Exposing Bad Recommendations from Chimney Sweeps

From Mark McSweeney, CAE (an excerpt of the letter to CSIA)

Executive Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Chimney Sweep Guild

Earlier this morning, NBC’s Today Show aired a segment featuring an undercover investigation on chimney sweeps. The Today Show “sting” operation took place at a home in the Northeast, where chimney sweeps were called in for a routine sweeping. When sweeps did not provide a thorough inspection of the home’s chimney when recommending repairs or service, Today Show reporters and producers confronted them about their tactics.

Ashley Eldridge, Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)’s Director of Education, served as the lead technical expert for the segment. In his role as Director of Education, Ashley is responsible for the administration of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® credentialing program and is a regular spokesperson for CSIA.

When presented with the opportunity to participate, we knew that it was our responsibility to help educate the public about what to expect when hiring a chimney sweep for regular maintenance. It is CSIA’s mission is to encourage public awareness of issues relating to chimney and venting performance and safety. This segment serves as a great reminder that homeowners need to do their homework before inviting contractors into their home.