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September 16, 2008
urgent chimney question
recently a chimney co offered a $25
chimney cleaning service to me. The only flue that is used is the one exhausting CM from the boiler. in minutes he had me scared that i was poisoning the air in the house and that i had to line this flue with a double steel flexible liner and break thru all of the walls on every floor.
price:$ 5000.00. I am not working right now and money is tight. How can i determine 1) the so-called urgency of this and 2)if there are alternatives to something I DON'T want to do at this time? (disruption,mess, finishing walls, etc)
3)what is the code?
thanks...jean
Comments
Do you have Carbon Monoxide detectors? Get those, for starters. And get several second opinions. Sounds like a scam.
Posted by: Frederick Law Homestead at September 16, 2008 4:39 PM
That's how they make money on a $25 chimney cleaning. You didn't really think a person can come to your home, clean your chimney, and get on his way for $25 and still make a living, do you?
Posted by: denton at September 16, 2008 4:41 PM
Please don't fall for this.
If you feel like you need a chimney inspection, call a reputable contractor like A&A or Big Apple, pay them a couple hundred dollars and see what they have to say after they've already been paid.
A&A (Andre) is 718-953-2836
Big Apple (Richie or Jason) is 718-648-3998
Tell them John from Gateway Plumbing & Heating gave you the number.
They both do my liners and chimney repairs so they like me.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at September 16, 2008 5:41 PM
i have used Jason at Big Apple and he's great.
also, i once had another company over to check out the chimney (before i called Big Apple) and they told me i had a violation and issued some fake violation paper to me, telling me i had to follow up with them to fix the problem. it was a scam and it's common.
Posted by: werner at September 16, 2008 6:55 PM
We just had a house inspected, and the inspector noted that we did not have a lining for our flue. He said that odds are we would NOT need one.
Yes, there is a theoretical danger of carbon monoxide buildup if the suction is inadequate. But the smart thing to do is put a carbon monoxide monitor on each floor of your apartment, ideally near the flue line, and check if it's leaking!
If it's not leaking (which, odds are, it won't), then no liner is needed.
The monitors are, like, $15 apiece.
Posted by: lookin fer stuff at September 26, 2008 3:30 PM
It's a SCAM! If I were you, I would set up a sting operation. Get their numbers, car plates and set up a fake appointment. Call Police. I guarantee that those people are big time scammers! Any chimney cleaning below $100 in Brooklyn smells like a fraud.
Posted by: alexanderkix at October 16, 2008 10:26 PM
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