Appointment Information

All wood-burning chimney applications cannot be used within a minimum period of 48 hours prior to the appointment. Gas fireplace pilot lights must be shut off for 2 hours prior to arrival.

Discovery of live embers, hot coals, or smoking wood will result in appointment termination, to which your retainer will be applied towards a service charge and a return appointment will have to be scheduled.

1)   A competent person at least 18 yrs old and who can represent the household must be available on-site to grant access indoors, and to accept the invoice to post payment upon completion.

2)   A clear path from the point of entry to the work area must be made prior to arrival. Technicians will not place their dirty hands on your furniture.

3)   All obstructing furniture and personal effects on floor level within a 5' x 7' area must be moved prior to arrival, as tarps are used to protect carpet and flooring from from soot spillage and from making contact with dirty service tools. Rolled up area rugs must still remain 7 feet back.

4)   Ceiling fans, A/C, and attic fans must be turned off for the duration of the appointment to prevent down-draft/flow-reversal. All windows and doors must be closed. This is to prevent down-draft, which could cause sooting on carpet and upholstery.

5)   Two electrical outlets are required; one local to room where work is being performed and one on a separate circuit in another room, so breakers aren't tripped. The vacuum cannot be allowed to shut off mid-service.

Cleaning out the ash is user-level maintenance. Leftover ash will be pushed down the ashpit during chimney sweeping services. If your chimney doesn't have an ashpit, there is a $20/bucket surcharge for disposal, as NJ labels it as HAZMAT material. A vacuum is used to control soot and dust, preventing is from entering the living space. Vacuuming excessive amounts of ash will cause filtration performance to drop, increasing the chances of soot intrusion into your living room.

All appointments are weather-pending; rain, snow, ice, frost, wind, and wet surface conditions will prevent roof access, but more importantly, entry into your home. Additional to wet footwear, dirty tools and equipment can drip on to floors and carpet. If the forecast calls for 50% or greater precipitation, appointments are rescheduled.

Driveways and walkways are expected to be (mostly) cleared of snow. A dusting or an inch are alright, but I'm not trudging through several feet, and rolling my heavy vacuum through it. Appointments will be retracted if a cleared path isn't provided to facilitate my equipment and myself staying dry, and your retainer will be applied towards a service charge. A follow-up appointment will be required once your driveway and walkway are plowed or shoveled.

Household pets must be separated and secured from the work space (the area from your front door to your chimney) to prevent them from wandering on to my sooty tarps, and to prevent escape. If your dog displays what is perceived as threatening behavior, and if a home owner fails to adequately compartmentalize their aggressive dog from the work area, I will leave your house, and your retainer will be applied towards a service charge. (Pictured: my Princess Stuka, the bestest good-girl ever).

Chimney sweeping is already dirty enough for myself, but I must also preserve the cleanliness and condition of my tarps, equipment, extension cords, and footwear for the subsequent clients' households after your appointment. Half-torn apart houses with messy dust everywhere will yield an appointment retraction. Your retainer will be applied towards a service charge.

Appointments will be retracted if the work area is located in a dusty and dirty room being renovated, or if the heating system is located in a dirt-floor crawlspace (common in lakeside communities). I will not army-crawl in dirt and mud while dragging my vacuum. Flooring, carpet, and hearths are expected to be dry and clean of dust and ash prior to my arrival.

Test fires will not be performed post-servicing. My commercial general liability insurance provider prohibits me from lighting any chimney appliance. I cannot provide overwatch while a client attempts to light a fire, as this is extremely time-consuming, and I will have subsequent appointments afterwards.

Observable violations in building code will be documented and disclosed. This is to transfer liability to the home owner if the appliance is continually used post-servicing and inspection. Asking me to omit such findings is unethical. I will not honor requests for a second invoice which states only chimney sweeping was performed, as that would jeopardize my company's liability.

If you're selling your house, I definitely will NOT humor requests to omit defects and violations. The sale of your house will not be more easily facilitated at the expense of my company's liability. I take these requests as a great insult as it shows a complete lack of value in my work and my good standing. If you feel I'm not the right fit for your chimney service needs based on the above-mentioned, then you're not the right fit for me as a customer.

Households with sneezy-coughy-drippy children and adults are expected to call to reschedule. If I arrive to a sickly household, I will retract your appointment, and your retainer will be applied towards a service charge. I don't mind getting sick, but I do mind passing your cooties along to other clients, as I typically see about six households per day.