NJ Consumer Beware
Updates: Please Read
See photo documentation below
There have been many "scam" chimney contractors being reported to
our company by
customers. The latest scam was reported to us on Friday 2-11-2011. Some of the
common recent scams are listed below along with identifying poor quality
workmanship and some of the methods used by various companies operating in NJ
currently.
You may view this link http://www.scambusters.org/chimneyrepair.html which gives some insight as to how some of these companies may operate.
Common practices include the "free inspections", "low price" sweep" , "bogus or incorrect hazardous repairs", and "out of state contractors."
Save yourself time and money by being skeptical of chimney contractors advertising so called "Free Inspections" or " Low priced gimmick chimney sweeps"
Here is why...
"Free inspections"- A legitimate chimney contractor has to pay for workmen's compensation insurance, liability insurance, CSIA (www.CSIA.org
) training and testing (or similar updated industry code training) every
three years, work vehicle maintenance, certified technician wages,
advertising, industry association dues, etc.. etc..... Some companies currently using coupon mailers with "800" numbers are advertising "free
inspections" and are operating out of NY. Many of these companies
do not even have the minimum NJ contractors license never mind being CSIA
certified.
Paying for all these necessary business expenses and running around providing
free inspections and accurate reports just does not happen. Folks, this is a scam
to get to your home and and charge you for something. Most of the time the scam
contractor will want to charge for inferior unnecessary work. Please do not be
gullible and fall prey to this type of contractor. If something seems to be good
to be true, it is to good to be true. See samples of our company rectifying these
hazardous botched repairs- See our samples below. Before allowing any chimney
contractor on your property to begin work we recommend that you protect yourself from lawsuits by asking to see a
copy of their workmen's compensation and liability insurance (remember if they do
not carry workmen's compensation and they fall on your property, both you and
your homeowner's insurance can be held liable)...... Always ask for legitimate
references that you can actually contact. Try to get references from your area.
What you should expect during a proper NFPA 211inspection
"The cheap sweep"- Generally these so called "chimney professionals"
advertise ridiculously cheap pricing to get their foot in the door to make an
unnecessary and many times hazardous repair sale. In general a chimney sweep needs to charge
approximately $150.00 to conduct a proper thorough cleaning (anything less than
$100 could be an immediate red flag). See the following website for an
explanation on why avoiding the "cheap sweep" can save you money and help
prevent you from becoming a victim
http://www.scambusters.org/chimneyrepair.html
Before allowing any chimney contractor on your property protect yourself from
lawsuits by asking to see a copy of their workmen's compensation and liability
insurance prior to beginning work (remember if they do not carry workmen's compensation and they
fall on your property you and your homeowner's insurance can be held
liable)......Always ask for legitimate references that you can actually contact.
Try to get references from your area
See samples below of our company rectifying these hazardous botched repairs-
What you should expect from a certified sweep.
"Bogus or incorrect hazardous repairs"
This is probably the most common bad business practice we see. We have been called to many, many customer's homes because of these types of repairs.
Common botched or scam repairs listed below:
Unnecessary or poorly installed lining systems can cause significant hazards.
Our recommendations are as follows:
a. We do not recommend aluminum lining systems. They are only approved for gas and oxidize or "rot out very quickly"
Bradley Beach, NJ
- This liner was installed and rotted out within 3 years.
It
was clogged and spilling carbon monoxide into the home.
b. Installation of undersized or damaged lining systems. We see this quite regularly and this type of installation will cause smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into your home.
Sample: See a sample below from a house in Manasquan,NJ where a pregnant woman was living. A poorly installed lining system caused carbon monoxide to enter the home and condensation to surface on the exterior of the chimney in the attic.
W Belmar NJ Contractor badly repaired the upper end of this chimney and actually left the bricks that had fallen in plugging the chimney. This, of course allowed the hot water heating system to spill Carbon Monoxide in the home.
Colts Neck NJ-This repair resulted in legal action being taken against the contractor. The so called repairs that were completed created a significant hazard for the homeowner. See more about this case here
South Brunswick NJ- This person was told by a plumbing contractor and so called chimney sweep that her flue just needed to be cleaned. She paid for cleaning not knowing the piping was actually disconnected which created a fire within the chase
Manasquan NJ- The person living in this house was pregnant at the time and noticed a strange odor and condensation in the attic around the chimney after having a chimney lining installed for the heating system. After an inspection we discovered carbon monoxide backing up into the residence because the lining was completely crushed within the chimney and was not venting. We removed the incomplete damaged aluminum lining and installed a correct stainless steel lining system. The sad part is the contractor left the lining like that aware that he was placing the residents life and that of the unborn baby at risk.
c. Repair of structurally unsound leaking crown with crown seal. Many chimney companies will use crown seal (a heavy bodied elastomer) over a badly deteriorated crown which is not the intended use of the product and that is why it will lead to failure in a short period of time. If the crown is badly deteriorated it needs a proper rebuilt or concrete crown. An intact crown with surface cracks can be resurfaced with crown seal.
Middletown and Sea Girt NJ- After these customer's tried unsuccessfully on multiple occasions to have roofers and chimney contractors fix their leaking issues they called Certified Craftsmen. We tuckpointed, correctly rebuilt their crown- wash, repaired their flashing and replaced the caps on the right chimney pictured). This solved their leaking issues after their many years of trying.
d. Chase covers- We have actually seen galvanized rusting steel chase covers resurfaced with crown seal. Most crown seal products have a water base formulation and are definitely not intended for this use as they have zero rust preventative properties, In fact they can actually increase oxidation by holding moisture under the surface of the product. If a chase cover is badly rotted, replace it with stainless steel. Do not waste your money on this type of bogus sealing repair.
The chase covers seen below were sealed and siliconed by various contractors wasting the customer's time and money. Certified was called in and properly replaced the chase tops with stainless steel. Guess what?-- Their leaking problems stopped immediately and our chase covers are guaranteed as they are made of 304 stainless steel and built to last
Highlands, NJ- chimney repair- chase cover replacement
Wall, NJ- chimney repair- chase cover replacement
Forked River, NJ- chimney chase cover replacement. This chimney chase cover was repaired with crown seal as seen on lower left picture. This did not stop the rust or the leaking and required total replacement of the chase. Once again a customer wasted their money paying for a bad repair.
e. Chimney leaks- many contractors will encounter leaking chimneys with bad mortar joints and attempt to seal these joints with silicone and actually charge you for it. If the joints are bad they must be ground out and re-tuckpointed correctly
Damaged chimney in Toms River,NJ- This chimney had silicone applied by several contractors prior to Certified Correctly rebuilding the upper end. The first repairs by various contractors proved to be a waste of time and money.
Damaged chimney in Colts Neck, NJ- This chimney had been silicone and patched
by at least three contractors prior to having Certified repair it correctly
This was a chimney contractors attempt to repair deteriorated mortar joints with silicone. He charged the customer for this less than adequate job. We later came in and did a grind and tuckpoint repair.
f. Leaking or bad flashing- We have come across jobs where we are literally the 5th contractor called in to fix a leak only to find that all of the other previous contractors attempted to seal the leak with one product or another when the flashing system needed replacement. If the flashing or chimney is leaking have a thorough inspection and determine if the flashing needs replacement. Flashing sealing is for the most part is an interim measure not a permanent solution.
Rumson NJ- properly installed flashing and new cricket. The customer has a new roof installed but the flashing was not replaced correctly and a cricket should have been built due to the width of the chimney. Certified stopped their leaks once and for all with a new cricket and proper flashing system
g. Out of state contractors- Some out of state contractors are certified and registered with State of NJ to conduct business here in NJ. Some contractors are not registered with the state of NJ and operate as a scam. They will generally target an area through telemarketing or coupon mailers. They will come in for a "low price sweep" or "free inspection" and apply high pressure sales tactics. Two customers out of Toms River NJ told us that they were told they needed lining systems and repairs and if they did not have the work completed right then and there, the chimney company was going to have the gas turned off to their home. Don't fall prey to these tactics. Call a CSIA certified sweep or a company with legitimate references to properly inspect your chimney and venting system annually.
why choose us
Proudly serving Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties since 1989.
We utilize the latest tools and technologies to solve many of the chimney, fireplace, heating, carbon monoxide and general venting problems that arise today.
Whether or not you choose Certified for your chimney needs, always make sure that your contractor has insurance specifically for chimney work-- this is a difficult policy to obtain and many chimney contractors do not have the proper insurance.
Pricing List-
Prices dependant upon service area