and provide valuable feedback to your chimney sweep. A good business review:

  • Is not written when upset. If you’ve had bad service, it can be tempting to hit the internet and write a scathing review. That doesn’t really help anyone. Angry reviews usually don’t provide valuable insight to potential customers, and they don’t help you to get a better outcome from the business. If you are left angry by a company, contact them personally to provide an opportunity to resolve the situation.
  • Paints a thorough picture. Provide all necessary details that could provide context for your service. What day and time was your appointment? Was your appointment during the busy season? Did your sweep arrive on time? Was he courteous and thorough? Did he answer all of your questions? Did he leave the house clean? You should provide a balanced review of what you appreciated and what you think could have been improved upon.
  • It must be free from errors. The review will not be taken seriously if it is riddled with errors. Then take a moment to look for spelling errors and typos and to double-check facts. Reviewing your chimney sweep can take a few moments of your time, but providing a quality review helps potential customers, you and your chimney sweep.
By Joe Sauter on January 20th, 2017 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , | Leave a Comment

The importance of a chimney cap

One of your chimney’s most important components sits at the very top, where you likely don’t see it or think about it. The chimney cap may be out of sight and out of mind, but it plays an important role in protecting your chimney from water damage. As such, it’s important that you make sure your chimney cap is firmly in place and in good repair.

The Importance Of A Chimney Cap - Indianapolis IN - Your Chimney SweepYour chimney cap wears many hats

Your chimney cap sits at the very top of your chimney’s flue. In most cases, it is a metal cap attached to the top of your chimney with a wire cage. While a chimney cap’s primary role is to keep water from flowing down the walls of your flue and causing damage to the chimney liner, firebox, damper and other portions of your fireplace and chimney, it actually serves several other purposes as well.

While the top of your chimney cap diverts water and prevents strong downdrafts from entering your chimney, the metal caging that supports it is equally as important. The caging prevents animals and birds from entering your chimney, where they can build nests or become trapped and die. The caging also prevents leaves, twigs and other debris from entering and blocking the chimney. Blocked chimneys can cause all sorts of problems, including improper drafting, a backflow of carbon monoxide and even chimney fires.

The caging also helps to keep things in. Without it, sparks or still burning embers would be able to rise out of your chimney. Those embers can land on your roof or on nearby vegetation and ignite fires. 

Know your chimney cap

Because your chimney cap is so important, it is important not to forget about it high upon your rooftop. While most chimneys are fitted with chimney caps, those chimney caps can become dislodged over time, or they can rust or corrode. If your chimney cap is missing, in disrepair, or improperly fitted or installed it can pose a risk to your chimney and your home.

The only real way to know the status of your chimney cap is to visit your roof and inspect it. If you are unable to do so safely, your chimney sweep should inspect your chimney cap during your annual sweeping and inspection. Your sweep should inform you if your chimney cap is missing or in poor condition, and he or she should recommend and be willing to install a replacement if needed. If you are concerned, remember to ask your sweep about your chimney cap before he or she visits your rooftop.

If you need a sweep to inspect your chimney and your chimney cap, call Your Chimney Sweep today! We’ll make sure your chimney cap is in good repair and keeping your chimney safe.

By Joe Sauter on May 9th, 2016 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment