No one appreciates a clean chimney as much as the guy who has to scamper up and down chimneys of all shapes and sizes every year. Frankly, he would take a clean chimney over a couple more cookies and a glass of milk every time!
As business people in the duct cleaning business, we may think of chimney cleaning as a classic “up-sell”. But it is so much more than that.
We’ve all heard the stories, and many of us have seen the results… chimney fires can seriously damage, even destroy homes.
So as you book jobs this winter, be sure to inquire about your customer’s chimneys. Have they been cleaned recently (or ever)? Are stove pipes leaking smoke? Does smoke ever back up into the fireplace or stove?
If customers aren’t sure, offer to take inspect their chimney while the crew is on site.
The question always comes up: “How often should I have my chimney cleaned?” There isn’t a simple answer to this one. The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”
With that approach in mind, you can inspect your customer’s chimney and make a fair and sound recommendation. Remember, even folks who don’t use their fireplace or stove very often should still have their chimneys inspected because animals or birds do occasionally make nests in chimneys. There may be other problems discovered in an inspection as well, such as deterioration or other potentially dangerous conditions.
Of course, you want to have the proper tools for chimney cleaning in every rig. Three-whips and single-whips have aggressive cleaning profiles that can handle creosote and soot and anything else that might be blocking air flow. Make sure your compressor has enough PSI to run these stiffer whips. Keep extra drop cloths with you to protect the area around the chimney or stove.
Of course the same logic applies to dryer vents as well. Many customers simply want it all done every time you clean. It’s comforting to know that the whole house is clean.
So do the big guy a favor! Offer chimney and stove-pipe cleaning to your customers as we go into the New Year! If you need any tools or advice, feel free to give us a call at American Caddy Vac. We’d love to hear from you and we’re happy to help! And during the month of December, you can get 10% off all whips and whip replacement sets! It’s a great time to stock up on all your whip tools.
