NEW CANAAN, Conn. Scammers posing as chimney cleaners are back in the area, and New Canaan Fire Marshal Fred Baker is asking residents to be on alert.
Baker said Tuesday that several residents have reported receiving calls from companies offering to clean their chimneys. Baker said the people who visit usually offer to inspect and clean a chimney for $49 and then try to scare the homeowner into paying for additional work.
Baker said they quickly find horrible, life-threatening problems requiring a new chimney liner, which, if uncorrected, will kill everyone in the home. If you hesitate or balk at the price, they become even more insistent and sometime even threaten to call the fire marshal to report you.
Baker said companies making the calls are usually from the Long Island and change their names often.
Baker said residents should stick with local, reputable chimney cleaning and repair companies. If you need a second opinion on a chimney cleaner, call the fire marshals office at 203-594-3030. Baker said residents should also check for proper insurance, a Connecticut contractors registration, permits from the town building department and a written cost estimate before any work is done.
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