It’s that time of the year now, the evenings are drawing in and the night time temperatures are dropping like a stone. It’s that time when those amongst us with a working fireplace or wood burner think – I will be lighting you soon.
Well it so happens that from the end of August onwards to January coincides with the chimney sweeps busiest period.
Those of you that have used Apex Chimney Sweeps before will be well organised, you will know that we offer a summer discount between the months of April and September, where not only can you contact us and get us to arrive at a convenient time to you and quickly, but that you also get it done cheaper – during our summer discount season.
It is now late September, the cold of winter and Santa Claus are just around the corner and we are getting busier and busier. We are currently booking about 10 days in advance and that will only increase as the December comes closer.
Unfortunately not all customers are as organised as our regular customers and some are not willing to wait for the busy professional chimney sweeping companies like Apex Chimney Sweeps. They get desperate, desperate to use their fireplace, but something tells them in the back of their mind – I should get the chimney swept first, just to avoid any problems, smoking back into the room and a risk of Carbon monoxide poisoning, or, worse still, the catastrophe of a chimney fire which could result in the whole house burning down. This is when they are tempted to call anyone who proclaims to be a chimney sweep. It is well known to us professional sweeps that during our busy times, other companies come out of the woodwork and proclaim to be chimney sweeps.
Well if you want to risk using those people, then it is up to you. But first ask yourself a few questions :-
Are they ‘fully’ insured – or, are they insured at all ? have they received any training ?
Do they belong to a professional trade body for chimney sweeping ?
Can they supply you with an ‘Industry Standard Certificate of Chimney Sweeping’ that is approved by your insurance company ?
Are they experienced enough to spot a potential problem ?
If the likes of us at Apex Chimney Sweeps and other professional companies are booked up two to three weeks in advance and you can find someone who is not Guild of Master Sweeps, APICS, or NACS registered who can do it much sooner, then you should beware. As only Guild of Master Sweeps, APICS and NACS members are approved by HETAS, the lead body in the Solid Fuel Industry to sweep your chimney.
Check out the happy customers of Apex Chimney Sweeps on Checkatrade.
http://www.checkatrade.com/ApexChimneySweeps/Reviews.aspx
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