If you use your chimney, you need to make sure you clean it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, if chimneys aren't cleaned regularly, the risk of incidents, including home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning can increase substantially. Fortunately, by keeping the three tips below in mind, you can find a great chimney cleaning company that will make sure everything is on the up and up.

1. Search Far and Wide for the Right Provider

You can use your favorite search engines to look for chimney cleaning companies. Keep in mind that you don't have to limit your search to the companies based in your city. You might find a great chimney cleaner the next town over who is ready and willing to provide service in your area. At the end of the day, the more options you have, the more likely you are to find a great provider.

2. Check Out Reviews and Testimonials

It's pretty easy these days to find reviews for practically any service provider. If you're looking at chimney cleaners, make sure you check out the reviews past customers have left. Past performance can't guarantee your future experience, but it can be a good indicator.

You'll want to dig deeper than simply glancing at their star ratings on a website. Read through the reviews and see if you can uncover any patterns. For example, you might find that one provider tends to leave messes behind, and multiple customers have complained. Meanwhile, another provider may be lauded for cleaning up after the work is done.

3. Analyze Their Approach to Safety

Cleaning a chimney is about a lot more than making your home and chimney look good. Poorly maintained chimneys can be a serious threat. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading factor contributing to home heating fires is a failure to clean chimneys properly. The chief concern in most cases is the build-up of creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, including chimneys.

When talking with chimney companies, you'll want to work with providers who emphasize safety. You may uncover this emphasis by reading their website or while chatting with them on the phone. If a chimney company seems to take a relaxed approach to safety, you may want to skip them.

Looking for a chimney cleaning company that provides excellent customer service and puts safety first? Contact American Professional Chimney & Masonry right away. We can help you minimize risks.