Scheduled a fireplace/chimney cleaning and inspection for my built in sealed wood fireplace with…read moreair circulation motors. The service person started by asking the last time we had the chimney cleaned, and then advising we should have it done more often and recommending a schedule to follow by cords of wood used - this was helpful information. He then laid out a canvas tarp on the work area and advised it would get rather loud - it likely would have been quieter had they used a brush instead of those curled wires with the big balls on the end. As he started "inspecting" the firebox, the service person told me my damper was broken and that the handle didn't open it. My chimney doesn't have a damper, and what he was pushing up was the fire brick chimney cleanout plug (how did he not know that). He didn't believe me when I told him the handle was an electronic air inlet control, until I showed him the user manual, after which he said he'd never heard of such a thing.
He proceeded to clean out the chimney and firebox while the other service person went outside, I presumed to do the chimney inspection. By The Way, they use those awful scented trash bags to collect the waste which, for someone with severe allergies, was pure torture!
Near the end of his cleaning, I asked if he was going to open the lower grate and clean under the fireplace where the ash catchment is, and he responded he didn't need to, so I assumed he was able to somehow clean it from above.
He was sure to thoroughly clean up the service area when finished.
The second service person returned inside and, when I asked how the chimney was, his response was that it was fine. I commented about how quiet he was that I didn't hear him on the roof, and he said they use a drone to inspect it so they don't have to climb. Cool, can I see the pictures? He said they'll email them to me when they get back to the shop. I made my credit card payment and they left. Later, when I went outside, I found the bag of fireplace dirt and cleaning rags laid against the side of my house... luckiy just before the rain and wind storm for that day started. Then when I went inside to start my first fire of the season, I find that instead of somehow cleaning up the ash from above, his method instead blew it all over the underneath of the unit and the blower controls, and that the ash pan was now half full. Oh, and the service plug was put only partially back and upside down so that it didn't block the hole properly. I phoned the company, and a polite woman apologized for the situation and arranged for the service people to return later in the week to complete the cleaning, and also explained that their practice is to always leave the cleaning debris and waste for the homeowner to dispose of but that the service people are supposed to advise of this rather than just leave the trash outside. I also mentioned the photos from the chimney inspection and was told she'd be sure they were emailed.
A few days later, the same service people returned. The original sweeper had a real pisser of an attitude this time as though I had personally insulted him, "what's the problem?!," and the other younger one was quiet but professional. They cleaned out the underneath of the fireplace quickly and left.
Now here's the kicker... later that evening when I went to file my invoice and inspection report, I see they've noted that I have a brick fireplace with an insert and a brick chimney with a liner. NEITHER OF THESE IS TRUE. My system is a stand alone built in sealed wood burning fireplace with a stainless steel firebox, and a wood framed vinyl sided chimney chase with a double walled stove pipe! AND, I've yet to receive any photo proof of the inspection (it's almost 3 weeks). So now I seriously doubt the accuracy or even completion of any inspection that may or may not have been performed; I suspect these men were only "cleaners" and not "inspectors". I will not use this company again!
