Chimney Sweep - Please share your experience!
 

My homeowners association required that I have my chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary. We could use any company we wanted. I went with the company that the HOA contracted with last time around. This year, they left a flier on my door offering a 21 point inspection and cleaning for $79.95. After shopping around, it seemed like a good deal. They are a local family owned business, since 1975. The last time I had the chimney sweep come out, he took a flashlight and looked up through the fireplace, said it did not need to be cleaned and that was it. When I scheduled this appointment, I tell them I got their flier on my door, and to inspect and clean if necessary. First, the guy is about 30 minutes late. He comes in, sticks his brush up the chimney and swishes it around a few times while he runs the shop vac, washes his hands and leaves. He was here 10 minutes at the most. I think he spent more time washing his hands than he did with my chimney. He never once looked up the chimney. He said he could tell by feel that there "isn't anything up there". So, why did he clean it if it was not necessary? He also forgot his receipt book, said he would email the receipt within a couple of hours. That was 3 hours ago. I need the receipt for proof to the HOA that I had this done. So, $81 and some change later, I am feeling a bit swindled. Has anyone out there had their chimney cleaned? Is what I described par for the course? I plan on complaining once I see the receipt. If there is a 21 point inspection on there, I am reporting them to the BBB. :mad:

Typo, they quoted me $75.