Winter is definitely not the most opportune time to have your chimney system serviced. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Let’s be honest; most homeowners don’t even think about their chimneys during the summer. Instead, their thoughts are filled with thoughts of vacations and outdoor activities. After the long, cold winters that we’re used to here in the Kansas City metro area, it should come as no surprise that people just want to get out of the house and boost their serotonin levels! The chimney only comes to mind again when it starts to get cold outside.
When you put your chimney maintenance off until the fall or winter, you may find yourself having to contend with a couple problems that would be a total non-issue during the warmer months of the year.
Problem #1: Longer than normal wait times for an appointment
The majority of homeowners wait until the fall or the winter to book their chimney inspection and sweeping appointments. This causes us to get booked more quickly, leading to extended wait times. Many people call in expecting to get an inspection appointment within a week. While we try to accommodate everyone as quickly as possible, with the sudden influx of customers wanting services at the onset of the fall and winter months, it can be challenging! Nevertheless, it is highly advised that you stick with a reputable company for any chimney system work, as improperly diagnosed problems or work that is done incorrectly can put your home & everyone inside at risk.
Problem #2: Postponement of much-needed repairs as a result of inclement weather
When having your system inspected, many things could be found that need to be addressed: cracks in your flue, chimney cap damage or masonry in need of restoration. If your roof is covered in snow and/or ice or your chimney is wearing a snowy skirt, we’ll have to wait until the weather warms up and conditions on your roof and around your chimney improve to come back to handle those repairs for you. This is another common scheduling delay that happens during this, our busiest time of year. It’s easy to understand how customers can grow impatient and consider hiring a fly-by-night company who claims they can get the job done much sooner, only to either be a no-show or end up making the problem worse than it was to begin with.
The professionals at Fluesbrothers Chimney Service would like to encourage you to change your way of thinking when it comes to chimney service. Chimney safety should occupy an important place in our minds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, as it can help you to keep your family out of harm’s way. Any recommendations that we give you when we are at your home are for the safety of your family and longevity of your home. It is our mission to provide our customers with not only a service, but an experience. If you don’t want to have to wait to have your system inspected during our busiest time of year, we encourage you to call to schedule your annual chimney maintenance as soon as you stop using your system at the end of the heating season. If you’re accustomed to scheduling your chimney services in the fall or winter, consider scheduling during the summer from now on to avoid delays when it’s already cold outside. This will allow you to focus on more pressing issues when the cooler months start creeping back in.
