Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Use a Certified Sweep

Only the Best: Certified CSIA Chimney Sweeps

As a homeowner, you have to make sure that safety and security is prioritized in your homes. You want to assure those living with you that the house is safe from any harm and away from any kind of fatality. It is obvious that the Holiday Season is starting to kick in and it is important to know your chimney is ready, yet again, to perform the vigorous task of bringing warmth to your home.

It’s normal for homeowners to not know everything about their chimney; the complex functions, pros and cons, and all the other important stuff. This is the main reason why a chimney sweep exists.

There are many project around the house that you can do yourself with a few minutes on YouTube. Cleaning and inspecting your chimney is not one of them.

A chimney sweep is an individual that performs the basic tasks of fixing, repairing and inspecting your chimney. He is fully capable of any problem that may occur throughout the whole process of chimney inspections. He is knowledgeable and skillful enough to understand the basic and complex functions of a chimney and the unique features it offers.

Anyone can put on a hat and bring chimney equipment and call themselves a chimney sweep but it is important to know if the individual is duly licensed and certified.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America is a non-profit organization that conducts a series of examinations and programs for aspiring chimney sweeps. They train individuals to be exemplary in the chimney sweeping business. They are known in all fifty states and even overseas. They have made a name for themselves and are regarded as having the highest standard in the chimney industry. They have gained the trust of many people throughout their 30 years of reputable work.

Once the aspirants have successfully passed all the important lessons and have managed to instill the values and ethics of a professional certified chimney sweep,  they are ready to be employed – armed with the necessary skills, knowledge and training.

Therefore, big companies make sure their employees are certified by the CSIA so that they won’t have any problem with clients. This can assure customers of a trustworthy and reliable company to take good care of their chimney.

We all want to make sure we get only the best of licensed certified chimney sweeps. Look no further, Clean Sweeps of Michigan, Incorporated can offer you their finest employees. They are the top chimney service company in places like Jackson and Ann Arbor and they have been in the business since 1980, and still growing. So for the best chimney services, choose CSIA certified sweeps from Clean Sweeps of Michigan, Incorporated.

Outdoor Kitchens — Pay Attention!

Enjoying Your Outdoor Kitchen

 Indoor kitchens, where there are distractions but little wind to blow out pilot lights and flames, can put you at risk for a house fire. It is easy to see how those perils are compounded by wind, debris and the relaxation of the outdoors. To truly enjoy your outdoor kitchen, you need to use it safely and maintain it in good condition. Some of this is solely on you, the homeowner and other parts of safe maintenance should be left to a certified professional.

Enjoying Outdoor Kitchen – Ann Arbor MI – Clean Sweep & Air Ducts of Michigan

Use It Safely

There is no enjoyment to be found in a gas line explosion or a fire in the yard. While outdoor kitchens reduce the chances of poisoning from gas without flames to consume it, they increase the likelihood of outdoor fires. Stove flames can more easily be blown out and fire-bearing sparks from built-in grills can ignite un-raked yards and newspaper stacks. Keep all flammable material well away from the heat source.

Most homeowners use their outdoor kitchens to entertain and relish the season. This of course, is the point. However, one side effect of all that enjoyment is that sometimes, we lose sight of the danger. Never leave an open flame unattended or with only children outdoors. Always make sure your outdoor kitchen is inspected annually by a certified professional.

Even conscientious outdoor cooks can fail to recognize the importance of periodic dis-assembly and inspection of built-in ovens and grills. With welded components, these fire boxes need the same attention as the one in your indoor system. If a second fireplace is also part of your outdoor kitchen, that system makes inspection all the more important.

Enjoy It Thoroughly

There is nothing unsafe about outdoor kitchens as long as they are properly constructed and kept clean, fully functional, and in mind. Like all other unintended fires, ones that start in outdoor kitchens actually start with carelessness. Regular inspection and maintenance ensure that your outdoor kitchen is ready to be safely used. Appreciating it fully means respecting the potential dangers it can pose and preventing them from ruining either the party or the yard.